Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-26
WEALTHY FARMERS
DECREASE IN POPULATION IN
IOWA DUE TO PROSPERITY
OF RURAL RESIDENTS.
Nonresident Owners Not Responsible
For Loss-Farmers Increase Hold
ings and Reduce Population - Evil
dence of the Census Enumerators.

inss and Reduce Population Evil
dence Of the Census Enumerators.
To the expansion of the Iowa farmer
is largely due the falling off in the
population of the state, which will not
exceed 2 per cent. AS property has
increased his wealth he has bought
land adjacent to his own, and the re-
suit is that vacant farm houses dot
the face of Iowa.
| These facts have been disclosed by
the reports on the subject made to
the state executive council in response
to specific inquiry directed to the CEN
sus enumerators. Or these enumera-
tors there are $500, approximately.
The census department Of the state
asked them to investigate and give an
explanation Of the loss of population in
their districts, if any. The answers
which have been returned from the ru-
raj communities have in three-fourths
of the cases indicated that the loss is
due to the desire of well-to-do farmers
10 increase their holdings many ex-
planning that it is their desire to OBJ
tain land enough for their growing
family.
In a communication on the subject
Secretary A. H. Dawson of the execu-
tive council says:
II have not in all the hundreds of
replies received received single re-
ply that would indicate that it is the
nonresident purchaser that has
brought about this condition.
Need Larger Farms.
"The small farmer raising family
seems to be actuated by the same de-
sire as his neighbor with larger means
He desires a larger area of land for
his children. The impossibility Of
gratifying both desires has resulted in
the one who is the more able pur-
chasing one or more Of those small
farms. the smaller farmer removing to
newer sections in order to increase his
holdings.
"The perfection Of farm machinery
has been given as a reason also why
holdings. Men are now able to handle
conveniently and successfully with
modern machinery very much larger
ldIluS tudu lOTIuGTly.
mot single letter has been re-
ceived indicating that lack of pros
perity on the part of the communities
as being the leading motive. Other
reasons for small farmers desiring to
sell have been given, but only in a
few cases."
Same in Minnesota.
Mr.. Davison's attention had been d.
rected to an editorial discussion in
The Register and Leader of an article
from the Minneapolis Journal relating
to the loss of population in Iowa and
Minnesota. Concerning the statement
made in the Minneapolis paper that
the falling off there was due to the
nonresident purchaser of lands, Mr..
Dawson says:
Being personally acquainted with
conditions in the counties in Iowa i'm
mediately south of Mobiles county, Min
nesota, which is referred to by the
Minneapolis Journal, the writer
knows that the reasons herein given
are very largely the reasons which
have led Iowa farmers in that region
10 go out after cheaper lands. The
weather. farmers of the northwest
counties Of Iowa are continually on the
lookout for adjacent lands which can
be added to their holdings; the de-
sire to provide the coming generation
with homes being largely the CONTROL
ing element in these transactions.
could refer you to many specific in
stances, and know Of scarcely sin
gle one of the nature referred to in the
editorials mentioned where the non
resident is holding land under pur-
chase made during the preceding five
years. 1t is temporary vacuum with
out doubt, but the vacuum will be
largely filled by these plans Of the ia
theirs for their children.
Most Complete Census.
"Our inquiries were stimulated by ed
itorial utteIances going SO far as to
notify the census department that the
, people of Iowa would not stand for a
decreased population return. Our in,
quiries have reached after the com.
pletenes' Of the enumeration made
and we find that the present census
!, has been the most thoroughly and com
pletely taken of any enumeration that
has been made within the state.
1.-THE vacuum is overestimated some
what on account of the fact that the
census was taken as Of the date OF
January l., when the farm help that is
) employed during the summer was
largely in the towns This has in
creased the loss of population in the
; rural districts and increased the popu
lation in the towns beyond what it is
! today. The real home of these la
horers probably is at the place where
they were located January 1, but the
fact is as stated in your article, that
throughout the most prosperous parts
of the state of Iowa numerous farm