CHAPTER I. GENERAL SURVEY, HEBREW RURAL COMMUNITIES. INTRODUCTION. The census returns for 1900 throw no light on the number of Hebrews who were engaged in agricultural pursuits. In a measure they are included in the nationality group "Russian," but there are large numbers of Russian farmers who are not Hebrews, and, on the other hand, the variety of nativities which the Hebrews represent precludes the possibility of classifying all Hebrew agriculturists under Russian." Allowing for certain probable errors, discussed later, the most available authoritative source of information on the number and distribution of Hebrew farmers in the United States is the Jewish Agricultural and Industrial Aid Society of New York. In the capacity of administrator of that part of the Baron de Hirsch fund set apart for the aid of Hebrews engaged in agriculture, this society, by visits to the various colonies for the purpose of investigating possible loans and for other purposes, has come into touch with most of the Hebrew rural settlements. In the report of the society for 1909 an enumeration of the approximate number of farms occupied and of farmers, or farm families, in the principal States is made from the best available sources of information, by States and by colonies or settlements." The following table, compiled from the report of the Jewish society, estimates approximately 3,040 Hebrew farmers in 36 States. Of these, 2,329 were settled in more or less well-defined groups, the remaining 711 were either widely scattered or were living in very small groups. The geographical distribution is significant; more than 90 per cent are in 10 States north of the thirty-ninth parallel, 75 per cent are in New York, New Jersey, and New England; more are reported in New York (27.9 per cent) than in any other State, and North Dakota is the only State west of New York in which the Hebrew farmer is in any wise an important factor. The number of farms operated is but 2,701. The difference (339) between the number of farms and the number of operators is in part accounted for by farm partnerships, either of a farmer and his grown son who operate the farm jointly or by a partnerhsip otherwise constituted. It is probable that the actual number of partnership enterprises is greater than the number given. According to this estimate there are at least 15,000 Hebrews settled in rural communities and depending on the land, wholly or partly, for a livelihood. "Ann. Rept. Jewish Agricultural and Industrial Aid Society, 1909, pp. 11, 12, 43, 44. 48296° VOL 22-11-2 3 |