The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1889-02-28
Homs ENTERPRISE.
JOB PRINTING

aud scientific order what was necessary
to maintain fertility in soil and to re-
store fertility. As a consequences, there
are now over 400 agricultural schools
and colleges in Germany. The same
system Is found in France and other
European States. As Q result OF this
thorough system of agricultural educa-
ton among the peasants, the yield per
acre Of land in Europe has been gradur
ally increasing. while in the United
States statistics show it is gracpaliy
decreasing. The statistics as to tne
condition of the agricultural classes In
the United States points TO the absoiuts
necessity Of their being better educated
The census of 1880 brought out the
fact that in the decade 1850 to 1860. the
farmers were one-half OF the popula-
ton, and had increased the productive
wealth during the 10 years 101 per
cent, and that they owned just one
half of the wealth of tho entire coun-
try. In 1880 they were still nearly ono
half of the population. but during the
decades 1860 10 1880, they had only in
creased their productive wealth per
cent, instead of l01 cent. as from 1850
to 1860, showing q loss of 90 per cent.
in 20 years. Also in 1880. they, as
class. only owned one-fourth OF the en-
tire wealth of the country, instead OF
one-half, as in 1860. 1t is even worse
than this, for much of the land OF far
mers is mortgaged. This mortgage In
the States of Ohio. Indiana, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Ne
braska, Kansas and Missouri is esti
mated at $3, 422, 900. 900, and it is mo-
torious fact now that land ip these
States has greatly deprecated in value,
and the farm lands of the New Eng
land States and New York very much
of late. To put it in different shape. in
the 20 years, 1860 to 1880, the farmers
added to the agricultural wealth OF the
entire United States s4,122, 5SS, 4S7,
they composing about one-half of the
entire population. During this 20 years
the other half of the population (not
fsrmersi added to the wealth of the
country s2s, $50. 794,s54. or nearly 500
per cent more than the farmers made.
This shows at least lack of compar-
ative prosperity with the farming
classes, and this is the reason so many
farmers and their children are quitting
the farms and engaging in more lucra-
tive pursuits. This accounts. too, for
the rapid building up of cities and cor
porations. This is why % per cent. OF
our population is to be found in towns
and cities in 1888. while only 8 per cent
lived in towns and cities in 1900.
The great progress now being made
in the world has brought about new
conditions, which affect the farmers.
For instance, the facility and cheap
ness of transportation. has done away
with all local competition. In 1880 it cost
lS cents to transport bushel of grain
from the West to New York. or from
New York to Liverpool. Now it costs
about two cents. So thrifty farmers in
any country have not only to compete
with each other, but with thrifty far
mers in the West, and, in fact, all over
the world. Skill and invention have
brought down prices in all products
including farm products. The farmer
therefore, must be educated and be-
come more skilled. or he will be At the
mercy of other callings. S. d. LEE