The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-03-01

Of these 4,767, 179
NNyFyk8sE occupy farms and
UJH&W UE 3D., 973 occupy
@--E(zSNg& homes in cities,
S-E- FUTr-rTrTH- towns and viii
@ Is: :. IS: !: $: ): :; :; =; $:
VI INV homes and 52.20 per
cent. pay rent. OF the farms or homes
1908 per cent. are entirely free from in
eumbrance and 27.91 only of every 100
rest under mortgages. These mortgages
represent but 81 80 per cent Of the value
of the property, and the average rate of
interest paid upon them is G.65 per cent.
per annum. The average value of the in
numbered farms or homes is S3,352, the
average amount of the mortgage is ST.
257, and the average interest charge is
$3.50 1t is shown also that the greater
portion of the mortgages represent de-
ferrcd payments of purchase money. The
remainder represents permanent improve
ments, farm machinery stock and other
Investments that add TO the value of the
property. Very few mortgages are the re-
suit Of misfortune or improvidencc.
In the new States of the West are found
the farms or homes they occupy, and the
smallest number are found in the South.
In Illinois the average of ownership is
nearly per cent. above the average for
the entire country-viz., 49.66 per cent. of
the population own and 50.34 per cent.
rent. In Indiana the condition of the peo-
pie is somewhat better, the percentage
of ownership being 5T.52. In Wisconsin
-. hot .l,nrA hn NJ 90 n
ownership is GS.S5; in Michigan, G3.12;
en- Iowa, 63. is and in Minnesota, Gi.94.
The highest percentages of ownership
are found in Oklahoma, $685. North Da
kota, 1916; South Dakota, 1928, and
Idaho, 71.16. The low est percentages of
ownership are found in Louisiana, 29.56;
Alabama, 3464: Delaware, 319S;
Georgia, 31.43; Rhode Island, 29.G2, and
South Carolina, 2S.77..
Many Farms in Ohio.
The statistics show that Ohio has the
largest number of farms of any State in
the Union, 256, 264; Illinois comes second,
252, 953; then Missouri, 230,S3 Texas,
PAS, 7S2; New York, 226,632; Pcnnsylva-
sia, 2l1 ,472; Iowa, 205 49,: Indiana, 205.-
331. No other State has more than 200,-
900. The percentage of ownership in
farms is largest in the North and West,
as is the percentage of homes also. With
out including Oklahoma, where the con-
aitions were scarcely settled enough when
the census was taken to make a fair COM
parison, Maine stands first as free-farm
State. There % out of every 100 of the
farmers own the places on which they
hve. Utah is second, with n percentage
of 90.67, and the next highest States come
IN the following order:
Per Per
State. cent. State. cent.
North Dakota 90.10 Massachusetts S4.94
n. Hampshire .0S Nevada go. S3.SS
Idaho .SS.57 South Dakota. S3.S1
New Mexico. SS.1S Vermont ..... S3.3S
Wisconsin -. $500 Michigan 49,. 50 90
Montana -. $500 Connecticut So 81
Minnesota -. .S4.95 Washington ..SI59
In the matter of mortgages, however,
ahe percentage is much smaller in the
Southern States than it is in the North
and West. In fact, the difference is so
great as to be phenomenal. AS has. been
stated above, 21.97 per cent. of the farms
and homes in the United States are mort
gaged. That is the average for the whole
country, but in Georgia the percentage is
only 3.1S, in Tennessee 3.S7, in Florida
1853, in Alabama 3.9S, in Louisiana 3.94,
and in the other Southern States il is pro-
portionately small. The highest percent
age of mortgages is found in South Da.
kota, where only fifty-one out of every
one hundred people own their farms or
houses without incumbrance. Kansas
and Nebraska come very close TO the
maximum, and. strange to say, North Da,
kota and NeM-Jarsey have almost the
same percentage, the former showing
1912 per cent. of incumbcred farms ana
Aomes and the latter 45.S4. In Illinois
.2.6S per cent of the farms and homes
carry mortgages. in Indiana 29.72, in Iowa
42.4O, in Michigan 4099, in Minnesota
x2.47 and in Wisconsin 37.96. 1t is an
interesting fact that Utah has the small
est percentage of mortgaged farms and
homes of any Northern State, 9261 per
cent. of the owners there being absolutely
without incumbrance. In Washington,
also, the proportion is very small COM
pared with other new States the percent
age of mortgages being 23.45-less than
IN Massachusetts, New York. Pennsyl-
yania, Ohio or any other of the Eastern
States.
Mississippi Mortgage Ridden.
In Mississippi the farmers suffer more
from the mortgage evil than in any other
State, and only 81 per cent. Of their homes
are free. South Carolina comes next with
sS.51 per cent; Georgia, Al 80; Alabama
A3.15; Louisiana. 44.99. and Delaware,
60.5S. In Illinois GO out of every 100
farmers own their homes. in Indiana 30 -
and Iowa 70.43. The lowest rate of farm
mortgages is found in the following
States:
Per Per
State. cent. State. cent.
Florida ..... 2.95 Louisiana 400
New Mexico. 900 Kentucky -. .4.O6
Virginia ......3.16 Dist. Columbia A. 10
Tennessee .....3.21 Arkansas ..... 4. 1S
Georgia .3.3Sl Alabama $3.50. f.35
The highest rate Of farm mortgages is
found in Kansas-5j.4S. Iowa stands
second. with $500 per cent, and the
other highest States in the following or
der: South Dakota, 52.SS; Nebraska,
S1.99; Michigan. 1875; New Jersey,
AS.91; North Dakota, 1867; Minnesota,