FARMERS' HOMESEEKERS' LEAGUE DEPARTMENT. 



In Charge of J. HAMMOXD. 



Among the correspondence of the last month I have at haad a very in- 

 teresting letter from Mr. S. H. Ellis, President Ohio Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station. As it touches on points of general interest I hope you will > 

 accord it space in your columns. I also ask the same favor to my reply thereto. 



J. HAMMOND. 



WAYNESVILLE, OHIO, March 28, 1899. 

 MR. J. HAMMOND, CHICAGO, ILL. 



Dear Sir: Your circular and letter of the 23d to hand. While your > 

 scheme of starting a colony is in many respects praiseworthy, yet it seems to > 

 me that we have multiplied thousands of acres of land now within the bounds < 

 of civilization, that could be cultivated and thereby give employment to labor, J 

 if prices of farm products were such as to remunerate the farmer. Farms all 

 over Ohio are today selling at less than fifty cents on the dollar of what they <J 

 cost a few years ago. Why take young families to the arid regions of the con- 

 tinent where even if they did "raise more on 20 acres than they can here on 

 80," it would take the product of 80 acres to get that that was produced 

 on 20 acres to market. Eailroads would take all there was in it. No, let the 

 voung men and women remain in Ohio and Illinois and assist in reclaiming 

 our government from trusts and political rottenness. 



-. Yours truly, 



S. H. ELLIS, 



Master of Ohio State Grange. 

 MR. S. H. ELLIS, Master Ohio State Grange. 



Dear Sir: We have no desire whatever to take away people who are 

 ettl ed down or can do well near home. The invitation to join our League i 

 only extended to ' 'homeseekers," i. e. thoso who, for various reasons have 

 already decided to seek their fortunes elsewhere. To such we say, "Do not 

 make the mistake of going to the large centres of population. The labor 

 market is already so overcrowded that except for skilled mechanics it is almost 

 impossible to obtain remunerative employment. Even should you succeed 

 you will find that a large city is not a good place to be in for a young man 

 just away from the influences of the home circle." 



Heretofore the free government lands of our prairie states have been a 

 suitable outlet for the class of men I refer to, but since these are all gone, it 

 becomes a matter of general importance that our western irrigable lands, of 

 which there are many million acres, be made equally accessible to those of 

 very limited means. For this reason the Farmers' Homeseekers' League has 

 assumed the task of securing for its members desirable land from the govern- 

 ment free of charge. This is quite practicable, provided the membership is 

 sufficiently large and composed of the right stamp of men industrious and of 

 correct habits. 



