The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-09
ABANDONED FARMS.

There has been good deal Of talk in re-
cent years about the abandoned farms in
New England 1t being an admitted fact
that many farms have been abandoned by
their former owners, ceased to be Guilt
waited and sold for a song or thrown upon
the market, the question has been dis
cussed in its various relations to the move
ment Of population and the future results
on social conditions in the rural districts
of New England. 1t was said few years
ago that the traveller through some OF the
New England States, notably Vermont and
New Hampshire, finds deserted home
steads at every turn, ruined and empty
houses, and their ramshackle barns. with
open doors and windows looking like eye
holes in a skull, and wide stretches of
young forest where once corn and potatoes
grew" The United States census statistics
of 1880 and 1890, the latest that have been
tabulated, showed the following: In 1880
Maine had 1909 farms with an acreage
Of improved or tillable land of S,4S4, 9OS
acres; in 1892 it had 62013 homesteads with
an acreage of 1904 666 acres. New Hamp-
shire in 1880 had 321S1 farms and an acre
age of 2.SOS 112; in 1890, % isl farms Of 1727,-
1S7 acres. III 1850 Vermont had $500 farms
and acreage of 2S6.451; in 1890. S2,57S farms
and 2.655, 943 acreage. Massachusetts, had
in 1850 IS, 4O6 farms of 2,12S,s11 acres and in
1890 S4.374 farms of 1,657O24 acres. In 1892
the secretary of the State Board of Agri-
culture in Connecticut instituted inquiries
which showed that while very few farms in
the State had been actually abandoned
great many owners were DESTROYS of selling
at low prices. The number of farms thus
offered at low figures was 800, aggregat-
ing S,19S,6O0 acres. The figures show that
during the decade referred to there was a
marked decrease in the number and acre
age Of cultivated farms in the States
named Various causes may have con-
tributed to this movement. but no doubt
one was that the new spirit OF the times
had opened unknown vistas of pleasure
and comfort in living which the old life
could not crafty, and that children had
grown tired Of conditions which their
fathers endured with patience.
1t is gratifying to learn that the move
Il
different order of things is coming in. The
Boston Advertiser says that in a portion of
Massachusetts, which few years ago was
noted for its abandoned farms there has
been record-breaking period of construc-
ton of street railways" From this it ap-
pears that improved means of transit and
| communication are an important factor in
bringing up the abandoned farms 1T is
a long step" says the Advertiser, from
the lugubrious reports of the last decade
TO the formation of a 81 600 street-rail-
way company for the accommodation OF
prosperous communities. The story of the
abandoned farms Of a former decade is
now such ancient history that it has al
most been forgotten. Yet a few people still
remember how grave the problem seemed
| at the time when it was first brought 10
the attention of the public. At that time
| there were fears that the western part OF
| the State would become deserted in some
sections. Now in many cases the former
abandoned farms have become summer
! residences for those who have plenty of
money to spend and who are anxious 10
| spend it." The point OF general interest
in this statement is that the main factor
| In bringing the abandoned farms OF Massa-
! chusetts into demand again is better means