Holbrook argus., 1901-05-04

mat landlOrd1Sm and tenant farming
are increasing with surprising rapidity
in the United States is one of the most
important facts developed out of the
census reports issuing from Washing
ton. According to a statement of l.. G.
Powers, chief statistician of the agri-
cultural division of the census, it APP
pears that for at least twenty
years the percentage of farms OPP
Grated by tenants has increased heav-
lily in all parts of the United States
except the extreme West. For the
whole country this percentage has in
creased in the last ten years nearly
twice as fast as the per cent of popu-
lation of the nation, four times that
of the purely agricultural population
and twice that of the farms operated
by their owners. Mr.. Powers sug-
gests that this unprecedented increase
does not show a degradation of the
rural population, but an uplifting, from
the fact that it must be largely COM
posed Of negroes in the Southern
States and of farm hands or farmers
sons who have become tenant farmers.
1t is declared, however, by many who
are watching the tendency, that large
numbers of those who have indeed ris-
en- out of these ranks to become tenants
would have become farm owners in
stead under other conditions, as did the
young men of a generation ago. To
whatever extent this army of tenant
fa hoS bn
ranks of those who had been but wage
earners, it is a matter for satisfaction.
To the extent that it includes those
who have sunk from ownership or
might have become owners it is not
good. 1t is impossible to separate
the census are issued. Out of the we'll
known conditions in the middle West,
| however, with these preliminary fig
ures at hand, it is possible to discover
some interesting material for specula-
ton. Many farmers are moving into
the towns, selling their farms outright
or renting to tenants. In the latter in
stances each farm is forced to become
the support of two families, which is
apt to prove a heavy burden on any
property calculated for one family.
Capitalists recognize that farms pur-
chased and rented to tenants are
among the best investments, principal
and income being peculiarly safe. 9th
| er capitalists who wish to invest in
farm loans are finding, in many in
| stances, that their money is a drug on
the market. The farmers who own
land are so prosperous that they do not
need loans; those who are tenants have
no security upon which to borrow. Mer-
chants in the smaller towns are now
complaining that their trade is suffer
ing by the increase of tenant farmers
The latter are not as prompt in paying
bills, they cannot afford to buy as
much, and they do not improve their
places with the same energy and mod
ern agricultural methods and machin-
cry as do the ones who own their
farms Tenant farmers have not the
| interest in preserving the farm prop
erty that the owner has when he is the
resident. Nor, indeed is the tenant SO
! interested to protect the permanent
fertility of the soil by the most care
full farming methods. 1t is recognized
that either in city or country the best
performance Of the duties of citizen
ship comes from those who own their
homes. With that fact in mind, nc
one can fail to regret the immense
growth of tenant farming indicated by
the census.