The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-10-09
FARM RENTING
MAKES SMALL gain
INCREASE ONE PER CENT In DEC
ADE = WNER-0PERAT0RS
STAY ON HAND

Madison, Wis.-(A. P.)-Farm ten
ancy in the United States increased
but one per cent during the last dec
ade, contrary to the general belief
that agricultural lands were rapidly
passing out of the hands of owner
operators into the hands of tenants,
judging by a report of the Institute
for Research in Land Economics and
Public Utilities This body, directed
by DR.. Richard R. Ely. well-known &C.
onomist, is organized specifically to
conduct research in land problems.
Basing its conclusions upon 1920
census figures, the Institute concludes
that "an increase in tenancy can be
expected in the normal development
of a nation, fact neglected by many
who look upon tenant farming as
something absolutely undesirable"
The report showed that the tenants
operated approximately one-fourth
of the farms of the country in 1880,
with a ump to % percent in 1890, and
to 80 percent in 1900. A more gradu-
al increase came in the next two dec
AIDES, the proportion in 1910 being 81
percent and in 1920, SO percent.
Measured in terms of acreage of
land in farms, about % percent of
farm land is being cultivated by ten
ants, according to the institute state
ment Measured in terms of improv-
ed acreage, tenants are said to occupy
almost 35 percent of the improved
land.
The South is shown to have had
steady increase in tenant farms, with
some states showing over 60 percent
of farm tenancy.
"The reason must be sought in the
prevalence of one crop farming, par
ticularly cotton and tobacco, and in
the human factor" the report declar-
ed "Three-fourths of the negro farm
ers and a large proportion of the
whites are reaters. The boil weevil
and the migration Of negro labor to
the North is bound to produce great
changes in the present renting ar
rangements.
However, in the last decade seven
states in the South have had de-
crease or else practically no changes
in the proportion of tenants to owners.
They are: Florida, Alabama, Missis
sippi. Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia
and Maryland.
Ever since 1880 there has been a
steady increase in farm tenancy in
the Corn Belt. Missouri alone is an
exception. In the Corn Belt, eco
nomic forces determining tenancy have
had full play Farms have increased
in size ever since 1880. Agricultural
has made possible larger
per man. The tractor has a
powerful influence in the same direc-
ton. Land is at a premium and its
value often inflated, making owner
ship more difficult.
Kansas, Nebraska and the Dako
tas have had the most remarkable in-
crease Ia the proportion of tenants to
owners during the last decade. West
7rn Minnesota shares in this increase
With the Dakotas North Dakota had
only IA percent tenancy in 1910, but
low has over 25 percent, while South
Dakota jumped from 25 to So percent.
)ne crop agriculture, large scale op-
sratiOns and the many farms held for
speculation are features that partly
'xplain this rapid rise in tenancy.
Notable declines in tenant oper-
ted farms have persisted in the East
rn states on the Atlantic seaboard
rom Virginia northward. Only New
,ork had larger proportion of ten
nts in 1920 than it had in 1880, and
ven then in 1920 less than one-f1fth
I its farms were tenant operated.
Western states have such a variety
conditions that tenancy figures are
ot significant. The agriculture
anges from irrigated land to ranch
ng. New farms are still being created
rom the public domain, and these
re practically all in the hands of
wners. This fact tends to obscure
lie increase in tenant farms.
Utah has the lowest rate of ten
1cy in the United States outside of
ew England and Nevada although it
one of the Oldest of the western
ates and has a well developed agri-
llture. The peculiar social and re-
gious institutions of the Mormons
I've to be examined to explain this"