Evening star., 1901-08-03
) w. b. MOSES & SONS, F ST. Cor 1tF1

with another, the planter makes the most
Of a prosperous year that the general aver
age of profit may be maintained. This
average of profit is very large. The best
cotton lands are worth from $40 to $15 an
acre. The improvements upon them repre-
sent a very small investment. The live
stock and machinery furnished the renter
is examined and kept up to the mark by
the planters resident agent, who rides
from cotton patch to cotton patch as old
the overseer of the old plantation before
the war. Nothing in which the planter is
interested is allowed to deteriorate or go
to waste. What the renter does with his
modest share Of the money received from
the harvest or what peculiar scheme OF
economy he may adopt in the conduct Of
his business and family affairs. is held to
be no concern OF the planter. Possibly
some Of them have tried to improve the
condition Of their renters, but many of
them believe all such effort to be useless.
In speaking of the people who till these
cotton lands. one Of the greatest planters
in McLennan county recently said:
'"rhe negro renters are practically en-
ployes of the planter, the only difference
being that they are paid with share OF
the crop instead of being paid regular
wages They have to be furnished every
thing and are closely supervised. At the
end of the year they seldom have anything
cans who rent cotton lands are as rule
shiftless, ignorant people. whom 1t seems
impossible to teach thrift and foresight.
The Germans, of whom there are many, are
the best renters we can get, the only
trouble being that they will not long stay
in that position. They rent the land for
several years, generally staying In the
same place.
Generally Improvident.
IT have one man who has rented the
same piece of ground from me for -thir-
teen years; he has left me this year be-
cause I would not sell him his farm.
These people are careful. saving and use
most excellent judgment in outstanding
their share Of the proceeds Of each crop
The white Americans are careless; when
they do make a good crop they spend their
money and spend 1t foolshly. If they did
as the Germans do they would be equally
prosperous, and they are given equal OPP
portunity. They do not possess the p same anne
their only property is an old wagon. q
couple Of horses or more, few household
trinkets and a large family. Their house,
hold goods and family they load upon
wagon as soon as the cotton crop is har-
vested, and move to some other section
Of the country in hopes of bettering their
condition. They find the same conditions.
however. prevailing everywhere, ana al IN
couraged and irresponsible even than they
were when younger.
"Some Of these white renters after get
ting everything from the planter necessary
to make their crop. draw as heavily as they
can for provisions and supplies of different
kinds When they find that they are IN
debt to the planter for more than their
share OF the crop Will amount TO. tney
very often abondon the farm and leave 1t
to the planter to hire extra help and har-
vest the crop at his own expense.
@"A properly conducted cotton farm In the
90 per cent upon it's valuation, and the
valuation is generally at least five times
the original investment. 1t Is one OF the
most profitable businesses I know OF, but
tail and very careful and strict handling
of the people who till the land Over 70
per cent of the arabic land about waco is
under the plow. The average taxable value
Of land In this section IS less tnan S1o per
acre, and the taxes are less than l per
cent The percentage of farms which are
titled by tenants is very high. l should say
there were about 1 800 farms In McLennan
county, and the last report we nave SHOWS snow
there are over 1.2O0 tenant farmers There
Is general tendency on the part or the
landlords to increase the size OF their
holdings and the men who already have
the land and money are more apt to absorb
adjacent tracts than they are to allow new
comers to enter the field
Tenant Farmers Increasing.
Preliminary reports from the United
States census Of 1900 show a very large in
crease in the number Of tenant farmers.
This is unquestionably due to decreased
onnortunity. for securing free land from
the government. Men who fifteen or twenty
wears ago would have ''trekked' out west
looking for a homestead location. are now
forced to rent from owners OF large tracts
unon such terms as these owners may die
tate, however hard they may be. 1t is in
teresting to note that there Is an unusual
scarcity Of good tenants seeking locations
in northern Texas this year This is due
to the opportunity offered by the opening
Of the Kiowa reservation. Thousands Of
Texas renters have gone to that reservation
in hopes Of securing land of their own.
The system OF tenantry in force in north
ern Texas does not produce an intelligent
class of citizenship. The renters have no
interest in caring for the property they ex-
meet ito occupy hut q few months. nor do
thew in any way attempt to conserve the
fertility OF the soil they cuitivate. Iner
extreme poverty and wandering life makes
II impossible for them to educate and
clothe their children. to say nothing OF
the fact that the labor OF every child who
can walk Is necessary tnat the COTTON rent
or NAV exc out his miserable living. The
misertes of this class of people during the
long period when cotton was f1ve or six
cents a pound can well be imagined when
experienced cotton planters say tnat the
af least fiye cents. Three acres are allowed
to produce one bale of cotton. The aver
ara Texas renter with family OF girls
and boys OLD enough TO WoIA III Tue neiu.
crltiyates about fifty acres. The total
sunn received from the crop OF this land is
less than 500, and but one-half OF this
goes to the renter.
Owes Money Mt the End.
II he devotes any land to vegetables or
any product in which the landlord Is not
interested. he must pay at least 81 in cash
DER acre for the rent OF that land. With
$3.50 as the probable limit Of his cash In
come for a year. it Is evident that the
Texas renter IL fortunate who does not hnd
himself in debt to the owner OF the land
when the final balance 1s struck.
The cause Of this peculiar condition IN
the most poputous section OF great state
lies In the ease with which large tracts Of
land were SECURED In the early days. The
federal land laws did not apply TO Tsxsp.
AA the land within her borders was made
a state trust, which has been Administered
recklessly and In bad faith as IL the case
In every lnstance where q state government
has been entFueted with public land TO die: