1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
371 
THE TROUBLES OF THE FARM. 
DEPRECIATED LAND VALUE. 
Its Effect Upon Rural and City Population 
Land Values Fall. —That the value of land has a 
marked influence on the distribution of population is 
clearly shown in the history of all nations, and espe¬ 
cially in our own. At the close of the last century, 
but tbr,e per cent of the population of our country 
lived in cities, while the close of the present finds 30 
per cent, with the tendency greatly accelerated in 
that direction, and the growth of cities unparalleled 
in our history. 
From 1820 to 1860, the growth in agricultural wealth 
was very great. During this time, indebtedness for 
the entire purchase price of farms, was not only fre¬ 
quently incurred, but was considered entirely safe. 
Duiingthis period of steadily-growing demand and 
extending markets for farm products, together with 
the gradual increase in land value, many sought in¬ 
vestment in land as a safe and unquestioned security. 
It was at this time that manufacturing industri- s 
were steadily building up, but not, as at present, in 
cities. Small manufacturing towns were built in 
close proximity to farms, and population was evenly 
distributed. The producer and consumer were close 
together; the farmer received less for many of his 
products than at the present time, while it cost the 
consumer less to live, and both prospered, for freights 
and commissions were not so largely taken from the 
sales of one, and in addition to high rents, charged 
against the other. 
Land Given Away. —In I860, the farmers of the 
United States owned one-half of the wealth of the 
Nation. But note the change that has taken place. 
In 1870, they owned a little over one-third of the 
wealth ; in 1880, one-fourth ; and in 1890, a little less 
than one-fifth. In 1862, the Government granted the 
charter to the Union Pacific Railroad and 2,000,000 
acres of public land, and to its tributaries later, and 
to the Central Pacific with its tributaries, 15,100,000 
acres of the public domain. In 1866, the Northern 
Pacific Railroad was incorporated, with 47.000,000 
acres of land. Then began the most remarkable 
development of railroad building in the history of 
the world. 
The terminals of railroads being naturally in cities, 
and the stimulated productions of these millions of 
acres of new land pouring into these terminal points, 
the business of the whole country was gradually 
turned toward them, which has resulted in a most 
phenomenal growth of cities during the last third of 
this closing century. Vast manufacturing interests 
have been forced to cities by railroad demands. The 
small manufactories that dotted the eastern and 
middle States so thickly 50 years ago, have moved to 
cities with the large population they employed, and 
the producer and consumer separated, with the cost 
of marketing products and the cost of living largely 
added to both. The growth of cities should naturally 
be of great advantage to producers, but with the 
great concentration of population in them, there has 
grown up, also, a very large class of dependents upon 
charitable support, as the result of a congested and 
overstocked labor market. 
Dependents and Cramped Markets —A great 
city, with an increasingly large number of the unem¬ 
ployed, who inevitably become dependents and mini¬ 
mum, rather than maximum consumers, is seriously 
menaced in many ways, its best prosperity checked, 
while its demands upon the producers in the country 
are greatly lessened. One of the direct results of the 
too rapid development of our public lands has been 
the heavy depreciation of the value of all of the agri¬ 
cultural land of the East. When railroad and steam¬ 
ship corporations sent their agents to every civilized 
nation on the earth, to induce foreign emigration to 
our shores, to take up these millions of acres of new, 
rich soil, there followed the lowering of the value of 
all agricultural products, and of wheat especially to 
the eastern farmer, to a point below its cost of pro¬ 
duction, while the western producer has suffered most 
seriously for many years from ruinously low values. 
A further inevitable effect followed in the wiping 
out virtually of the land value of the East, for many 
years, by reducing it, with its improvements of more 
than a century, to the level of the unimproved land of 
the West. The value of land, like other property, is 
determined by its earning power, and when that be¬ 
comes impaired, money no longer seeks it for invest¬ 
ment, and it becomes a burden to those who possess it. 
