New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-21
WILL RECLAIM FARMS.
STATE and FEDERAL AID
Ne7o York. and Washington to
Work IN Conjunction.


NJ Earle Carr chief expert Of the bureau Of soils
of the United States Department OF Agriculture
and Charles w. Harmon, of the State Department
or Agriculture, We're in this city discussing the
convention which is TO take up the abandoned farm
question.
John = Stewart. president OF the Republican
League OF Clubs of the State, who in consulta-
ton with Messrs Carr and LarmOn. said that the
convention would be held in Syracuse.
The situation is becoming grave" said Mr.
Stewart yesterday. that everything is being
done 10 hold the convention soon as possible
Mr.. Harmon and Mr.. Carr were in the city for
several days and discussed the situation thorough
ly. They went to Washington to-day, where they
will prepare for the convention. Ii may last for
several weeks Then an appeal will be made TO the
Legislature for appropriation.
If the money can be obtained. the departments
OF agriculture state and federal will begin at once
to advertise for farmers and rehabitate the aban-
doned lands throughout the state. The result vii!
be that the agricultural districts will increase in
valuation and the villages the population or the
early sos.
The city Is absorbing the country so fast, taking
thousands of farmers every year. that the sooner
some definite action is taken by the Legislature the
sooner the thousands of farms, embracing over
l,2to.uO acres may be saved.
III is high time that the attention OF the state
was directed TO this crying need and to the danger
to the community In the present conditions
think IT should be made issue for the next rev
years, and l believe that convention of serious
and sincere in their respective communities
could so emphasize this need to compel action
by the state government. To my mind It far trans
cendS In Importance the utilities Dill, the rate
measure any other of the great projects Of con-
structive legislation with which the American peo-
pie have grappled within the last three or four
years
Il have just received a communication from W.
Pierrepont White who is thoroughly acquainted
with the situation and he is expected to be at the
convention. and will take an active part in ,the
movement
Mr.. White who is a member of the State Grange.
In giving his views the question said that the
State Department of Agriculture has for distribu-
ton pamphlet with the description 100 New
York farms for sale for rent which states that
there than twenty thousand farms for
sale in the and nearly all at such low prices
and upon such favorable terms to make them
available for any one desiring to engage in agri-
cultural pursuits"
The federal census reports continues Mr. White,
show the decrease In value of farm lands In New
York from 1870 to 1900 have been 500 co00O0 OF
which decrease 100000 occurred between the years
1890 and 1900.
Ex-State Engineer Van Alstyne states that the
average freight rate on the railroads Of New York
In 1865 ga cents ton mile, and that
the average freight rate in 1904 73-l00ths of
cent This is the measure of the growth of West
ern competition in New York State markets.
Mr.. Van Alstyne also says that the people OF the
State of New York paid $1i2o0OQp less for their
local freight charges in 1894 than they would have
paid il the freight charges had been the same as In
1865 and that for their through freight they would
have paid $326.Oo4O00 more II they had had to pay
the freight rates OF 1865
We have been urging the development of our
farm roads said Mr. White by the expenditure
OF 100000 in order 10 construct complete state
and county system OF highways 30 as TO make our
farms accessible 10 our present shipping centres
and enable farmers to place upon wagons with
broad tires heavy loads TO be drawn over roads
which shall have grades capable OF permitting
10 draw four to market in one-half the
time that II is able 10 draw ton 10 market.
Those advocating road Improvement in this state
that they believe that this system Of improved
highways can be built in ten years and when IL
IS built that II viii increase the farm values
81 the state average OF $40 acre. that
2G6.120 farms IN the state which average about a
hundred each, win increase IN value IN the
ten wears $2b6, 720.0 600 We cannot help but believe
that this increase In value is not only possibility.
but probability. and that those that have farm
lands in the state ought TO be put in position 10
Judge whether they VIII part with their farms NJ
the beginning OF the great internal development
for the restoration Of farm values whether
they had better wait and try 10 obtain better
prices"
Mr.. Stewart received from tho Department Of
Agriculture at Washington yesterday a long list Of
country villages showing the changes in population
from 1850 to 1900. Although some Of the villages
show n slight Increase, because they the bust
ness centres Of the county, large majority show
a decrease Following is n table showing these
changes In population in number Of towns In the
principal counties IN New York: