Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-03

VIII not be so pertinent hive years hence
There lies open before us, as we write, the
report Of J. r. Dodge, the statistician of the
Department of Agriculture Land in Nr.
ginia, which in 1860 was worth fifty dollars
an acre for farming, can to-day be had for
twenty-fvo acres in Wisconsin, which in
1850 could have been bought for twenty-five,
are to-day worth fifty. In comparing several
" the Northern and Southern States the same
balance can be seen. The decrease in Tcu-
ucssoo is just equal to the increase in Rhode
Island Louisiana lands have fallen lust as
much as Michigan lands have risen. The de-
cline in Alabama is Offset by the enhancement
in Iowa. But this fact is noteworthy not
withstanding all the rayagcs and burnings Of
the war, though nearly million of men were
for four years strouuously devoted to the arts
Of bloodshed and destruction the average
value OF American lands is higher than it was
in 1860. In the States that were the theatre
Of active warfare, the decline on one hand is
equal to the increase on the other. But we
are richer in value Of national real estate by
the whole increase Of the Rocky Mountain
and the Pacific States. Thus, notwithstand-
ing the revolution in labor system, and all
the disasters Of the decade from 1859 to 500,
more persons have been enriched than mpov-
erished 10y fluctuations in real estate. If this
is true Of the decade under consideration,
how aptly will it describe the next ten years
The average decline of Southern lands has
been fifty per cent. Who doubts but these
will rise to their former value in less than
five years? In Virginia, wherever the tide
Of migration has fairly set in, the lands arc
worth more to-day than they were in 1861
The increase of farm property in New
England is instructive. Lands Of as much
intrinsic value as any, but remote from cities
and growing towns, have hardly held their
own In many towns of New Hampshire
and Of Vermont there has been a decline,
but handsome situations near roads, for build.
ing-sites, showing goody landscapes, have
changed hands at high figures Berkshire
county, in Massachusetts, for instance. con-
tans as much wild rough land as any in the
State, but more lovely building spots Its
lands have increased in value more than any
part of the State. Windham county, Con-
necticut has not changed in its ground yalu.
alton for the last fifty years The land is
moderately fertile. and not attractive to city
purchasers.
But there are other and large reasons why
we urge our readers to buy land than close
financial calculation. A topic on which we
shall ever be earnest, and we hope persuasive.
is to counteract the drift of all the youth,
the taste, and vigor of our times, to the flag
stones of great towns. For the few, the for
tunate, the sagacious, the grasping there may
be fortunes; for the many, small salaries,
narrow homes, debauched morals, pale faces,
hopes deferred. There is not a dry-goods
house on Broadway that offers to the average
young man of the period so reasonable a
prospect Of chicken for his Sunday dinner
hity-two times a year as any ten acres of the
toughest land in New-York.
Great wars have always been great central
izers and our own is no exception England
has one advantage over us in the drift of her
laws to make her greatest farmers her noblest
subjects. But there has sprung up since our
war u tendency which we hail as the begin
ming of truer and higher civilization, q
taste which it will be the effort of this Jour
nal to cultivate by every form of suggestion
"a conviction in the minds of thousands that
no investment is so safe as real estate, no
home so charming as the country home no
apples 10 finely favored as those which grow
on trees Of our own planting, or on boughs of
cur own pruning.
ur communities are full of young men
! sxpeiean earn from two to six dollars a day.
bdman without u family ought to live on
what he earns. If his wages are two
Mars day, he can and should limit his out
! 80 70 one dollar day. When he has the
sayings OF one year--s3O0-well invested in
land, he has given hostages to fortune he has
the nest-egg OF competency.
we suggest to all such readers few prac-
teal hints that may aid them in making their
Investments
l. Inquiry and reflection will always point
ont certain towns or cities in the vicinity of
which property is not likely to fall, and may
greatly enhance in value. Thus, in the East
great market not distant must be fll.d With
non-producing class, crowd who want cab.