The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-03-04
HARD PROBLEM FOR FARMERS
one ming to Own a Farm and An
other to Be Owned by a Mort
eage-caution Is Urged.
(BY s @ MIIIER 4

By s. c. MIILER.)
henters have shared in the general
prosperity of farmers during the past
rev years. and many of them have
caught the spirit of ownership and are
anxious to try farming on their own
account
Ihis Is one Of the most laudable am
oltlons in the world. Every man who
ioVes farming always has, down deep
IN MS heart, longing to own some
idIu upon which he can make a home
ana work out his fortunes.
but 1t is one thing to own a farm
ana quite another to be owned by a
mortgage.
Lack of capital is the rock upon
which so many farmers go to pieces
and while it is not easy to discourage
man who has set his mind on buy
ing a farm, still cannot help urging
the greatest caution.
II farmer is obliged to 90 heavily
INTO debt for his land in the first
place, the interest charges alone are
heavy drag upon his resources.
II ne has no capital left after max
ing his first payment and getting in
MS crop he will constantly be pinched
LOT ready money and, therefore. forced
10 sell his crops at the earliest posi-
Die moment whether the market is
right or not.
10 put all his money into the first
payments on his land and have no
surplus cash to carry on his business
is TO run great risk of losing his |
land and his labor.
IL now requires a good deal of
money TO properly equip a general
larm. Horses, machinery and stock
ol all Kinds is high, and the farmer
VINO goes into business for himself
needs more capital than ever before.
III ne is obliged to sell his hogs as
soon as they are ready, or rush his
corn to market the moment it is hard
enough to harvest, or sell any other
under necessity, without be-
hg able to take advantage of the best
lrlces' ne will be greatly handicapped.
N TACT, he will be constantly working
against himself.
Inc lack of ready money over and
lDoVe the requirements of the farm
lso keeps his family in a state of ,
lardshlp which is distressing, and If
e mas boys and girls these hardships
VII eventually drive them from the
arm.
1t would seem. therefore, that it :
'ould be much wiser for the renter. 9
ne has good contract with a de- 1
ent landlord and is doing fairly well, @
D continue to use his capital in his a
irming operations on a rented place. q
amer than invest it all in land and v
tempt to carry on a business for n
lmself under the great disadvantage h
having no capital G
II ne Is without money he may be VI
Die to buy on credit but he must nav n
lie highest price for everything. Moth.
g talks to such advantage as ready r,
oney, and the farmer who has cash y,
pay down for his implements, seed .,
live stock, always gets the best a.
lrgains. :. ..
The farmer without capital is al .,
avs, therefore, obliged to earn more =.
om his land in order to keep even NJ
TN his neighbors, and he is. there -
re, working practically to no Dur. A,
Sc In large degree
Of course the high price of land in
great middle West has advanced
ut charges until, in many cases. the pc
nter is unable to make a decent liv. 4
:. Naturally one would suppose that II
price of land advances because II Y
more profitable to the producer. but
s is not always the case.
4 good farm in the Heighborhood
sold at high price, every other
m around it is at once advanced.
matter whether conditions Justify II
DR. not, and the renter is Obliged to
more for the use of 1t.
The problem of whether to own or
t land is not an easy one; but the
n who continues to rent and can tb,
to his capital every year, keeping to
OF debt and maintaining his credit. fol
In our opinion, better off than the mu
who goes deeply into debt and Tn
obliged to struggle for long years, So'
suffer great hardships, to win in. Ru