TENANCY IN THE UNITED STATES 493 



Statistics of farm tenancy were taken in two ways in the census 

 of 1890, one investigation having the farm as a unit, as in 1880, 

 and the other having the family. For the reason above given, and 

 also on account of a large amount of supplementary work, the 

 latter investigation is regarded as the more accurate one; but in 

 a comparison with 1880 the former may be more fairly used. 

 The investigation having the farm as the unit understates the 

 degree of farm tenancy in both censuses ; but presumably there 

 is little error in the reported increase of farm tenancy, which was 

 2.81 in the percentage, or from 25.56 to 28.37 per cent. 



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It has been much easier to ascertain that a little over one-half 

 of the families of the United States do not own their dwellings 

 than it is to find adequate explanations of the fact. It is worthy 

 of remembrance that we have been a migratory people, shifting 

 from one occupation to another, and, as people in a new, rapidly 

 developing country are likely to be, somewhat wanting in fixity of 

 purpose and of aim in life. A restless, unsettled people is not to 

 be tied to land. The ownership of a home hinders migration, and 

 civilization has not yet proceeded far enough to do away with 

 migration as a means of bettering one's condition. To the work- 

 ingman home-owning may even be a positive disadvantage in his 

 dealings with his employer or in the event of better terms offered 

 in another place. Generally, real estate is not readily sold without 

 sacrifice ; and, if he owns his home, he will not readily migrate. 

 A workingman may find himself out of employment at any time ; 

 and, if he owns his home under mortgage, he may be unable to 

 pay the interest when due, and so lose some of his savings 

 through foreclosure. The absence of permanent local interests, 

 the uncertainties of employment, of new undertakings in trade, 

 and of ventures in a thousand and one directions, forbid men to 

 own their homes. 



When we turn to farm tenancy, it is a clear case of poverty 

 and nothing else ; and those who have traveled throughout the 

 United States and seen the circumstances of farm tenants will 