When the effects of depreciation of land value are 
fully felt, then the steady emigration of population 
from the rural sections begins. Schoolhouses are 
deserted and closed for want of children who, with 
their parents, have drifted to the city, there to be shut 
out of schools, because there is not room for them. 
Churches suffer and struggle, and are finally closed 
for want of support, while thousands, when they find 
themselves inside the city walls, never see the inside 
of a church afterward 
Back to the Farm. —That there is going to be 
a movement back again to the soil in the not far-off 
future, is a question beyond doubt. The wheat crop 
of 1897 brought to producers somewhat enhanced 
value, and with it came the first indication of the 
lifting of the dark cloud of financial depression that 
has hung so persistently over our whole country since 
1893 In 1898, in addition to wheat, increased value 
has been realized upon corn and beef, with slight 
advanced value upon nearly all agricultural produc¬ 
tions, this time the improvement starting with the 
West instead of the East. 
The effect of more money coming into the hands of 
the great farming population by only a small advance 
in the value of its products, has been to bring new 
life and activity to every industry in our country. 
With incr?ased home consumption, from the more 
general employment of labor, together with a very 
large foreign demand for agricultural products, a 
higher value will come to land, and with that not 
only will a check be given to the movement of the 
people away from the soil, but there will be a return¬ 
ing to it. This movement will not be from the ranks 
of those who have left it, but by those who have idle 
capital, of which there are millions lying in city 
banks, waiting only for opportunity for moderately 
profitable, but safe investment. I shall, in future ar¬ 
ticles, endeavor to show the farmer’s share of respon¬ 
sibility for depreciated land value, and how future 
improvement is to be realized, having outlined in this 
article some conditions over which he has not had 
entire control. _ geo. t. powell. 
SEC. OF AGRICULTURE JOHN HAMILTON. 
At Fig. 151, is shown a picture of Prof. John Hamil¬ 
ton, the new Secretary of Agriculture for Pennsyl¬ 
vania. Prof. Hamilton was born in Jupiata County, 
Pa-, February 19, 1843. He entered the Union Army 
JOHN HAMILTON. Fig. 151. 
Secretary op Agriculture for Pennsylvania. 
in 1861, and served 3% years. In 1865, he entered the 
Pennsylvania State College, serving at various times 
as superintendent of the college farm and business 
manager. He was graduated in 1871, and served as pro¬ 
fessor of agriculture until 1881. He has, also, served 
as a truatee of the college and chairman of the exec¬ 
utive committee. He was one of the original mem¬ 
bers of the State Board of Agriculture, and for several 
years served as deputy secretary and director of 
farmers’ institutes. He owns two fine farms in Center 
County, and has taken active interest in all agricultural 
matters. He was married in 1875 to Miss Elizabeth 
Thompson, and has one daughter. Prof. Hamilton is 
well-known throughout the country by institute peo¬ 
ple, and is thoroughly posted on all matters pertain¬ 
ing to agriculture. As Secretary, we hope that he 
will meet with still further success. 
Events of the Week. 
Domestic.—The New York Legislature has passed the Ford 
bill, which taxes corporation franchises as real estate. This is 
the most radical change in tax legislation ever effected in New 
York, and the passage of the bill is regarded as a victory for 
Gov. Roosevelt, who was its persistent advocate. It is said that, 
under this bill, the assessed valuations of the Consolidated Gas 
and three of the New York City street railways alone will be 
increased nearly $200,000,000. . . The full extent of damage by 
the Missouri tornado is not yet known, but the loss of life is fully 
as great as first reported, and the property loss is put at $200,000. 
. . . Buffalo, N. Y., grain shovelers are out on strike, and the 
militia has been called upon to prevent serious riots. . . Ex.- 
United States District Attorney Ingham and his law partner, H. 
K. Newitt, have been held in $20,000 bail each, at Philadelphia, in 
connection with the revenue-stamp counterfeiting case, in which 
an attempt was made to bribe Secret Service Agent McManus. 
