Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1890-01-16
The Decline In Farms.

The decline in the value of farm
lands not only Immediately around
Philadelphia. but generally in the East
ern States, has become grave prob
lem for the consideration of the largest
and most important class Of our indus
tria people. II is conceded that farms
in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery
not specially appreciated in value by
local improvements, have declined full
ly one-third in value during the last
decade, and there is now no reasonable
prospect of any advance In the value
of purely farm lands in the future.
Of course, this unpromising outlook
for our farmers is creating very gener-
al unrest among them, and it is evident
that there is strong tendency to real
ize on farms at the reduced prices and
engage in other pursuits or move TO
more promising regions in the South
or West. This disposition to sell farms
has evidently alarmed prominent po-
litical and business leaders as is shown
by Collector Coopers double-leaded ap-
peal, in his last Media american, to
the farmers to "hold on" and wait for
the good time coming.
1t must be evident to all intelligent
farmers that the present depression in
purely farm lands in Pennsylvania is
certain to continue and increase as long
as farmers are compelled to bear the
bulk of the oppressive taxes now inn
posed upon the people. They are the
most unJustly taxed people in the coun-
try and they do more to maintain the
crushing taxes upon themselves than
all others combined. There is'practic-
ally nothing used on farm, in home.
barn or field, that is not taxed from
one-third to two. thirds its actual cost,
and the farmer is steadily getting less
prices for his products and paying in
creased taxes on what he consumes.
There has not been monopoly COM
bne formed in the country that did
not Increase the farmers taxes, aud
yet the majority IF the farmers have
steadily voted to sustain the policy that
seems to study only how to tax them
to the uttermost.
And what have they in return for
these destructive taxes? They have
the veriest mockery oi protection on a
very few things they raise, and nearly
all of these only increase taxes upon
themselves. They are told that they
are protected in wool, but there is not
farmer in Delaware, Chester or
Montgomery county who does not pay
double or trebel in taxes on woolens
that he receives on taxed wool, and
thus it is in nearly every instance. 1t
is taxation, taxation and only taxation,
as rule, from the beginning to the
end of the chapter, and the farmer Is
steadily impoverished and his lands
reduced in value.
This oppressive taxation on farmers
and this continued reduction of their
property will be halted just when the
farmers decide to stop it; no sooner;
no later. AS long as thew will vote to
tax themselves to death, just so long
will they be taxed to the uttermost;
and whenever they decide to disenthral
themselves frorn party thongs and de-
es on the nrcessaries of life and indus
try they will win. They have the
power to rescue themselves from this
wanton oppression whenever they
choose to do 30. They are the majori-
land, and they make and unmake the
tax policy of the government at will;
but ever since the war, when they re-
ceived their share from war taxes in So
per bushel for wheat and prices for ali
their other products in proportion,
they have been the stoutest champions
of overtaXiDg themselves. They are
now reaping the logical fruits of their
suicidal theories, and their farms will
diminish in profits and decrease in val
ue just as long as they insist that ev-
erythipg they use and wear shall be
largely taxed for the benefit of others.
Don't sacrifice farms; rather sacrifice
the mad policy that has made farming
prOfitless and farms of little value
PhiLddeLDhi0 Times.