South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-28
FARM TENANTRY
NOW INCREASING
Majority of States in Central
West Report Slight
Advances.

CHICAGO. oct. e6.-The increase
in farm tenan,ry which has become
stn ISSUE In Kansas does not appear
uniform throughout the central west.
according 20 reports received here
from number Of agricultural
authorities. While the majority OF
the several states heard from report
an advance. Wisconsin notes no
change. owing 10 the opening OF new
farms, and oklahoma declares de
crease.
Illinois Minnesota. Nebraska and
Ohio show increases. The situation
in the various states named is thus
indicated.
Farm tenantry in Oklahoma has
shown "A decrease of seven per cent
during the 10 years since 1910. ac-
COrding 10 figures from each county
compiled by r. X. Shutz, federal
statistician for the state. In 1910.
farm owners made up - per cent OF
the tillers of the soil and renters 55
per cent while now owners represent
% per cent and renters As per cent.
Nearly every section OF the state
showed a decrease in the number of
renters, according 20 Mr.. Shutz. who
based his report on returns from all
farms in the state. mum berIng APP
prOximately 1913. 600. Mr.. Shut noted
a growing tendency on the part of
renters 10 buy a small tract, from
10 20 20 acres. and rent adjoining
land. He said high crop prices have
enabled many renters 10 swing into
the owner column.
Rented Farms.
The percentage OF rented farms
has remained about the same and,
in few cases. has increased some
what in the southern half Of Wis
consin. so the economic condition
there is not very different from the
condition in the corn belt states,
Joseph A. Becker, agricultural sta
tistician at Madison. Wis. writes
However. the large number OF new
farms being opened up in the nor
thern part OF the state, practically
all of which are operated by owners,
has more than kept up the percent
age OF owned farms. Summing up,
there has been some tendency toward
an increase in farm tenancy, but the
| opening up OF new farms operated
BY owners IL the northern part OF
the state has more than OFFSET This
I in Wisconsin"
Farm tenantry increased four per
cent in Illinois in the l0-year period
/ from 1909 10 1919, according 10 fig
ures compiled by the state depart
nent OF agriculture at Springfield.
Tenantry in 1919 was estimated at
| ass per cent.
Farm tenantry in Ohio will show
! only a slight increase over 1910,
( in the opinion of A. Q. Falconer.
head Of the rural economics depart
ment at Ohio State university 1t
will not be more than per cent,
/ ne estimates.
Farm Tenantry.
Farm tenantry in Minnesota is
steadily increasing because OF the ad-
vanced prices of farm lands and a
hesitancy on the part OF many retir-
ing farmers TO relinquish title TO their
lands. according TO NJ. j. Holmberg
state commissioner OF agriculture. A
material increase in tenantry is re-
ported in the southern counties
where the cost OF land is relatively
high. In the northern section the
| increase is not so marked. Mr.. Holm
/ berg said. because the land there
| commands but comparatively low
price and the influx OF immigrants
/ is large.
! In %ebra ska an increase Of about
/ four per cent in tenant owned farms
from 1910 20 1919 is shown in fig
ures supplied by Leo Stuhr. score
I tary OF the state department or agrl-
/ culture.