The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-03-26
FARM TENANCY
INCREASING IN
j. s. AS WHOLE
Also in North Dakota, Accord
ing to the Federal Agri-
cultural Census
GROWTH IN NO. DAKOTA

Fargo, n. d., March 2G.--Farm ten
ancy is on the increase in North Da-
whole. The number of tenant farms
in this state in 1920 according to the
federal agricultural census was 49,
9lS. Of this number 16,943 were
rented on the share basis while only
l175 were rented on the cash basis.
In addition to this, there were S9l
share cash tenants and 900 which
were unspecified, making Il total
equal to 25.6 per cent Of all the
farms in the state.
The number of tenant farms per
thousand of all farms in North Da-
kota grew from SO in 1900 to 15o in
1910, an increase Of IS farms in each
| thousand. The number of rented
lacres per thousand acres in all farms
increased from 53 in 1910 to 256 in
1920, an increase of SO acres in each
thousand, and the proportionate value
of all farm land and buildings oper-
ated by tenants increased from Sl0
per thousand to SPIT per thousand,
an increase of sos in each $1,000. The
percentage of tenancy increased from
S.5 per cent in 1900 to 25.6 in 1920
While farm tenancy as Il predOmin-
ant system of land tenure has little
in its favor, it does not follow that
tenants are necessarily poor farmers
and lacking in ability, says A. H..
Al. "a I, ALL
| Ia Agricultural college.
an many old farming districts the
| most successful farmers began their
careers as farm hands, and after ac-
| cumulating a little capital have adj
| vanced another step on the agricul-
! tural ladder and rented land" Mr..
| Benton explains. after getting yet
more capital they finally became
! owners.
"When all free land is gone and
| the young mani with little capital de-
cides to farm for himself. he is forced
| to become a renter. This stage has
| already come in practically all parts
of North Dakota, and it is fortunate
| that there are owners willing to rent
| their farms, otherwise young men
would be greatly handicapped in TAX
ing up farming as a life occupation
on their own responsibility.
an general the larger number of
rented farms is found in the area of
| highest priced land. There is one
exception to this in the three north
eastern counties where settlement
was made at an early date.
"Many of this group were pioneers
/ from eastern Canada and contained
goodly sprinkling of Scotch nation
ality. These settlers came not only
! to improve their economic conditions,
| but also to establish permanent
| homes for themselves and families:
P an marked contrast to these set
| tiers, others came to various parts of
| North Dakota with the sole purpose
! Of rapidly accommodating Il fortune and
then retiring from the state. The eff
| feet of these different attitudes on
the part of the early settlers is now
reflected in the varying proportion of
tenant farmers found in communities
enjoying the same soil, market and
climatic condtions.'
North Dakota has a higher tenancy
percentage than Montana and Mime
sofa, but smaller than Iowa, South
Dakota and the United States~as a
whole. In 1920 the percentage Of
tenancy in neighborng states was as
follows: Minnesota, 24.7;. Montana,
lib; North Dakota, 25.6; South Da-
kota, 349 Iowa, ALT. The figures
for the United States were higher
than any of these except Iowa, the
U. S. percentage of tenancy being
3S.1. The number of rented farms in
the Northwest is considerably small
err according to these figures than is
the average over the country.