8 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



property taxes alone in 1914 aggregated about $344,000,000, which 

 was equivalent to less than two-fifths of the 1914 wheat crop, while 

 in 1922 taxes totaled $797,000,000, which was approximately equiva- 

 lent to the total value of the 1921 or the 1922 wheat crops. The wheat 

 crop is approximately equal to the pre-war value, but taxes have more 

 than doubled. It should be kept in mind that the increase in taxes 

 is due to local and State governments, not Federal. 



Under such a situation farmers who are out of debt can get along 

 fairly well, but those who are heavily in debt, and especially those 

 young farmers who have not become thoroughly established, are 

 having great difficulty in meeting interest and principal on public 

 and private debts. 



It would seem to be distinctly in the public interest that the price 

 level during these years when we are working out of war difficulties 

 be maintained at from 60 to 70 per cent above the pre-war level. 

 Just as sound money requires a gold basis so sound business requires 

 an equitable and stable price level. 



RURAIi POPUIiATION INFIiUSNCED. 



The result of the conditions which have prevailed during these 

 years of agricultural deflation is reflected in the steady drift from 

 the farms to the towns. Our estimates indicate that the net change 

 in population from the farm to the town in 1922 was around 1,200,- 

 000. This drift is taking place not alone in those sections where 

 agricultural depression is being felt most keenly just now but 

 throughout the country. This is illustrated in a number of ways. 

 For example, 4.7 per cent of the habitable farmhouses were vacant 

 in 1920; 5.7 per cent in 1921; and 7.3 per cent in 1922. A recent 

 study indicates that in 1922 farmers occupied 86.3 per cent of the 

 habitable farmhouses as compared with 88.4 per cent in 1921 and 

 89.7 per cent in 1920. Because of the scarcity of houses available 

 for them nearer their work, many farmhouses within reasonable 

 distances of cities are being occupied by people who work in the 

 cities. 



In Michigan a special survey made this summer covering a large 

 number of farms indicates that fully 10 per cent of these farms were 

 vacant, and about 13 per cent more were only partially worked. This 

 survey also showed that there were also 16 per cent fewer workers 



