New-York tribune., 1903-01-25
LFASEH0LD LhEDS.
One of the survivals of the Pest N Central
New-York

r-,-. y Ian % tSnecian.-The Governor Dix
farm IN Brookfeld Oneida County. originally ac-
CURED by John A Morgan. father-in-4aW Of GOV
ernor Dix under lease. has just been sold The olo
sarr, was acqufred by Mr Morgan about the be
ginning Of the last century II was originally
owned by the State. and. together Win other
lands II was given Mr.. Morgan for MS services
es surveyor Of State lands The house on the
farm is one hundred years old. Governor Dix and
his family frequently spent their summers there.
This was before railroads were built IN that part
OF the State. and the Governor travelled overland
by coach His coming was always ATTENDED WIN
ceremony by the country folk.
At the tine Of early settlements in different parts
nt the State the lands were not sold outright
They were leased 10 those who settled upon them.
There existed idea on the part Of the pro
rrietors Of the different patents that they coulo
build I'D something like the system prevailing IN
European countries-that the lands could be leased
20 tenants for long periods and in this manner
the owners could create large estates. from winch
they could obtain q steady income after the fash
ion Of English land owners in their dealings with
their tenants in Ireland. In some places these
leases became curse. and after years had passed
there arose long contested suits that were only
finally settled by special legislation Leasehold
farms still form important factor in the farm
sng districts in Central New-York
Madison Onondaga. Oneida Herkimer and OF
sego counties have about fifty thousand acres OF
these leased lands There are also lands in Onelda
and Herkmer counties WHICH are taxed l0r 9ide ~
County. much Of the village property occupied a, %, 6y
business places is leased by the Presby terra \
Church TO the tenants and at the expiration OF
The leases the lands revert 10 the church society
In German Flats. Herkimer County. there are
lands taxed for the Fort Herkimer Church The
is about shilling an acre. II was decreeo
by the founders Of the church that as long as
water runs and grass grows these farm lands
shall contribute the support Of the churches
and a law 70 that effect passed by the legls-
lature. The farmers crlnct avoid the payment
Of the tax to the Fort Herkirner Church. when
amounts TO about 500 year.
There are about two hundred and nifty tenants
on these farms. many Of whom are DESCENDANTS OF
the original holders Of leases. Many Of the leases
are active to-day. and they viii be until. the
deaths of the men whose lives measure the dura-
tion Of the leases. when they will be rewritten to
correspond with State laws. Many leases were
given 'as long as water and grass grows
while other leases for three lives then in
being The latter leases were generally given
between 17s0 and 1900 The three-ife leases expire
by the death of the persons whose lives meas
Nred from the original lease. ana as fast as they
expire new contracts made out with the ten
ants for durations permitted under State laws.
No three-}ife leases legal
The agent for these lands is Lotion 5. Hunt, for
ten years United States Consul at Guelph, Ont.
He was appointed 1872. Mr. Hunt discovered
that those whose lives measured the duration of
the leases scattered all over the United
States. and it required years TO ind them.