The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-05-12
Extra Census Bulletin No. 80.

L. T.. w., in Peoples Pdrty Fdper'
Extra Census Bulletin No. 80.
NJ. G. ELLZEY, CUMBERSOME, MD.
I have before ma the Extra Census
Bulletin No 80 of January oath, 1893.
1t relates to the statistics OF farms,
homes, and the mortgage thereon in the
State of Maryland. A State beautiful
for situations beyond any other in the
Union. At her doors Washington,
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York.
Her agricultural, manufacturing, min
ing, commercial facilities and advan-
tages are great among the greatest.
Here, if anywhere, should be found
among the people generally difused
prosperity and patriotism and content
ment born of prosperity. Here, if
anywhere, should every industrious and
honest family be able to own an unin
numbered home. Is it so? Alas no
The figures before me show that among
100 farmers only Al own their farms
and home incumbrance free; 10 own
with incumbrance (they are mere part
oEners) and 81 are renters. 1t must
be understood that the incumbrance
here spoken Of is merely the preferred
debt secured by lien. The non preferred
and unsecured debts are an additional
unknown incumbrance of great magni-
tude The mortgage debt on Maryland
farms aggregate Sl2,753,2S7, aud bears
interest at an average rate Of $40 per
cent. The average value Of the ;ncum-
bered farms is S4.251, the lien averages
1885, each is subject to Oh average
annual interest charge of S95, add $50
for tax, aud insurance for benefit of
mortgage. and $l00 for renewals and
repairs which the mortgage requires to
be kept up, and you will have $l40
annuity chargable against the nominal
owner before he can get at the land to
dig his living out Of 1t. This annuity
exceeds the sum the farm would rent
for by at least 40 per cent. The cou-
dition of the nominal owners of incum-
bered farms is, therefore, far worse than
that of renters.
Upon the homes of Maryland other
than farms there is a lien debt Of
$l2, 3O5,4 45, at an average interest of
5,85 per cent. Of 100 homes "a only
are owned incumbrance free; 8 with
incumbrance, and 6S are rented
Instead. then, of every honest and
industrious family ip Maryland being
able to own home incumbs4gce free,
scarce one-tbird of them are able.
1t is evident that the prosperity of
which patriotism and content are born
is not here, and neither do we find it's
offspring; but discontent, unrest and
despair Of the latgre. The figures
before me show that the increase IL the
relative lumber of homeless families
has been not far from one per cent per
annum, and doubtless greater in the
latter than the earlier years Of the
decade. And in another place the
census has shown that the increase of
population in Baltimore for the decade
exceeded by 5 900 the aggregate for
the whole State, disclosing an exodus
from country to town. That 9 equities
of the State lost 10000 negro popula-
ton, disclosing an exodus of agricul-
tural labor and that the ACTUAL decline
of country population vas 25,GGO,
disclosing the general decay of agri
culture and rural life. This state of
affairs is the result of false legislation,
Of nal admin istration and of mis-
government, national state and local /;
the inevitable, the necessary result 1t
is, as the direct result of such false
legislation, NAL administration and mis-
government thlt we And resting upon
the homes of the middle class of the
people of Maryland mortgage debt of
mere than $25 100000 which is but
the preferred claim against those homes,
aud is secured by property of more than
twice tlss Sal1e, This debt, thus
secured, is at once the safest sad among
the most productive properties to be
found, and yet the owners of it are
exempt from any payment of tax upon