Morris tribune., 1912-01-26
FRIDAY. JANUARY 20, 1912
TAKING STOCK


takes every ten years is much like a
national stock-taking, similar to what
a good business man does every year.
Stock taking is always apt to re-
veal a number of things to mer-
chant about his business which he
may have surmissed in general way
before, and 1T may even hand him
some surprises occasionally.
The census reports already given
out have furnished US with some
things to think about in what it re-
veals about the growth of urban pop
ualtion and the increase in manufact-
cries in the past ten years. and the
corresponding falling off in rural
population.
But to bring the matter nearer
home, we this week publish a lot
of most interesting statistics regard
ing Stevens county. as shown by the
last census but just now given to the
press.
We commend their careful perusal
to our readers.
From these statistics we learn
that the total number of farms in this
county has decreased 141 in ten years,
and that by far the larger number of
farms are in the class from 26O to
400 acres. The total land in farms
has decreased in ten years 7,155
acres, but there has been reassuring
increase in the improved land in farms
by ID, 367 acres.
The total value of all farm property
has increased 1O7 per cent or 81, 100.
$50. which sounds very fattering un-
til we read that SIS. $50, O4O was in
the value of the land, while only
1888, 7SO was in the value of the in
crease in buildings, only $123, ITO
increase in implements, etc., and
598, $40 increase in domestic animals,
etc.
The land is no richer than it was
ten years ago, and if what the ex-
perts tells US about present day de-
pletion of the soil be true, it is actu-
ally poorer, so the enormous increase
in land represents only higher price
and not a gain in intrinsic worth.
The average price of land ten years
ago was SIS. II, but in 1910 was
$33. 76, an increase of over 100 per
cent. While it is gratifying to the
land owner to have his land thus in
crease in value. yet in an economic
sense, the only gain there is in this
increased price is that it acts as a
spur to greater productivity. When
land in this county is worth $500 ar
acre, it will be tarmed better than
it is today. but the principal reason
why it will be better farmed is be.
cause it will have to be done.
But the statistics regarding land
tenure are the most startling. In
1900, "a per cent of all the farms
were operated by the owners, but in
1910 only 65.4 were operated by own
ers. In 1900 only 15.1 per cent Of
all the farms were operated by ten
ants. but in 1910 this had increased
to 80. per cent or more than double.
Even the farms operated by managers
increased from 10 in 1900 to Is in
1910.
This change in land tenure is one
which we believe is most blighting to
the welfare and prosperity of any
country. Volumes have been written
upon it, and it has been demonstrated
many times over in many different
countries that the people of that coun-
try are the freest, happiest and best
where each owns and tilIs his own
land. and conversely that many are
the evils which attend the system Of
land tenure where one man owns the
land and another man tilIs it, as OBJ
tains in so many of the European
countries.
The trend here now is in the wrong
direction. There is work for West
Central Minnesota Development AS