The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1898-04-27
II LESSON FOR EVERY
Farmer 10 Study


ings.
It is not a pleasant duty for the
faithful journalist to take a pessi-
mistic view of the condition which
confronts those who are engaged
in productive industry. As we all
Tive ON what grows out Of the
tground; as the farmer stands in the
front rank between the benefcent
ruler of the universe and, human
society, feeding the whole with the
bread of life, all are interested IN
his prosperity, says the Gincinnati
Enquirer. If his Iabors are attend
ed by abundant crops and he has a
good market for his surplus every
Industry is quickened into new life.
The miner, mechanic, merchantand
manufacturer acknowledge their
dependence upon the cultivators of
the soil for their wen-being.
1t will not be disputed that in
the ownership of the homes is the
foundation of liberty, civilization
and progress. Hence prosperity
and happiness depends very large
ly upon the individual ownership
of the homestead. There is no as
surance of the perpetuity of free
government when the farm tenant
is not also the landlord. Itis sad
but we'll authenticated fact that the
number of real owners of homes
and farms in the United States is
diminishing while the percentage
of rented homes is increasing. A
few decades ago the great majority
of the population were home own
ers and were in great measure
free from ineumbrance. To-day
the number of tenants is fearfully
large.
The census of 1890 reports a
population of about sixty three and
half millions, or 12,690,ooo fami-
lies of five members each, or an ag-
gregate of that many homes owned
or rented. About 9,250,0OO occu-
pied hired homes or farms, and
only 100000 occupy their homes
free from incumbrance.
Eighty-four per cent of the total
number are the occupants of rented
or mortgaged homes. Fifty years
ago the United States was nation
of home owners and to-day 10 per
cent are tenants.
1t is an unwelcome and startling
truth that in this our great repub-
lie, boasting of it's free homes and
free Institutions. the percentage of
its dependent population is greater
than any nation in the civilized
world with the exception of Great
Britain. It is astonishing and
alarming with what rapidity the
tenant farmers are multiplied in
this country. Between 1880 and
1890 the number of owning farmers
decreased in every New England
state. In these six states the own
ing farmers diminised 24,117 and
the tenant farmers increased 7,246.
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, in
the decade, lost 31.259 owning far
mers and gained 1864 tenant
farmers.
In Iowa, when public lands
could be obtained without charge
until very recently, the number OF
owning farmers increased 3,52l
and the number of tenant farm
ers increased 1858.
In 47 States and Territories the
number of owning farmers in
creased 1915 and the number
of tenant farmers increased during
the same decade 599,937. The
reader should bear in mind that
these great changes from home
stead owners to tenant occupants
took place during a period when
farm lands in all the States had
fallen in commercial value from &c
to 60 per cent. The reliable his.
torian, Archibald Allison, tells us
that in the seven years immedi.
ately following the demonetizatior
of silver by the British Govern.
ment the number of land owners
fell from 10000 to less than 80,
600. Nearly all the farmers O
England to-day are tenant farmers
who hand over to the greedy anc
avaricious owners all their earningl
except a meagre subsistence
England boasts of her unboundec
wealth. She has the interest bear
ing debts of the United States tc