The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-05

were smothered in the expression vi thoh
profound dissatisfaction by leo merciie''
hand of an arbitrary governmeh''
These conditions are largely the result OF
influences which no power can con'roi W"
turally enough. the Western FARMERS WHO
are the principal sufferers, attribute them nj
most exclusively 10 legislative expressions
which have subordinated the agricultural IN
terests to all other interests. lhere IL I'M
doubtedly a strong element OF truth IN TINS.
Whatever may have been the tendency OF
State legislation. national legislation has been
destructive Of the proftableness OF agricuI-
ture by increasing the expenses OF the agri-
culturist and thus restricting the margin OF
gain.
The deplorable condition Of the farming
interests in the West is. however. due 70
additional causes. which so TAR have hot
affected the Southern and Eastern farmers IN
the mass. How deplorable that condition IS
may be seen from the following brief sum-
mary Of the agricultural returns OF the Census
Bureau prepared by the Chicago News. The
figures Of only two representative districts
have been published "One consists of
group Of ten neiehboring counties In kansas
little west of Topeka. The other embraces
ten counties in the southwestern part or
Ohio, and includes Cincinnati and the manu-
featuring centres Of the Miami Valley The
two districts are believed 10 be fairly repre-
sentative of their respective States
In the ten Kansas counties there were found
to be II .S79 farms. Reports were returned from
ell but about per cent. of these. and results
are thus summarized by Mr. G.. X. Holmes, of
the Census Bureau:
Kans@s-percentag Of hired farms. 1890. 80
kansas-PeTcentag OF hlTed farms, lo5D......l3
Ohio-PerceDta Of hired farms. Isu.........M
Ohio Percentage Of hired farms. 1850. p
incumbrance......... CT
Percentage owned farms subject TO in
cumbfahce. ...---. -
Extending the PERCENTAGE obtained in the
ten counties over the whole State of Kansas
it appears that Of every nine farms two are
free from debt, three are worked by tenants
and four are occupied by owners and are
subject to an incumbrance Of 80 per cent of
their value.
In Ohio, on the basis Of these returns. out
Of every eight farms four are held free from
utUJ, Lultc dic WI Atl " NbAbuls anu Ol4o ID
occupied by the owner and is subject to an
incumbrance Of 81 per cent. of its value.
The returns regarding homes are equally
interesting. No less than IS per cent. Of the
homes of the Kansas district are hired, while
in the Ohio district including Cincinnati 20
per cent of the homes are hired. Excluding
Cincinnati so per cent. are so held. In
Kansas Al per cent. Of the owned homes are
subject to incumbrance, and in Ohio y per
cent. of the homes are mortgaged."
The same condition of affairs is said to pre-
vail in the greater part of the West, and the
present prospect is that it will grow worse
rather than better. 1t speaks well for the
stability OF our Government and the free
dom Of our institutions that the sufferers are
seeking a remedy. not like the dissatisfied
classes Of France and Germany, in insurrec-
ton and revolution. but in new political or
CARNATIONS or through the instrumensaIity Of
those which already exist.