The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-19
THE FARM LANDS OF INDIANA
Statistics Showing the Relative Value of
Improved and Unimproved Lands.
The Many Advantages Over Other Western
States Which Emigrants Desiring Good
Locations May Find In Indiana.

The State Bureau of Statistics has a great
amount of information that, if properly given to
the world would be of vast benefit to Indiana.
| Thousands upon thousands OF home-seekers have
hurried across this State for the West without
knowing that they were blindly leaving behind
them advantages greater in every respect than
those they ultimately found. This migration is
still going on. There is agricultural class,
which, if these statistics were brought to their
attention, would not despse the inducements
that Indiana offers to the Industrious and intelli
gent. In States TO the East of Indiana many
farmers have lands which readily sell for from
$3.50 to $500 an acre. Among these are many
who are disposed to emigrate, to sell their old
places and find new homes. where they will have
broader and more fertile fields Thousands who
have passed over Indiana and gone further West
have paid higher price for improved and unim-
proved lands than good or better lands could
have been bought for in this State.
These statistics call attention to the fact that
in all parts of Indiana there is land of the best
quality, with timber, good water, as good educa-
tional advantages any State In the Union,
network of railroads that interlaces nearly every
one of the ninety-two counties in the State, be-
nevolent and charitable institutions that are I'M
excelled, and, as health statistics prove as much
immunity from disease as falls to any spot on
earth. In many parts of the State are clays that
are valuable for pottery, thing or queensware;
excellent coal and building material. States to
the west of Indiana have not the variety of land
that is found here, for this State possesses the
80 hokh Tho
States numerous railroads give proximity to
ready markets. and furnish cheap transportation
for its products. No State west of Indiana has
as good country roads as this State affords.
Looking over the returns from few counties
taken at random, which have been received by
the Indiana Bureau of Statistics, Journal re-
porter obtained the following figures in regard
to the price of land in various parts of the State
In Steuben county, in the northeast corner of
the State, improved farm lands are valued at
$50 an acre; unimproved, $40 Pulaski county,
improved, from $40 to $40; unimproved, 50 to
SIS. Fulton county, improved, $35; unimproved
$25; Starke, improved, $40 to $40: unimproved S.
to $40. Backford, improved. $40 to $780, unim-
proved, 500 to $50. Vermillion improved, $50 to
$50; unimproved, $40 to $25; coal lands, $40 to
Hamilton, one of the best counties in
central Indiana. improved. $45; unim-
proved, $780, Hancock. improved, $40
to $50. Dubois. now good county, improved,
improved SIS to SIS; unimproved. Sc to $l5; coal
lands. $40 to $685. building stone, $40 to $50. Har-
rison, improved, $40: unimproved. So to 49,
building stone, $50 to 800. Floyd. improved. $15
to $75. Washington, improved $l5 to $685. unim.
proved S.; building stone up to $500 an acre.
Orange improved, $40; unimproved. average,
$40. Clark. improved, up to $75 and 1928; unim-
proved, SIS to $40; cement and building stone,
800 to $l25. Ripley, improved. average $780, I'M
improved, 3d. building stone, $50 to 800.
Switzerland. improved, average. $50. Franklin,
improved, $50; unimproved, $l5; building stone,
$40.
tunity for forehanded farmer to get good
farm at a low price. It is one of the best farm
ing counties in the State, but through specula-
ton number Of large landholders have been
compelled to part with their lands, and in this
way more than IL, 600 acres of as good farming
land as there is anywhere to be found has been
| thrown upon the market. Daviess county is
well timbered, well watered and abounds in fine
block and camel Goals.
Harrison, one OF the longest settled counties
of the State, still holds much unimproved land
| that within few years, will be valuable. The
best building stone in the county is not yet
reached by railroad In addition to being good
farming county, it is, on the uplands, good for
fruit growers. Peaches thrive where sheltered
by the hills, and much might be done in grape
culture. Small fruits as strawberries, rasp-
berries, etc, are now largely and pro6tably
grown.
Vermillon county has three well defined quail
tiles of land, whose prices vary much that it
is almost impossible to set price on improved
farm land These different qualities of land ex-
tend in three parallel strips from north to south,
the full length of the county. The first, the
river bottom, is the rich alluvial land one-haf
mile to two miles wide, along the Wabash, par
TALLY subject to overflow but rated at from $50
to 500 an acre. The second strip is belt paral
lei to the first, about two miles wide, the full
length of the county. and is rough, broken land
and hardly fit for farming, rated at 500 to $50 an
acre. And the third is the prairie. extending
from the Illinois grand prairie into the western
side Of this county, rated at $40 to $50 an acre,
according to improvements, situation and thor
oughness of drainage. Coal is very plenty and
coal lands are not considered valuable unless ia
vorably situated for shipping. In many places
in this county good coal may 30 bought at the
mine for from three to four cents a bushe
There is also abundance of good fre-clay and
white oak, hickory. poplar, ash and other hard
woods.
Hamilton county has eighteen towns. and no
man has to 60 more than four miles TO post
Office. No county In the State is more enterprIs-
ing, or has better farms, and the morals of its
citizens good as those of any county in
the United States. This county is noted for it's
excellent blue grass timothy and clover, and its
fine timber. No county in the State has more
miles of gravel roads. The land is good, easy to
cultivate, and raises as much wheat, corn and
oats per acre as any county in the State. There
are three railroads running through the county
two north and south and east and west.
The south line Of the county is within ten miles
of Indianapolis. Land is cheap, and can be-
bought on good terms.
The Central Unions Predicament.
Mr.. Wallick said last night, in reply to an in
nuirv thar the Cantra1 TTniou HAVING M natant