Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-20
FARMS GOING DOWN.
Alarming Facts Shown by the Decen-
NAL Appraisement in Ohio.
FIGURES FROM WAYNE COUNTY,.
Its Magnificent Agricultural Land Depre-
ciated 500 per Acre.
FARMERS FORCED INTO POLITICS.

| tsPECIAL. TRLEGRAM TO THE D1sPATCH.1
CLEVELAND, July 19.-The decennial
appraisement of the land values of Ohio,
which has been in progress for several
weeks, is nearly completed, and reports are
coming in from many sections of the State.
Without exception they show remarkable
decrease in the value of farm lands, and
there is likely to be considerable difficulty
in so arranging the burden Of State taxation
under the new appraisement as to raise the
necessary revenue without exciting vast
amount OF class feeling and creating some
decidedly interesting political diversions
The increase in wealth as well as the gain
in population in Ohio since 1880 has been
in the cities almost exclusively. Hardly a
county that has no extensive manufactur-
ing interests shows, any gain in its real
estate values, while nearly all the farming
counties show a very great decrease. The
full reports are not in from many counties,
but enough is at hand to justify the predic-
tion that the Protectionists will have hard
time of it ex explaining to the farmer where
his share of protection "fat" comes In in
the face OF the showing of this appraise-
ment
AL AVEhAGE COUNI1.
The story of one county from which COM
plete returns have been received, is the story
fall, with the possible exception of the
newer counties in Northwestern Ohio where
the discovery of gas and oil mas had
marked effect upon land values in the last
decade. Wayne county is one Of the best
agricultural counties in Ohio. 1t is one OF
the largest wheat-raising counties in the
State, ranking second in the last census
year. 1t is second in the amount of oats
grown and among the first half dozen
counties in the number of bushels of po-
tatoes raised. 1t is up to the average as a
corn county, is one of the best cattle coun-
ties in Ohio and ranks second in the number
of pounds of butter produced. 1t is also
among the first half dozen counties in horse
raising.
Five railroads, two of them trunk lines,
traverse the county. Its northern line is
within 30 miles of Cleveland, and its east
ern one about 100 miles from Pittsburg, and
direct railroad lines run to both cities It
is neither very hilly nor fat, but fine rolling
country, well watered and fertile. Yet the
real estate valuation in this county, which
is unquestionably one of the best
strictly agricultural counties in Ohio,
decreased from S16 423, $50 in 1880 to
S14, ,0S2, 1S0 in 1890, or 1411 per cent. As
there are about 800, 900 acres in the county,
this decrease is at the rate of about 81 per
acre. The valuation OF real estate in Ohio
is always much below the selling price,
ranging in agricultural counties from 40 to
70 per cent OF the market value. 1t is fair
to say, therefore, that the decrease of 81 an
acre in appraised value is equivalent to a
decrease of S12 to $40 per acre in market
value.
BRINGS THE FARMERS INTO POLITICS.
Every farmer in WAYNE county, If asked
concerning this matter, would readily say
that this deduction was reasonable and that
the real shrinkage in market value has been
in some cases even greater than $40 per acre,
and has in every case ranged from 15 to 80
per cent in ten years. There is not a town.
ship in the county that does not show
marked decrease, and the only places that
show any gain is the town of Orrville, and
one ward of the little city Of Wooster. and
the total in these two precincts is only $780,
365 in a total valuation of S977, 1851
Wayne county is typical otsevery agri-
cultural county in the State. They have all
suffered in the same way, though some in a
less degree than others. It is not surpris-
ing, with such startling facts before them,
that the farmers of the State are beginning
to take part in State politics, and that the
organization and growth of farmers socie-
ties is going ON at an unprecedented rate.
The agitation in favor of lower salaries in
county and State officers and of general re-
trenchment and economy in Government
expenditure will be very strong in the next
few years. and some interesting political re-
suits are likely to grow out OF it. There is
a growing field of activity for the Farmers
Alliance in Ohio.