ECONOMIC BUILDING 307 



expensive and elaborate building in vogue on most 

 large estates. 



The chief idea seems to be to erect model build- 

 ings of a substantial character, which will prove 

 assets for unborn heirs, and the amount of capital 

 thus invested naturally does not yield an economic 

 return. Landlords, therefore, rightly argue that 

 when they create small holdings it is philanthropy, 

 or the pleasure derived from a model estate, but 

 that it is not business, and cannot be afforded by a 

 relatively poor owner. But is it always economic 

 to put buildings up for eternity ? A wooden shed 

 on brick foundations and a galvanized iron roof 

 would give many a small man the opportunity of 

 developing the resources of his plot of land, and 

 need not necessarily be an eyesore. It can be 

 done on an economic basis if the holding is of a 

 sufficient acreage to admit of the interest on the 

 outlay being obtained on the increased rent of the 

 land. 



Some fifty years ago, when agriculture on a large 

 scale was much advocated, a policy of consolidating 

 large farms was pursued, and enormous sums were 

 spent in erecting time-enduring houses and build- 

 ings on a vast scale for the use of the big farmer. 

 In the course of my recent investigations throughout 

 England, I have times without number found these 

 large farms mere * white elephants ' to the present 

 owners, who are obliged either to farm them them- 

 selves (when they generally lose) or to let them at 

 a very low rental, which certainly does not represent 



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