The record-union., 1891-11-05

was ,2S9 acres each. To state this in q
different form, on an average $50 men in
Colusa County increased their holdings
between 1880 and 1890 by 1,2S7 acres
each. The question naturally arises
what became Of the holders of the 1900
acres not embraced in the holdings of the
$50 individual holders in 1880? Here are
nearly 100000 acres neld by other owners
in 1880 which fall into the list of lands
belonging to the 150 owners in 1890. The
only reasonable conclusion is that the
owners of these 100000 acres of land left
the country when they sold out.
1t is appalling to carry the proportion
of these figures out to 1895 or to 1900. The
increase between 1880 and 1885 was but
30, 740 acres, while the increase between
1885 and 1890, added to already large
holdings, was 157, ,667 acres, or four times
the increase noted between 1880 and 1885.
Let us suppose for moment that the in
crease between 1890 and 1895 holds the
proportion in the increase noted. This
would add to the holdings of the present
large land-holders $50, ,66S acres.
Thus promising, we follow this with
complete official presentation of the $50
largest land holdings in Colusa County,
with the names of the owners and the
assessed value of the property. Any
student of the present alarming tenden-
cies of the monopolization of the soil of
California will find other comparisons
than those already Instituted by careful
examination of the official lists.
Itremains to be noted that of the hold
Ings above presented, the owners OF 271,-
359 acres do not reside in the county of
Colusa, and the acreage owned by them
embraces the most fertile lands of the
county.
TABULATED~ EXHIBITS-COLUSA COUNTY.
Supplemental to the foregoing consid-
erations, we now present tabulations and
detailed exhibits upon which our COM
ments have been based. We present first,
| in the nature of a synopsis, the showings
of totals, and in conclusion the itemized
details from which the totals are ascer-
tanned. We present also the progressive
! character of the increase of land holdings
| during the decade 1SS0-1S90. To these
tabulations, both in recapitulation of to-
tails and in extended detail. we invite the
study of the reader. They will be found
not at all involved or intricate, but easy
of comprehension, and so full of sugges-
! ton that no further comments called for.
PROGRESSION OR INCREASE OF LARGE LAND
HOLDINGS IN CoLUsA COUNTY.
! The following tabulation of totals shows the
| aggregate OF the acreage held in three differ
ent groups at three different periods
Holdings. 1880. 1885. 1890.
! 5.UU0-acre .........,... 336,5s1 Sl7932 4G6, ,534
| The 80 largest 4236 450,709 523, 7s3
The l5o largeSt.-........ 50l,SU 59J6l9 d4s, 2e6
EXHIBIT A--1SS0.
| The following table shows the $50 largest
! land holdings in Coiusa County in 1850, for
| the purposes Of comparison with the years
| following.
We have subdividod this table by footingS,
showing first the acreage held in excess OF
| 5000 acres with the value; second. the acre
! age held by the fifty largest land owners;
J third the acreage held by the one hundred
! lar2est land owners; fourth. the acreage held
! by the one hundred ana Iitty largest land
owners, which, of course, includes NJ tie