The record-union., 1891-01-25
EVILS OF LAND MONOPOLY.

Whatever the Legislature can do to de-
liberately and effectively discourage large
nd-holdings, and to diminish the evils
of land monopoly, it ought to do. If Cal
ifornia is ever to attain the high position
she occupies in our hopes, it will be
through the multiplication of her homes
upon small land-holdings.
The agriculture that makes the State
rich and prosperous, and individuals
forehanded, intelligent and happy, is the
agriculture of small farms. 1t gives to
the State landowners living to purpose
into which the highest community inter-
est is knit. An increased number of in
dependent proprietors increases individ-
ual effort and individual success. The
man who owns 100 acres, as a rule, takes
more pride and care in its culture, in the
home upon it and in making it serve the
highest and best purpose, than the man
who owns 5000 acres. A thousand homes
upon $780, 900 acres, with thousand self
reliant families in them, is thousand
times better for the State and every
man and woman in it, than ten
proprietors upon 5000 acres. The dis
tinction between the landed aristo-
crat and the serf, in their relation
of usefulness to the State, is not broad.
Moreover patriotism is anchored by own
ership of the soil in small parcels. Such
holdings do not breed discomfort, revolt
or tramps; they do not absorb effort in
the growth of single product, but diver
sify production and thus conserve the
greater number of interests and promote
trade, transportation and all commerce.
Whatever, therefore, the Legislature
can do to encourage the division of large
land holdings, to induce owners to divide
up and dispose of large tracts, it ought to
be encouraged to do. The large land
owner in California is not to be moved
by vituperation; he is neither criminal
nor an outlaw, and in mere railing at him
there is no strength; as rule he is an
sions through hard toll or by shrewd in
vestment. Nevertheless he is maintain
ing monopoly injurious to the we'll
being Of his fellows, and that lashes the
the State to the past beyond hope of gen.
uine progress. He is not at all conserving
community interest by holding his tens
rf dc afo
better than he.
What is needed is stimulation of the
sentiment that will lead up to subdi-
vision; that will make it to the interest
of the land monopolist to divide and sell;
that will result in such enforcement of
the revenue system that acre and acre
upon intrinsic merit, regardless of extent
of acreage under one ownership, shall
each bear its due burden.
We need to distinctly and unequivo-
cally set the State in opposition to the
greed that would make the prosperity of
the whole community subservient to the
will of single class. The prosperity of
the farmers depends primarily upon the
settlement and cultivation of the country.
If they are to have consumers the rural
districts must be filled up. Indeed, land
monopoly more injuriously affects the
farmer than it does the public generally.
No agricultural class ever has thriven
under it. or ever can, or ever has become
highly progressive or enlightened in its
shadow.
Another consideration that is of vital
Importance to the producer and the tax
payer, is that relating to the question of
transportation, as affected by land mo-
nopoly. If the great land-holdings were
divided into small tracts, and owned by
cultivators, the transportion interests of
all would be conserved, and the cost of
carriage cheapened. For single holding
along twenty miles of carrier route
diminishes or excludes local business for
the carrier. Railroads depend upon peo-
pie more than upon acres for their BUSH
ness. The line that trayerses a thickly
settled country is infinitely better stu
ated than one that runs through wide
section held under one ownership. Large
land-holdings, therefore, make the COM
munity generally pay tribute to them in
directly and unconsciously, by limitation
of the opportunities for traffic.
VITAL STATISTICS OF THE JEWS.