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

There has been "a good deal of talk in
cent years about the abandoned farms in
New England. 1t being 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 i'm its various relations to the move
ment of population and the future results
on social conditions in the rural districts
of New England. It 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
Maine had $500 farms with an acreage
of improved or tillable land of 3,4S4, 9OS
acres; in 1892 it had 62,O13 homesteads with
an acreage of 3,O44, 666 acres New Hamp-
shire in 1880 had S2,1S1 farms and an acre
age of 2,30S 112; in 1890, 29, Isl farms of 1,727
1S7 acres. In 1880 Vermont had 50 522 farms
and acreage of {, 2S6, 451; in 1890, 32,573 farms
and 2,655,943 acreage. Massachusetts, had
in 1880 SO. 400 farms of S.311 acres and in
1890 S4.S74 farms of 1.657.O24 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 a
great many owners were DESTROYS of selling
at low prices. The number of farms thus
offered at low figures was 800, aggregat-
ing 3,193 600 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
ment has measurably ceased and that a
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 a 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
long STEP says the Advertiser, from
the lugubrious reports of the last decade
TO the formation of 100000 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 few people still
remember how grave the problem seemed
at the time when it was first brought to
the, attention of the public. At that time
there were fears that the western part of
the State would become deserted in some
sections N,Tow in many cases the former
abandoned farms have become summer
residences foy those who have plenty OF
money to spehd and who are anxious to
spend it," The, point of general interest
in this statemertt is that the main factor
i'm bringing the abandoned farms OF Massa-
chusetts into derband again is better means