. . . A powder mill belonging to the Dupont Smokeless Powder 
Works, at Carney’s Point, N. J., blew up April 29, killing five 
men; cause unknown. A similar accident occurred at the same 
place a few weeks ago. . . Trouble exists among miners in 
the Carar d’Alene district of Idaho. April 29, 1,000 armed and 
masked strikers blew up a mill at Wardner with dynamite. The 
trouble is between union and non-union men. The union men 
threaten violence wherever non-union men are employed, and 
soldiers of the regular army have been called on to quell the 
riots May 3 Shoshone County was declared officially to be in a 
state of insurrection, and military rule proclaimed. The rioters 
are nearly all Swedes and Italians. . . During April, the trusts 
incorporated in New Jersey represented a capital value of $500,- 
000,000. . •. An excursion train running from Rochester, N. Y., to 
Sea Breeze, a Summer resort, jumped the track at a curve April 
30; two persons killed and 50 injured. . . April 30 portions of 
Nebraska were visited by a mud shower and a tornado. A prairie 
fire burning in northern Nebraska, was picked up by the tornado 
and carried 25 miles, destroying everything in its path. Loss of 
life, two; property loss very heavy. . . Factories at Northville 
and Hastings, Mich., were struck by lightning April 29, and en¬ 
tirely destroyed by fire. . . A fire in the Polish section of 
Chicago, May 1, destroyed 18 tenement houses, and rendered 110 
families homeless. . . Treasury officials estimate the expenses 
of the war with Spain, up to May 1, at about $300,000,000. . . 
Prospectors arrived at Seattle tell horrible stories of the su ffering 
and death in the Klondike caused by scurvy and cold. . . Ex.- 
Gov. Altgeld, of Illinois, is in a serious condition with locomotor 
ataxia, and it is said that his mind is affected. . . At Livonia, 
N. Y., a farmer was killed by lightning May 1. At Nunda, N. Y., 
a barn was struck, and 200 sheep and lambs perished In the 
flames, while several buildings were also struck at Sodus. . . 
Vandals broke into the Baptist Tabernacle, at Atlanta, Ga., April 
29, and wrecked the interior, as a punishment for the action of 
the pastor in denouncing the recent lynchings. The pastor has 
been warned to leave the State. . . The Appellate Court of 
New York has rendered a decision that the Equitable Life Assur¬ 
ance Company must divide with its policy holders all of its net 
surplus, instead of such portion of it as its directors choose each 
year. If this decision be upheld, it means the division of about 
$59,000,000 among these policy holders. . . Edward Atkinson, 
of the Boston Anti-Imperialistic League, is forbidden by the Gov¬ 
ernment to transmit his circulars to the Philippines. This 
action was taken in consequence of circulars, regarded as sedi¬ 
tious, to be sent to soldiers in the Philippines. It is asserted that 
Mr. Atkinson has laid himself open to arrest for treason. . . A 
hide and leather trust is to be organized with a capital of 
$70,000,000. . . There was a heavy snowfall at Breckenridge, 
Col., during the week ending May 3, the snow being three feet 
deep, . . Freezing weather prevailed throughout Nebraska 
May 3, and damage to crops was feared. 
Army and Supplies.—The report of the Court of Inquiry was 
handed in April 29. The report says that the meat was not 
“ doctored,” this being the expression used by the President, and 
meant to cover the charge of chemical treatment. It explains 
the testimony secured on this point, and concludes that there is 
no evidence warranting the opinion that chemical preservatives 
were used in the preparation, of the meat. .Further, follow¬ 
ing the instructions, the court has determined that the meat 
furnished was the meat of commerce, was inspected by the 
Government inspectors as provided by law, and was an author¬ 
ized ration in the army. It holds that the refrigerated and canned 
beef was the best practicable fresh meat that could have been 
provided for use in the tropics, and it would not have been 
prudent for the troops to make the expedition to Santiago and 
Porto Rico without the preserved meats, either the refrigerated 
or canned, with which they were supplied. As to the canned 
roast beef, the court has concluded that it was pure, sound and 
nutritious, and contained no deleterious substances. It soon be¬ 
came repulsive in appearance, though, when the cans were 
opened in Cuba and Porto Rico, and often proved unpalatable 
and nauseating to the troops, this condition being due to some 
extent to the effect of the heat. 
