Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-03-28

Final and complete statistics Of
farms, homes and mortgages have been
issued from the census office and the
figures offer an inviting field for study.
The report contains many striking IL
Illustrations and the growth Of landlord
ism is one Of the most wildly evident
facts brought out. It is not in one por-
ton Of the country only, but east ana
west, north and south alike bear the
same testimony, Of tendency toward
European conditions. A few figures
taken at random illustrate the situa-
ton:
In Rhode Island not quite 20 per cent
Of the farms were occupied by tenants
in 1880, while In 1890 over rs per cent
were so occupied. In Vermont during
the same period the increase is from 10
per cent to II per cent, while In Massa-
chusetts in 1880 8.1S per cent OF farms
were occupied by tenants, in 1880 over
Is per cent. In the south, land mort
cages are not so common as In the
west and the bulk Of debt Is represented
by crop liens, as cotton Is more readily
turned into money. The per cent OF ten
ant farmers in Georgia increased rom
1886 to 1890 from "A per cent to o. per
cent. In Tennessee during the same
period the increase is from "a per cent
to Al per cent. AS fair index OF the
west: In Minnesota In 1880, 8 per cent
Of the farms were hired and in 1890, 10
per cent, while over 80 per cent OF the
farms are mortgaged, making "a per
cent that are virtually tenants, as the
occupant Of mortgaged home pays
interest to the mortgage amounting to
rent, not unfrequently greater than
the tenant neighbor who makes no
pretense Of ownership,
The mortgage statistics present q sit-
uation that cannot but be viewed with
alarm. In the state Of Kansas the
number of mortgages in force in 1890
was 29S,880 aggregating the amount OF
S243, 0OO,O 900, and proving per capita
debt Of $40 or an average Of $3.50 Tor
each family. We have reason to believe
that conditions since 1880 have i'm
proved In Kansas while becoming worse
in other localities. In Iowa the mort
gage indebtedness amounted to $780,
774.171, being per capita debt Of $1O4
In Illinois the per capita mortgage debt
Is 500 or $500 for each family. These
figures illustrate the situation in the
center of the great agricultural regions
Of the west.
The aggregate for the United States
June 1, 1890, shows that there were H.
$50 $50 families; of these 2,25O,OOO occu-
pied mortgaged homes and farms, while
$3.50 were tenants occupying hired
homes, leaving the number Of 2,19O, 152
occupying their own homes free from
encumbrance. The average amount Of
indebtedness on each motgage is ST.
257 and the average interest on each
one is $3.50 annually. Figuring to-
gether those who are in mortgaged
homes paying interest, and tenants pay
ing rent, we have total Of "a per cent
of the families who are virtually ten
ants, while only 16 per cent Of our peo-
ple are free home owners. The mort
gagged Indebtedness amounted in the
aggregate to almost three billion of
dollars. or a little over $4,000 each for
every man, woman and child in the
United States. It is useless to go far
Their with the figures, what we have
given is a fair illustration Of the whole
report.
Is It not humiliating that such con-
ditions exist? A mortgaged indebted
ness of double the actual amount OF
money in the country, even though we
accept as true the treasury report Of
circulation which make no allowance
for losses or any other cause by which
the amount in actual circulation falls
far below the reports. The increase In
landlordlsm presents dark future FOL
a country that for century has boosted
its liberty, its free homes and free in
stitutions. 1t portrays plainly the trend
of events which will result in a land o.
slaves, the most pitiable the world has
ever known, for in our history will lin
ger the glittering promises Of freedom
and in the crushed and broken body o.
once hopeful. buoyant nationality
will remain a slumbering spark Of thu
spirit Of liberty, subdued, conquered and
depressed. A nation Of crushed ant
bleeding hearts, Of lost and buried
hopes, Of cruel disappointment; disma
despair.