The advocate., 1892-05-11

COulu pObSlDly D9 tuOuSub Va 40 PO9SA
bly, available asset in the hands Of the
farmers Of Kansas. The prices given for
the leading staples are also very liberal,
and It is very doubtful II such prices
were realized, taking the average OF the
whole state. And get when it ia all
counted, we have for each agricultural
family the paltry sum Of 1920, or $5.S3
per month for each member; or $26 65
per month for each family. Out of this
insignificant remuneration there Is yet to
be deducted sinking fund for the re-
pair Of and final. replacement Of the
buildings, fencing, work animals, ma
chinery, tools and implements, which
cannot by any means be estimated at less
than 10 per cent. Of the first cost, upon
everything but buildings, and even upon
buildings we find that insurance COM
panIes, in settling losses, figure 10 per
cent. depreciation per snnum upon
frames. Horses, available for use at the
age Of 4 years, at the age Of IA would be
superannuated and useless. Farm ma
chInery, If well housed, may possibly
last MOO years, but even then 10 per
cent. sinking fund will mot more than
keep up repairs and buy new machinery
as the old becomes useless. From the
Indiana Farmer clip as follows:
Mr.. Meader's estimate of ten years for
housed binder is all right, but he has GER
tainly overestimated it in making it last
Ave years if unhoused. At the end Of three
years it would only be worth the price of the
old iron. binder that costs $l25, if un-
housed, at the end of four years would be a
total loss minus the use of It.
Assuming then that the average value
OF the buildings, fencing, work stock, ma
chinery and implements, upon our hypo-
thetlcsl average farm Of 1875 acres, is only
$SOO-we have the sum Of $S0per annum
which the farmer must save and lay by,
unless he expects to sooner or later have
to quit the business for lack of aCOrEing
capital This leaves us the sum Of $240
to the family, available for Rurniture,gro
cerles, clothing, doctor bills and medi-
cine, school books and other literature,
fuel, and the thousand and one items
which enter, or should enter, into the
daily necessities of family. just
think of lt-$2O per month for
each family of five persons!l But
II the Kansas farmer receives any
Economic rent or interest upon the
value Of his bare land, his paltry wages,
as shown In the above estimate, must be
still further reduced in the sum Of $93.75,
or 5 per cent. upon 125 acres of land at
$40 per acre. Aud this amount would
be the single tax which he must pay
under that system. 1t is conceded, how
ever, that as an Offset, he would. escape
the payment of the $2475 direct taxes,
and also the sum or about $50 which ne
pays as tariff and shifted direct ~ taxes
upon the groceries and clothing, ETC.,
which he buys, so that the single tax
would worst him in the sum Of $50. A
critic of mine, writing to the Cincinnati
Golden Rule, thus sets forth the great
benefits to be derived by the farmer from
the single tax:
The single tax would benefit the farmer
by forcing idle land into use, increasing
production, and employing surplus labor,
thus causing a greater demand for food
products.
This instead Of bene6ttlng the farmer
vFould iniura him, Why2