The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28

ter, the Princess Stephanie, to remain at the
riette. The Princess married against his will. ar
votes all of its energies to assisting the
farmers-cheap transportation lower taxes
and small land holdings. With an area of
less than 100000 acres and population
of less than 100000, Denmark has nearly
100000 cultivated holdings of varying size,
nearly all owned by the cultivators. The
United Kingdom, with population Of 40
100000 and an area of nearly 100000 acres,
has but SIS. 900 holdings, seven-eighths of
them farmed by tenants
Taxation, tenure. lack of interest on the
part of the government. cost of transporta-
ton, lack of agricultural labor and crudi-
ties in methods are England's troubles.
The list is long one the evils deep rooted
and the remedies difficult to formulate and
still more difficult, if not impossible, to put
into effect within the span of several gem
erations These conditions prevail in Eng
land proper In Ireland they are worse.
In Scotland they are better. AS England,
however, represents the largest part of
British agriculture, the conditions prevail
ing there govern the situation. 1t is be-
lieved by some British economists that pro-
lection will prevail in time. but only after
some diaster to this industry. so great that
no citizen cares to contemplate the same
as a possibility of the future.
The United States, Argentina, Canada,
Australia and Russia can produce food
stuffs cheaper than England. The theory
that England should be turned into vast
market garden has many advocates, but
at the beginning of such transition the
railroads stand as bar to success. Then,
again. the free access to British markets
given to the foreigner is a constant threat
The English growers sent their strawber-
ries to London this year only to find they
had been forestalled by shipments from
France, but a few hours across the chan
mel. The French product was sent over
cheaply in sailing vessels. The British
product paid the high carriage rates of the
local railroads. The market was glutted
and the Englishmen discouraged.
The English government does little or
nothing to assist the agricultural industry
Nearly all the other countries in the world
are spreading knowledge, compelling good
facilities and shaping their fiscal policies
to meet agricultural needs. The English
statesman looks upon farming as a dull
subject, rather a bore. The interest shown
is perfunctory and far from general. The
real farmers are not represented in the
government There is a Board of Agricul-
ture, but its functions are more political
than practical
TAXES AND EXPENSES.
An increase of small holdings would be an
advantage, but the cost Of preparing them
for tenants, or the difficulty of selling
them, makes progress in this direction
most difficult With the taxes and expenses
of land ownership as high as they are now
II is cheaper to rent than to own. 1 have
an instance in mind which will illustrate
the burden placed upon farming land in
England One beautiful and well-situated
estate of about 400 acres cost origially $780,
900. The gross income from this land last
year was $500. After the taxes, church
tithes and expenses of administration were
paid the owner had about $500 left net,
and out of that his tenants required that
year a further investment of $1,000 for farm
buildings. Upon this land there were no
interest charges, as it was free Of incum-
brance.
On the other hand, some estates can sell
no land for the reason that If the actual
condition of the owner was exposed he
would be regarded as bankrupt. There
are a number of men in England who are
looked upon as great land owners who. if
sold out for their debts. would have less
than nothing. To sell a piece of their land
would necessitate giving an abstract This
abstract would be a revelation of a layer
of succeeding mortgages, claims and in
cumbrances of various kinds which would
bring ruin in its train. BY keeping these
things quiet these men retain the occupa-
ton of their places and skim enough money
off the returns each year to keep up their
state.
In the seventeenth century England was
owned by the yeomanry and was a COM
paratively great and prosperous agricul-
tural country. By purchase and in other
ways these small holdings were merged
into great estates and England's agricul-
ture was doomed Competition from
abroad in a free-trade market did the rest.
and English statesmen are now hopelessly
inactive before condition calculated to
test the wisdom of a great, self-governing
people. There seems to be real remedy.
There are undoubtedly palliatives. however,
which might prevail If the agrsrian in
terests were not so politically impctent as
compared with labor and commerce in a
country where over half of the people live
In cities. The British annual bill for food