The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-20

J
case between 1850 and 1899; but there coulc
he no increase in the number OF farms with
out a like increase In the number Of farm
crs. Since 1850 the increase In the numbe
of farms IN tho United States has been
third greater than the simultaneous in.
crease iu tho population. Therefore. the
number OF farmers. relatively to the whole
population, cannot be less now, but really
is IS per cent. greater than It was forty.
three years since; and II the ratio ls no less
but greater, IL follows that there can have
| been no such desertion OF the farms as has
| been bewalled.
| Should 1t be pretended that this desertlon
OF the farm is n phase OF American social
aud Industrial conditions known only since
| the civil war, It lie merely necessary to show
that from 1870 to 1880 population Increased
30.s per cent. and the number OF farms 81
per cont, as did the improved acres and
that while the population increased 62.2 per
cent. during the twenty years ending with
the Census Of 1890. the number Of farms
increased some 80 per cent. and the culti-
waited acres more than 1Os per cent.
There can be no doubt. then. that the
population has increased much more rap
idly since 1886 than either tho number Of
farms or the number OF cultivated acres;
and that this disparity is not due to the
voluntary desertion Of the farm by tho
sons OF the farmer. but Is attributable
wholly to the practical exhaustion OF the
material from which new farms can DO
made. This is clearly evidenced every time
fraction OF an Indian reservation is thrown
open to settlement, as Is tho corollary that
farms are no longer available In numbers
sufficient TO maintain an Increase thereof
on a parity with the increase OF population.
These changed conditions account, in the
most complete manner. for the present and
increasing inflow to the towns OF 80 much
OF the increase Of the rural populations.
Aside from the proof afforded by the rela-
tive increase Of population. the number OF
farms and tho number Of improved acres.
as well as the number of acres actually
under tho plough. we have. II possible.
better proof that the desertion. the volun-
tary desertion. Is wholly mythical, In the
volume OF production OF the more impor-
tant farm staples as related to the whole
population. In 1850 the grain grown equal
led 37.4 bushels for each unit OF the popu-
lation. In 1860 the unit quota had increased
to 1914 bushels. Owing to the devastat-
ing effects OF the civil war. the quantity
produced in 1870 equalled but SO bushels per
capita: aud this reduction In the per capita
yield. slight rs it was. resulted In prices
that were highly remunerative. BY 1890.
however. farms had so multiplied, cultlvat-
ed acres had increased 30 much out OF pro-
portion to the population increase, and the
volume OF product was 30 great. that the
a,,Nf 80 in cd Inn hal
for each individual, or half greater than the
yield in 1850 or in 1870. So great was the
added supply that the cultivator's revenue
per acre shrank nearly one-half between 1870
and 1898 as measured in gold or from q
to an unremunerative level.
In view OF these facts. and the recent and
present condition OF the growers OF food
and fiber. it is pertinent to ask: What would |
now be the condition OF the farmer had not |
his sons sought employment in the town.
Do not current prices. as well as those of |
recent years, indicate that there have been |
too many farmers rather than too few?
AS the farmers revenue has been cut In |
two since 1870. while those OF the artisan |
and laborer have been advanced to level |
hitherto unknown. would not the leaving |
u the farm have resulted benencially to |
hose who remained II still greater numbers |
lad left it
The fact that the quantity OF staples
grown has been in inverse ratio to the rela-
i've numbers employed In rural production
indicates the course which the increasing
numbers upon the farm have been obliged
% take In order to secure the needed en-
and 1t marks out the course they
must take In future and shows just why no
more OF the sons of the farmer have re-
NAMED upon tho homestead or sought new
lomesteads.
Prior to 1850. practically the entire agri-
development. as we'll as the pro-
iuction OF the great staples. was In regions
more or less densely covered with forests;
md there the bringing into cultivation OF
farm OF eighty acres was the arduous work
Il a long life. On the other hand. just as soon
IS the prairie regions were reached. the en-
rgetic settler could reduce eighty acres to
cultivation by as many days work with
rood breaking team: eighty acres the pro-
luctive power Of which averaged fourth
more than that Of the eighty covered
With stumps. while the labor cost OF
PRODUCTION was at least third less
han that during the existence of the
bstructing stumps, or, say. another gen.
ration. Only by tho development and cul-
lvation OF the prairie areas were the posi-
ilities OF improvement In mechanical aids
o agriculture made clear; and there these
ids have been and still are most In use.
Such aids and the saving OF all the I'm
lense expenditures OF labor formerly de-
oted to removal from the surface and
lacing in stone fences the boulders OF sea-
GARD States. and the conversion Of the for
SITS into rail fences and cordwood. has lib
rGted a vast amount Of muscular force
hat is DOW either employed In actual produc-
lon on the farm or in the town. or In dis
ributing the wares produced.
Forty to fifty years ago 1t was the work
years to split the rails and to enclose a
uarter section of land. Now. however,
he same area can be enclosed with wire
snce at a cost no greater than twelve
lonths' wages OF an ordinary farm laborer.
nd the galvanized wire being practically
the fence will last half a CEN
Try II strung upon posts as durable as
,cust. mulberry. or cedar. The rail fence |