Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-07-19

buildings loom up in every direction, and have
more the appearance of towns and villages at a
distance than anything else with which they
can be compared. 1t is impossible to give even
the approximate Increase of population or the
increase of area put into cultivation directly
along the line of this road since its construc-
zion, except to say that from barren prairie
and an unbroken forest, the whole line of the
roa 40, Is now one continuous string of farms.
Ihe'UDited States owned nearly all the wild
lands along the line of this road when the
grant was made. and the prices under the
graduation act varied from 1919 cents to Sl.25
per acre, and no sale for them. The act maxi
ing the grant advanced them at once to $50
per acre, and IN less than two years after the
grant was made not an acre could be entered
from the United States, it was all taken up. and
to-day is nearly all in cultivation. and worth
from $40 to 500 per acre. The United States
was the immediate gamer because from lands
1T could only expect from 1913 cents to 1925
per acre for it realized $3.50 per acre, and that
within less than two years, while if the grant
had not been made, some of the shilling lands
would yet remain unsold Nor did the people
who invested at the increased price lose any,
thing, because the building of the road, increas-
ing facilities for transportation of everything,
induced capital and population to flock in to
such an extent that an advance of 200 per
cent. no inducement for any one to sell the
$3.50 per acre lands.
No accurate figures can be given in regard
to the value of farm products before and after
the construction of the road, but it is a well
known fact that corn before the road was built
was usually q drug in the market at from five
to fifteen cents per bushel. while since then it
has found a ready market at from twenty cents
to 81. lO per bushel, the usual prince ranging
from about twenty-five to sixty cents per
bushel. Other farm products have varied in
about the same ratio.
i No comparison was made, SO far as the in
va n 1t1
there was but little of anything along the line
OF the road to tax before it was constructed
but now everything is subject to taxation ex-
cept the few remaining acres still held by this
company.
THE foregoing is very hastily thrown to-
gether, but Will give you some idea of what the
road has done and what Others may do in the
future
MINNESOTA
From statistical reports of Minnesota we
ascertain the following suggestive facts:
The commencement of immigration in any
number was in 1857, stimulated by the promise
| OF railroad building under the Congressional
grant of land to the State for that purpose
made the previous winter. This, however, was
checked by the financial difficulties of 1858,
| and until the close of the war everything was
in that State practically at stand still. In
| 1864 active preparations were commenced and
the following figures show advancement to this
time:
Population in 1865. ...... 25O,O0O
Population in 1877 ...... 5000
| Taxable valuation of property in
1865. ............ s45, $4,000
| Taxable valuation of property in
1877. ,............ 22o, 1926, 900
Average taxable value of lands in
1863. .......... ............. 50. 80 eracre.
Average taxable value of lands in
1877. ....... .................. 7.76p per acre.
Average rate of taxation in 1865, .0458 per acre.
Average rate of taxation in 1877, .Ol72 per acre.
Wheat, AREA 1865. ............... 100000 acres
Wheat, AREA 1877 L S19 760 acres
Wheat, yield 1865 ........... 9,475, 900 bus
Wheat, yield 1877 40, 0O0, 900 bus.
The total area in 1877 cultivated to wheat
oats corn, barley, potatoes rye and buckwheat
aggregates 2,S66,400 acres, the total product
~ 1861, 600 bushels worth at home sixty mil
lions of dollars.
We confidently claim that the results thus
shown are the direct outgrowth of development
brought about by the building of railways, and
what is true of the two States cited for illus
tratlon will follow all others opened to settle
ment in the same Way