Philippines.—April 27 the insurgents were driven to San Fer¬ 
nando, about 10 miles northwest of Calumpit. Great courage 
was shown by Kansas men; two swam the river in the face of 
heavy fire, to form a rope ferry, which enabled our men to cross 
Loss one killed and six wounded. The enemy retreated in good 
order. . . April 28, two Filipino officers bearing flags of truce 
entered the American lines, and were escorted to Manila, where 
they proposed to Gen. Otis that hostilities be suspended until 
the Filipino Congress could meet, to arrange terms of peace. 
Gen. Otis declined, on the ground that he did not recognize the 
Filipino Congress. It is believed that terms of peace will soon 
be made, with full recognition of American authority. . . 
Heavy fighting was reported April 2. Gen. Lawton captured 
Balinag and villages in its vicinity, scattering and pursuing 1,600 
rebels. . . May 3 the Filipino officials held another conference 
with Gen. Otis. They asked for three months’ armistice over all 
the Islands, but this was refused, and fighting will continue. It 
is considered that Agulnaldo desires to obtain time to re-form 
his forces. The Filipinos say that Spanish and American pris¬ 
oners are to be regarded in the same light, as the American foot¬ 
ing is the same as that of Spain. 
Cuba.—Gen. Brooke has decided that, hereafter, civil marriage 
and divorce will be recognized in Cuba. Neither was permissible 
under Spanish law. It is decided that the jury system will not 
be tried, as Cubans say it would result in absolute inability to 
convict any one, the natives having no regard for the sanctity of 
an oath. . . Outlaws have been active near Holguin, looting 
towns in the northern part of the Province. The Cuban General 
Salazar followed the bandits with seven men, and engaged in a 
hot fight, killing one robber. Gen. Wood says that planters near 
Holguin have connived with the bandits, hoping to have Ameri¬ 
can troops stationed on the plantations. . . Gen. Ludlow’s 
Sunday-closing order, which permits only cafes, drugstores and 
bakeshops to remain open after 10 a. m., was rigidly enforced 
April 29. Many merchants are indignant, saying that such con¬ 
ditions are not enforced in the United States. The order was en¬ 
forced as a result of a petition from thousands of clerks, who 
have to work seven days a week. . . Col. Bliss, Collector of 
Customs at Havana, has issued an order forbidding the importa¬ 
tion of firearms. No official explanation has been given for this 
order, but it is believed to be due to the fear lest weapons be im¬ 
ported for the purpose of turning them in as arms of the present 
Cuban army. It has been decided that no Cuban soldier be paid 
unless he turns in a gun. Thousands of arms might be shipped 
to Cuba, and $100 each be collected on them, which would be a 
paying speculation. . . The Governor of Sancti Splritus has 
asked for aid for the many destitute in his district. . . The 
chief of the bandits terrorizing the Holguin district was executed 
May 1. His friends attempted to rescue him, but were driven off. 
. . . Four bandits were shot at Mayari by the rural guard 
May 3, while trying to release their leader from jail. . . Bandits 
burned extensive cane fields at Sorgua May 3. 
Samoa.—Dispatches from Apia, dated April 18, report further 
fighting between forces from the British cruiser Porpoise and 
native rebels. Complaint is still made that Germany is aiding 
the rebels. German flags were flying over the forts captured by 
Lieut. Gaunt of the Porpoise. . . May 1 advices from Auckland 
reported all quiet. 
