The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-06-14

Reported for The Egis.
The Deer Creek Farmers Club met at the
beautiful home of Mr.. James +. Kenly, near
Churchvile. last Saturday afternoon. Mr.
Kenly has one of the finest farms in Hartford
county. Everything is as neat rs a new pin
His cattle look well, but it is hard to under
stand how they could look otherwise, grazing
in such luxuriant pasture.
The members present were John MoOres 7.
E. Swartz, Robert F. Hanna, j. B. Wysong, X.
Harris Archer, D. C. Wharton Smith. Thomas
Lochary, John Webster, w. b. Harlan, and w.
b. Hopkins. The visitors were B. Frank Han
way, S. NJ. Lee, Rev. S. C. WATSON, Francis
Magee, of Philadelphia, and Thomas A. Coch-
ran.
Mr.. Alfred S. Niles, of Baltimore, had been
invited to address the club on the subject Of
taxation, but was unavoidaby absent.
The subject selected by the host was SHOULD
a young man, who intends to follow farming
permanently, and has sufficient capital to pur-
chase farm and pay one-half on 1t, do this or
invest his money and rent one."
Mr.. Kenly said that taking into consideration
the low price OF land, it seemed to him that If
a young man had determined to farm, he never
could buy land cheaper than now. For some
years past tenants nave done much better
than landlords, and this might be II strong
argument in favor of renting, but in the long
run he thought the young man would be Intin-
ately better of by buying.
r. Harris Archer said the question had two
Sides He agreed with Mr.. Kenly that the ten
ant had lhe best of it. If he has good farm
he had better stay where he is, as there is al
ways good living asSul ed him: III the young
man did not have farm would advise him to
buy now, as land is not bringing one-half ms
much as it did fifteen years ago. MIR. Archer
cited as an instance the Glasgow property.
Sometime ago Mr.. Glasgow was offered $4,000
for it He afterwards erected buildings cost
ing 81 900 and it sold this spring for $4,000
If land is now only worth one-half its value,
there would be only one-half the interest TO
pay, and money can now be obtained at per
cent. He would therefore advise the young
man if he was not already on good farm to
W. Beatty Harlan thought if a man thor
oughly purposed to adopt farming for living
there was no better time to buy than now.
For some years past the man who rents the
farm gets more than the owner, and this might
be an argument in favor of tenanting, but
with land ut the present rock bottom prices,
there never will be a more favorable oppOrtu-
nity for a man to obtain home.
ID. c. Wharton Smith said there were many
matters to consider i'll discussing the question.
1t seems to be the prevailing opinion that land
can now be bought ut less than its value. 1t is
always safe adventure to buy anything at
less than cost II the young man is energetic,
u good manager anu not afraid of work he
would run little risk in buying. Without
these qualities he had better go slow.
W. B. Hopkins had both rented and owned a
farm, and thought il the young man had Il
good landlord he could not do better than
renting. Many expenses such as fertilizers,
repairs and taxes are saved, and at the end of
the year he will have more clear money. An
other thing to be considered is the worry of
debt.
b. Frank Hanway agreed with Mr.. Hopkins.
He would not go i'll debt. If he had 81, 800 he
would buy that priced farm, otherwise would
prefer a good landlord and invest the money.
Thomas Lochary thought if Il young man had
good health and good Judgment, there never
was u better time to buy than now. An argu-
ment in favor of buying is that renter does not
| work more than half the year, while an owner
| can spend his whole time in identifying and
enhancing tine value of his property. Too
| much idleness is not good for any young man
| the young man must have several necessary
attributes. lis advice was go ahead, buy u
| farm and go to work and not have any land
| lord as II dictator. Then Il young man feels
| like a freeman. He can look any man in the
| eye and makes better citizen. Mr.. Moores
| cited an instance of q man who bought a farm