Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-05-16
Land speculations.
Prom the boston AdvertIsor Of May 8

Prom the Boston Advertiser Of May
The mania for purchasing Western lands
which has been steadily increasing for some
two years, more or less, has now reached a
point which causes those shrewd in such mat
lers, to pause a little and look the invilsble re-
suit square in the face. A reaction must come,
sooner or later, and the dag is not distant. The
fact is, the thing has been overdone, and the
hundreds of thousands Of dollars which have
been Withdrawn from other branches Of bus
mess will, ere long, begin to find their way
back again, although no incoDsderable portion
will doubtless be swallowed up in the reaction
which may follow too soon for the escape Of
all unframed. We are no alarmist, but the
"signs of the tines give warning that the
present tendencies of Western speculations
must canse monetary troubles in that part OF
the country, and Of course react on US at the
East. We do not expect il will be immediate,
but the seeds are already sown and the harvest
will surely ripen. Although we believe the
excessive speculations in land TO be the leading
cause for some of the difficulties already APP
parent, and farther fruits 10 be reaished in
due time, still, that is not the only source OF
evil. There is anuther cause of trouble, which,
perhaps, just nOO, is operating more adversely
than the speculative fever, as that has not YET
quite reached its crisis. We refer to the cur
failing Of large expenditures for railroad pur-
poses, which few years since were immense,
and millions from capitalists in the large cities,
and foreign funds, too, all rolled in to enrich
the "Great West" well and truly so called.
The stream has now in great measure
ceased TO flow, and the reaction of the tide, as
noticed in the difficulty of making Western
collections, has commenced ; which, in its re.
ceding current, will be sure to leave many high
and dry who were 100 venturesome in their on
ward rush.
Il is very evident that more land is disposed
of in the market each year, than the legitimate
demand will warrant, and every one seems to
have an impression that his particular location
isto be the spot for great city, forgetting that
the next neiehbor, perhaps only half dozen
miles distant, entertans precisely the same
views.
The Railroad Record, published at Cinciu
natl, has an interesting article on this subject,
and being near enough to have practical ex-
peIleHCS III tuS HlatlCIS ltS VIEWS dIo th6 mOIe
to be relied on. The writer states that it is
not his purpose TO decry the value of lands,
but 10 point out the elements and signs of the
times in regard to the great land speculation;
of the day We herewith present the opening
and closing paragraphs of the article allndeC
TO =
"We live in time of extraordinary lanC
speculation. Never before was there known
such an exodus of farmers to the new lands oil
the West. Never before has government:
given away such quantities of land. Neve
were so many acres in the market and nevel
were prices of teiH land so we'll maintained
To experienced eyes all this tends to one result
which sooner or later must come--a bursting
Of the great land bubble. We mean of thu
bubble which has been created by making new
towns on the frontiers, and selling new land &
the price of cultivated farms.