The record-union., 1891-12-05
LAND HOLDING IN BUTTE COUNTY.

LAND HOLDING IN BUTTE COUNTY.
1t has been the earnest hope of the
RECoRD-UNIoN that the statistics relating
to large land holdings it Butte County
would show a tendency to the segrega-
ton of lands and present gratifying ex-
ception to the tendency in the direction of
aggregation; which the statistics of other
Sacramento Valley counties have ex-
hibited. The published facts accompany
ing this, however, leave no room for
doubt that Butte County is not an excep-
ton to the rule of valley counties in Cali
fornia. We have contented ourselves with
taking an observation of the first one
hundred large holders, but have added
the statistical facts from the tax-roll of
1875. The observation begins with the
facts as existing in 1875 and concludes
with the official statement of the land
holding in 1890.
In 1875 there were eight owners holding
5000 acres and upward, and the aggregate
tically, 100000 acres. In 1880 this had in
creased to nine holders of 5000 acres and
upward, and the whole aggregate was
126, ,l23 acres. In 1885 the holders of 1000
acres and upward had increased to twelve
in number, and the aggregate of their
holding was 131, 1903 acres. In 1890 there
were fifteen holders of 5000 acres and up
ward, and the aggregate was 195, 1853 acres.
Thus there is a steady progression from
1Oo,OOO acres, gradually increasing to
$4,000 acres, an increase of over 81 600
acres bodied up by the largest class of
land holders. In 1876 eight men held {, 900
acres and upward, the largest holding be-
ing 23,062 acres. In 1890, fifteen, or twice
the number in 1875, held 5000 acres and
upward, the largest holding being g, $50
acres.
The fifty largest holders in Butte
County in 1875 held 1S4, 1856 acres. In 1880
the holdings of the largest fifty holders
aggregated 2l6,869 acres. In 1885 the
figures show for these fifty largest hold
ers 233, 1856 acres, and in 1890 the aggregate
for the fifty largest holders is 2S7, ,6S6
acres. The increase for the first fifty
holders therefore was the difference be-
tween 1S4, 1886 acres in 1875 and 2S7, ,6S6
acres in 1890, an increase to fifty men of
$1,000 acres.
Extending the view to 100 largest own
ers, in 1875 they held an aggregate of
20S.598 acres. In 1880 the aggregate of the
100 largest owners was $685. acres. In
1885 the aggregate was 299, ,923, and in 1890
the aggregate amounted to 357, $50 acres.
The largest 100 holders in Butte County
therefore have increased their holdings
1892 acres, or an average of 1,500 acres
each.
The following tabulation of totals
shows the aggregate of the acreage held
in four different groups at four different
periods:
ddo HoLDINGs. 1875. 1880. 1885. 1890.
upward. 1896 126,12S 1s1. .9o3 1856
30 largest......... 1S4,3S6 216S69 233,356 287666
Aoo largest...... 20S,59S 253915 299,923 S57, $50
A scaling-up process of these fig
ures would be noted in the official
tables which follow. Attention, how
ever, is directed to the highest land in
each case. In 1875, the largest of the 100
holders held 23,O62 acres, and the small
est, or one-hundredth, held 500 acres.
In 1890, the holding which heads the list
is rs, $50 acres, and the holding of the one
hundredth man is 1000 acres. The sig
nificance of this is that while the largest
holding increased but 6,SOS acres on 23,-
062 acres, or little more than % per cent,
the smallest holding of the one-hundredth
increased 100 per cent.-the average in
crease Of the 100 being rs per cent. This
shows steady tendency toward increas-
ing the holdings of medium volume The
increase is in the class of those who hold
from 1000 to $500 acres; that is to say,
the farms which in 1875 had 500 acres
each have now 1000 acres, and this result
could be attained only by the force of an
inherent tendency to aggregate the small
farms into large ones. Take for instance
the holding of the fiftieth man in each
year. In 1875, the fiftieth man in the list,
arranged in the order of their holdings.
giving precedence to the largest, held 9O5
acres. In 1880, the fiftieth man held l, ,OlS
acres. In 1885. the fiftieth man held ,692
acres. and in 1890 he held 1,9O6 acres.
Thus, at the halfway point in the COM
parison we find 1000 in 1875 and 1000
in 1890.
In the counties heretofore examined
we have found more than 100 per cent.
increase in the first one hundred or one
hundred and fifty holders. In Butte
County we find an increase of 75 per
cent. in fifteen years.
The process of "bodying up'' the land
and of eliminating small independent
farms is proceeding steadily. We have
now the data for the presentation of
other counties. and in the next instance.
leaving the Sacramento Valley, we will
take an illustrative instance from the
San Joaquin Valley. We, however, take
occasion to warn the people of this State
that the soil is being monopolized to an
extent which will depopulate the rural
districts. With that depopulation will
go that honest class of agricultural la
borers, who, in other States, eventually