The record-union., 1892-03-15
LARGE LAND-HOLDINGS.
Comments Upon VIM. H. Mills Able
Paper.
The Evil of Land Monopoly Has Reached
the Proportions OF Grave
Issue.

=
The REcoED-UNIoN has published a
thoughtful and interesting paper by Wm.
II. Mills on large land-holdings in Cali
fornia. 1t occupies seven columns, deal
ing with the subject thoroughly in all its
phases, and deserves the attentive con-
sideration of every person interested in
the future welfare OF the State After an
abe introductory argument establishing
the principle that no form of monopoly
usurps the opportunities Of men TO such
an extent as the monopoIized ownership
OF land, Mr.. Mills comes at once 10 the
consideration Of the principle as applied
to the present condition OF affairs in Cali
fornia. Statistics cited show that the
large land-holdings inthe state, and prin-
cip&lly those in the valleys of the Sacra-
mento and the San Joaquin have In
creased very rapiGlyin in the past ten wears
both in number and III acreage: and also
that wherever this Increase has taken
place there has been 4 corresponding loss
IN population. For example, in the four
great counties Of IOlo. Colusa Butte and
( Iehaina there were in 1856 seventy -one
! holders having 5000 acres and upward.
whose aggregate holdings amounted TO
9T,iUl acres. IN loSU the number OF this
class Of holders had increased TO i06, and
/ the aggregate amount OF their lands to
], ,it9, IU+ acres. In 1850 The largest single
I holding in the four counties was 81 i6T
acres, and in $50 the largest WAS 10000
acres. Ia 1880 the fJur counties had "a
population Of 52,e52 and III 1876 a pop
natinn OF 90 100. The natural IN
crease III the ten years should
have been 1888, whereas the increase
shown by the census was only 304g. ::
further consideration, however, shows
the matter III Il worse light still, for dur
ing tile de,Ttde the five towns Of Cclusa
County gainel ,lI6 in population, one
town in oio gained SIS, Two towns in
Iehanla gained G4S, and two towns in
Butte gained SO, 50 that in the towns
there was gain OF JGG more than the en-
tire gain OF the four counties, showing
thiU the rural districts Of these fertile
counties bave actually decreased in ;opu-
ton.
From these statistics it can be seen that
the effect OF large iand-hnldno is 10 drive
the middle class OF people into the towns
ana cities and TO leave the cultivation of
the soIi only 10 agricultural laborers on
the great estates. This brings in its train
another eVil, for as the owners of large
estates do not live on them, but in the
cities, the wealth that is derived from
them goes partly TO pay q shifting class of
| irresponsible and poorly paid laborers.
but chiefly TO be expended in the ex-
travagant life Of san francisco and New
ork. a system like this, which is
/ uvercrowding the cities, deDopulatiny the
interior, eliminating the class of indie
pendent small holders, is fraught with
danger to the perpetuity OF republican in
stitutions," says MIR. Mills, 'and in the
face of such menace the natural uues-
ton is, " hat is the remeuy?" An in
vestigation into the subject has led to the
conclusion that the increase of the large
holdings is due 10 the rapid growth of ac-
cumulated wealth and he constantly aug
menting volume OF idle capital This
capital seeks safe investment. An acre
OF land tha5 will pay 81 per annum is
better than Government bond for Sl0C
with two-per-cent. coupon attached, and
/ as loans are readily obtained on it, land
/ has become preferred savings deposit
Idle capital, therefore, is rapidly being
invested in land, and the process will
grow rather than diminish, unless
checked by legislation. AS to the best
/ Mills suggests several that would prob
ably be beneficial, such as the limitation
and restriction of the extent to which
| land may be used as a basis of security
for the repayment of loans; a regulation
! that the interest accruing upon a mort
gage should not go TO the accumulation oi
| the mortgage nor be collected out of the
equity of redemption. These laws would
| prevent the large accumulation of land
simply as an investment and, by with
drawing idle surplus capital from them,
would leave them in the hands of men
who will cultivate and use them. AS the
statistics show, furthermore, that the
] death of the proprietor does not sub
| divide the landed estate, it is suggested
| that there should be a law absolutely
prohibiting any man to devise in his will
more than one thousand acres of land,
and declaring that all in excess of that
acreage shall be sold by the courts for the
benefit of his estate, the sale to be made
at the rate of one-tifth each year for five
years, so as not 10 infiict loss. Whether
these laws are the best that can be de-
vised for the purpose may be matter OF
doubt, but none can deny that the evil
has now reached the proportions of a
grave issue and should be dealt with
without further delay.