Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-07-07

AS Thanksgiving Day has become
an occasion for thanks for Individual
benefits and blessings, independence
Day has become a time for stock-tak-
ing of national gains and losses Keep
ing in mind that it was the men from
the farms who turned back the red
coats and gave America it's freedom,
it seems proper nOWasto consider the
status of the farmer today in our
country's march of progress. And to
do so clearly shows that while the
economic position of Farmers general
ly has been considerably improved
the men and women who till the soil
eral advances of our people,
This is becoming more and more
evident to the members of Congress
concerned with the Welfare of rural
America and is certain to mean a gen
eral speeding-up of legislation design
ed to help the farmer, Pending farm
tenancy legislation is a case in point
Other important measures may be ex-
pected to have more attention in the
months ahead.
Striking figures with reference to
the general farm situation were re-
Gently submitted to Congress and are
worthy of the attention of those con-
cerned with the farm problem To
quote:
1.-THE movement of population from
the farm to the city indicates the de-
creasing attractiveness of farm life
In the last rs years, while the Ma
tons population grew nearly 40 per-
vxyhi1o hn of
tional land area included in farms
rose from 1872 percent to 554 percent,
the farm population actually declined
In 1910 it was estimated at slightly
more than 100000. In 1929 it had
fallen to 3O,257, 900. In spite of the dis
tress in the cities during the depres-
sion, the farm population in 1885 was
only 81 80O,000-more than 100000 less
than the estimate in 1910 This de-
cline took place in spite Of the fact
that the annual excess of births over
deaths on the farm is from 400, OoO to
100000 ay ear. According to the Blu
reau of Agriculture Economics, there
was a net migration of 6,296,O00 per-
sons from the farm to the city be-
tween 1920 and 1929
although during the depression
many families went back to the land
in an effort to raise at least their
own subsistence, the exodus from the
farm continued from 1880 to 1885 to
such an extent that $4,000 more peo-
pie left the farm than went to it, The
existence of abandoned farms and the
general shortage of labor on farms in
cultivation are witness to the fact
\ 81 C1, fIa DE
farm machinery may have diminished
the need for manpower it is not pri-
MARTY responsible for this nligra-
ton.
1.-THE difficulty of success in farm
ing in recent years has been primarily
responsible. From 1850 to 1920 the av-
erage value per acre of farm land and
buildings steadily increased. There
AFTER however, it declined precipit-
uously. In 1910 it was $1,000 per acre.
In 1920 after the wartime boom, j.
was $69.3S. BY 1925 it had fallen to-
$53.52, and by 1890 to $48.52. In 1885
it was $31 6-appreciably less than in
1910. Not only was the value per acre
less but the total value of farm land
and buildings in 1885 was $32,S58,OOO,-
600 as compared with $34,8O1 900 900
in 1910 This decrea~e in the total
value of farm property took place in
spite of the fact that during this pc
Rod the proportion of the total ma
tional land area devoted to farming
increased by 90 percent. SO far as the
Commission is aware, other major
national economic ACTIVITY operates
today with smaller capital than in
1910.
"Not only has the capital devoted
to farming been parity eaten away
but the farmer owns an cvcr-smaller1
share of that capital. In 1900. 1872 per |
cent of the total farm acreage was |
operated by tenants. In 1925, the fig |
ure had risen to 1856 percent and in :
=