CHAPTER XVI 



THE state census of Iowa, 1915, covers seven years 

 of those included in the packers' dividends quoted 

 above. This census shows, among other facts, that the 

 total buildings, implements and live stock on the aver- 

 age farm in that State, one hundred and sixty- four 

 acres, were worth only $4,391.80. The mortgage 

 on the average Iowa farm is more than that. If 

 to that we add the farmers' local indebtedness to 

 banks, etc., the depreciation of soil (25 to 50 per 

 cent.), what have the farmers of Iowa to show for 

 more than two generations of hard work, with the 

 minimum amount of recreation and luxury of anv 

 kind? A result of these conditions is reflected in a 

 loss, during the decade covered by the last Federal 

 census, of about one hundred thousand of its farm 

 population. The state census, under the head of " Oc- 

 cupation," shows that during the decade, the number 

 following agricultural pursuits decreased from 40.7 

 per cent, in 1905 to 36.3 per cent, in 1915; those in 

 " Trade and Transportation " increased from 16.4 per 

 cent, in 1905 to 25.4 per cent, in 1915 ; that the num- 

 ber of cattle turned in for assessment was practically 

 a half million less than those turned in ten years be- 

 fore. That 48.4 per cent, of the acreage of Iowa 

 farms are operated by renters. As the rented farms 

 are smaller, and as a rule no help is hired upon them, 



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