347] The Condition of the Western Farmer. 69 



he has now come back with a new wife, once more to try his 

 luck at farming. 



When we come to purchasers, we find only four unmort- 

 gaged farms, as against thirty-three mortgaged ones. The 

 average size of the farms is very much smaller, being only 

 one hundred and ten acres for the unmortgaged and about 

 one hundred and fifty-seven acres for the mortgaged. The 

 average debt per acre is higher than in either of the other 

 classes ; in fact, so much higher that, despite the comparative 

 smallness of the farms, the average debt per farm is higher 

 than elsewhere. 



It has already been remarked that none of the settlers on 

 government land are in poor circumstances, while among 

 their ranks the great majority of the most prosperous farmers 

 are to be found. Of the settlers on railroad land, nearly 

 all would be included if they were as a class described as 

 quite heavily mortgaged, but with debts not so great as to 

 make it seem probable that any of them will be unable to 

 extricate themselves with time. The only case here to be 

 ranked among those whose future prospects are doubtful 

 is that of a man whose agricultural experience has been very 

 limited, and as he seems to have almost no capital, and 

 labors under still other disadvantages, it is doubtful how 

 long he will be able to hold out. But now, when we turn 

 from the purchasers of land from the railroad company to 

 class " C," the purchasers from other owners, we find as 

 marked a change in conditions as we noticed in passing 

 from class "A" to class "B." The mortgages are heavier, 

 the well-to-do are comparatively rare, and there are many 

 persons in very poor circumstances. In fact, there are quite 

 a number with whom it seems to be only a question of time, 

 and a short time at that, when they will have to give up their 

 holdings. One is almost tempted to draw the moral that 

 the would-be purchaser, at least the one whose means are 

 not sufficient to pay entirely for his farm and then tide him 

 over all subsequent periods of hard times, had almost better 

 throw his money away than invest it in farming operations 



