34 



BULLETIN 874, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



$65,464, while it is $30,915 in the Warren district. The owners 

 additional in both districts have average net worth somewhat less 

 than that of owners. 



Table XX. — Net worth, March 1, 1919, of farmers classified by ages and tenures. 



Tenure and age group. 



I. Owners: 



Under 31 , 



31 and under 41. 

 41 and under 51. 



51 and over 



All ages , 



II. Owners additional 



Under 31 



31 and under 41 . 

 41 and under 51. 



51 and over 



All ages 



III. Tenants:' 



Under 31 



31 and under 41. 

 41 and under 51. 



51 and over 



Allages 



Tama district. 



Number 

 of farms. 



Net worth. 



$57,210 

 65, 153 

 57, 000 

 79, 864 

 65, ;64 



28, 202 

 42, 541 

 50, 653 

 43, 990 

 45, 269 



6, 639 

 9,258 

 13, 138 

 11,818 

 9,552 



Warren district . 



Number 

 of farms. 



Net 

 worth. 



810,775 

 31,020 

 34, 287 

 31, 695 

 30, 915 



19, 040 

 20, 376 

 27. 509 

 27, 503 

 25, 266 



4,502 

 3, 13S 

 2,S16 

 3, 238 

 3,415 



It should not be inferred that the comparatively large sums rep- 

 resented by the net worth of owners and owners additional have been 

 accumulated wholly by farming. They are largely the results of 

 increase in value of land acquired by purchase, by marriage, or by 

 inheritance at an earlier time, supplemented to some extent by other 

 wealth acquired by marriage or inheritance. In a few cases, perhaps, 

 net worth is the result of unusual agricultural efficiency combined with 

 thrift or fortunate investments outside of farming. What may be 

 acquired by actual farmuig, as distinguished from increase of land 

 values, is suggested by the figures showing net worth of tenants of 

 various ages. The average net worth of tenants of all ages is .19,552 

 in the Tama district and $3,415 in the Warren district. 



It might be supposed that the comparatively small average net 

 worth of tenants is attributable to the fact that the more successful 

 tenants have risen to the position of owners or owners additional, 

 Leaving only the less successful in the tenant class. While there is 

 undoubtedly some truth in this supposition, yet it is not likely that 

 it applies with much force to the groups of tenants below the age of 

 41. Comparatively a small proportion of Iowa tenants become 

 owners before the age of 41. In fact, only about one-third of the 

 owners have acquired ownership before the age of 41, and undoubtedly 

 these have received substantial assistance from wealth acquired by 

 inheritance, marriage, or gift, either of the farm itself or of the means 

 by which it is purchased. 



