The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-06-19
INCREASE IN
SOUTHERN FARMS
Il Was 1880 Before the Country
Recovered From the War.
CENSUS BUREAU STATEMENT.
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee,
Kentucky and Virginia Considered.
Increase In Farms Since 1860.

Increase In Farms Since 1860.
The change since 1860 in the method
of carrying on the work of producing
crops or the substitution of the south
ern small farm and tenant system for
the hired labor system of the northern
states in the eight southern states east
of the Mississippi Is outlined in II
statement issued by Director Durand
of the bureau of the census, depart
ment of commerce and labor. 1t was
prepared by John Lee Coulter, expert
special agent for agriculture
The states considered are Mississippi,
Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina,
North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky
and Virginia.
There has been an increase in the
number of farms from $4,000 in 1860
to 1,94S,OOO in 1910. Thus there were
in 1910 almost four times as many
farms as there were in 1850. 1t is clear
that the size of the average farm has
decreased in proportion to the increase
In the number of farms. The average
farm as reported in 1860 was 321
acres, while in 1910 it was S4 acres,
or about one-fourth as large as in 1860.
1t is evident that, whereas there were
G3 farms per thousand Of population in
these states in 1860, there were nearly
twice as many, or 116, in 1910.
Amount Of Land improved.
The absolute amount of land i'm
proved was 54.135,0O0 acres IN 1860. In
1870 it had decreased to az, 4S5 900 acres
loss of 6,650,O00 acres, or 1913 per
cent. But by 1850 the amount Of i'm
acres, which is almost 100000 acres
above the amount in farms in 1860.
In 1890 there were 67,5O0OO0 acres; in
1900 the amount was 100000 acres,
and in 1910 it was S1,OOO,O0O acres.
1t Is clear, therefore, that it was not
until about 1880 that the south had
completely recovered from the war, so
far as bringing land into cultivation
was concerned.
During the first twenty years of the
period under consideration the revolu-
ton in land tenure became observable
Large numbers of small farms were
established between 1890 and 1870.
At the census of 1880 there were re-
ported for the eight states over 1900
places less than ten acres IN size. Since
1880 the number has constantly in
creased until in 1910 there were $4,000,
almost three times as many
Between 1880 and 1910 there was a
considerable increase in the number of
fam owners. In 1880 there We're 672, =
600 owners and managers, whereas in
1910 there were 961 900, an increase of
2S9,O00, or 43 per cent, On the other
hand. there We're only 407, 900 tenants
in 1880, or less than two-thirds as
many as owners and managers, while
in 1910 there were 9S7 900, which is
considerably more than the total num-
Der of farmers who own either all or
part of their land or who are hired
managers. The increase was $4,000,
or 143 per cent.
Negro Tenants.
In 1900 in this group OF eight states
one-third of the farms were operated
by negro farmers and two-thirds by
white farmers. Further, of the negro
farmers only about one-fifth were own
ers, while among the white farmers
nearly two-thirds lived on owned
farms. In 1900 there were more than
100000 negro tenants In these states.
In 1910 the number had increased to
considerably more than 100000.
For the group OF states In question
herein about 80 per cent hire labor.
This high average is due to the fact
that In Virginia 46 per cent report la
bOr employed, and North Carolina,
South Carolina and Georgia show each
almost 10 per cent.
II is not only fact that the tenant
system is a substitute for the hired Ia
Dor system IN other parts OF the coun-
try, bat that IN these southern states
the farmers who report expenditures
for labor state an exceedingly small
amount. In the New England and
middle Atlantic states an average ex-
penditure OF about S26O per farm for
labor is maintained, while in the north
central states the average runs well
over $225. In the mountain and Pa.
cifc states it amounts to 5000 per
farm. In FIVE of tho eight states con
sRlered the average expenditure for la.
bor per farm reporting rs considerably
less than 500.