River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-07-25

road is now one continuous string of farms
THE United 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 yssied from l215 cents to Sl.z
per acre, and no sale for them. The act maxi
ing the grant advanced them at once TO $3.50
per acre, and III less than two years after the
grant maize not acre could be entered
from the United States, il was all taken up, and
tc day is nearly all in cultivation, and worth
from $40 to 500 per acre. The United States
was the immediate gamer because from land
it conld only expect from 1915 cents to SI.2
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 unsod. 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 advance of 200 per
cent. was no inducement for any one to sell the
g so Der acre lands.
ssNo accurate figures can be given in regard
to the value of farm products before and after
the construction of the road, but it il a well
known fact that corn before the road was built
was usually drug in the market at from five
TO fifteen cents per bushel. while since then it
has found ready market st from twenty cents
to 81 10 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.
mo comparison was made, so far as the in
creased valuation for taxation Is concerned, as
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 1867, 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; Eaa4s IS
Population in 1865 ....... $50 600
Population in 1877. 675, 900
Taxable valuation of property in
1865. $40, lS4, UUU
Taxable valuation of property in
1877. Z2U, J2b UU0
Average taxable value of lands in
1865. S2.90 per acre.
Average taxable value of lands in
1877 Observation-Disclosures. ZIG per acre.
Average rate of taxation in 1865, .0458 per acre.
Average rate of taxation in 1877, .0172 per acre.
Wheat area 1865 ... 430, 600 acres
Wheat area 1877 i, 8I9. 760 acres
Wheat, yield 1865. ............. 9,475,000 bus.
Wheat, Weld 1877 ...... ..40, 000, 900 bus.
The total area in 1877 cultivated to wheat,
oats, corn, barley, potatoes, rye and buckwheat
aggregates O. S66, 400 acres, the total product
"a, S67, 900 bushels, worth at home sixty mill
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
tration will follow all others opened to settle
ment in the same way.