28 The Tariff and the Farmer. 



increase in agricultural wealth was the addition of new 

 farms ; over four million were added in that time. In 

 the North Atlantic division of states, where conditions 

 have been normal, from 1850-1900 the gain in agricul- 

 tural property was nearly 46% in the first ten years, and 

 less than 17% in the forty years of high i^rotection; 

 46% against an average per decade in the latter period of 

 a little more than 4%. In the last twenty years there 

 was an actual decrease in value of total agricultural 

 property of nearly 12%. 



How has the average farmer of the North Atlantic 

 Division fared! From 1850-60 the value of the average 

 farm, with its buildings, live stock and machinery, shows 

 an increase of over $900; the next forty years the 

 increase is but $11 ! 



This division of states comprises seven of the old thir- 

 teen original states. It is nearly 125 years since the close 

 of the Revolutionary War. What is the value of the 

 buildings, barn, dwelling-house and sheds of the aver- 

 age farm! $1437. What is the average value of such 

 buildings of the rich agricultural section of the North 

 Central Division! $773. For the nation the average is 

 $620. How far removed is the average farmer of the 

 United States from living in a hovel! 



How have the non-agricultural classes fared during 

 the last fifty years! We all know that the manufactur- 

 ing centres have gone ahead in great leaps and bounds, 

 both in population and wealth. As a specimen of the 

 vast increase in wealth in manufacturing states, here are 

 a few figifres ; Wall Street state is purposely omitted : In 

 1850 the estimated valuation of Massachusetts' property 

 is given as over $573,000,000 ; in 1904 as $4,358,000,000 ; 

 Rhode Island for the same years, $80,000,000 and $710,- 



