Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-02-21
ADIAGN0SISOF DELAWARE
IEoRrAsB IN rHs YALuH OF FARM
LANDS.
How a Pntsadoiphia sRecord" Rcp-
reseptstive Views Our sfcsources--
Insuierntien Discussed-A bright
Outlook FOR ProEresAiysmess.

Pennsylvania, 1t Ia only within compara-
lively recent years that 1t has become
awake to the spirit of the age and has
begun to put its best foot forward In
order to keep up with the procession.
This ia true both of Its manufactures
aud of It's farming. but more particu-
larly of the latter. This late awakening
has been productive Of some curious re-
suits.
1t seems remarkable that q state adjoin-
ing Pennsylvania, aud separated from
New Jersey only by the Delaware river,
from both OF which states thousands Of
farmers have gone west to develop Its re-
sources, shouid be advertising at this day
for immigrants to come and cultivate its
soil and TO build up its. manufactures.
Suoh proceeding Is common enough in
the West and the more enterprising parts
OF the South, but IL Is bit startling to
find that State within 40 minutes ride
of Philadelphia has board Of immigra-
tion, with an English agent, and that It
publishes by tens of thousands an at
trsotive little pamphlet entitled "Homes
and Lands In Delaware" which Is scat
tered all over this country and Canada
and sent to Europe.
A CHANGE Is COMING.
Dalawareans themselves must think
such course rather unusual for an old
settled State, for In q half apologetio tone
the pamphlet says;
The inhabitants of this State, whose
forefathers were among the earliest
settlers OF America, have alwaye been
staid, carefal and conservative Dwelling
in comfort, psace aud happiness, they
have allowed the world 10 move on In the
march Of improvement, leaving them
eomewhst behind. But change is CON-
ing over tho spirit of their dreams. Rs-
Gently the attention of capitalists and of
others has been drawn to the undsveloped
resources Of the State, and new enter
prises are spriugiug up on every hand.
The introduction Of the modern facilities
Of communication and transportation has
already begun revolution. A spirit of
activity has seized the people, and all
signs point to the inevitable conclusion
that the Diamond State will ere long take
her proper place in the very front rank
of progressive communities.
THE WORD Is FORWARD"
II is this late awakening, the effects of
which have for some time been apparent
In New Castle and Kent counties, and
which Is now stirring mp Sussex,
especially since the construction of the
New York, Philadelphia d Norfolk rail.
road, that does mnch to explain why
| farmers are, to all appearances, doing
better here than in Pennsylvania. A
J large annunk of new blood has been in
fused into .ria country, putting up the
price of land, introducing progressive
methods, and to great extent changing
the character OF the agriculture. Still
further improvements are bound to come,
especially in Sussex county, and in this
old territory boom may be expected of
the kind more common in the west than
In staid Delaware.
LANDs ARE INCREASING IN VALUE.
The result of this development and
immigration is, as has been said, an in.
crease in the value of land, in striking
contrast to the great decline which has
brought such distress to q large part of
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The
assessments now being made Of real
estate in the hundreds have not yet been
tabulated, but there seems to be no doubt
that they will show the same increase In
| farmland values as those which have
preceded. Taking the figures last avail
able in the auditors report for 1887 they
show gains in every county when oom-
Lared with tho returns for 1884, as fol-
logs;
1884. 1887.
| New Castle. si3, ,9O5,353 st5,is7 ,927
| kent.................. lu,3y3lep u,AE,yos
| sussex. X...............s u,oO3,loJ lU,uoobSd
THE ADVANCE BELIEVED TO BE GENUINE.
-. 49,
which contains Wilmington, has, IL will
be notioed, increased over $1,000, 600 in
Kent. over 1000, 900, and in sussex,
over $500, 900. Assessments are not in,
fallible registers OF the value of land, but
it is safe to say that they would not have
been increased in this fashion throughout
| the State il there had not actually been
an appreciation of values. In Penoadei
and New Castle hundreds, in New CASTLE
county, the figures for the above years
show slight falling OF in values, but all
the other hundreds reported au increase.
WHEAT BRINGS GOOD PRICES.
Farming in Delaware has undergone O
great change during the past 20 years,
and the amount of land under cultivation
has been increased immensely. Formerly
corn and wheat were the great crops, and
even now large quantities OF these cereals
are raised. Delaware wheat commands Q
better price in the Philadelphia msrkei
than the western article because Of its su.
periority. YearS ago Sussex county,
which has number Of navigable strenmi
running into Delaware and Chesapeake
bays and the ocean, did good business
in shipping wheat to the West Indies, hui
such commerce has disappeared, and thu
farmers of the county are now giving
more attention to the cultivation of til,
light sandy loan which is so we'll adapted
to the raising Of fruits and vegetables.
PEACH CULTURE SLIGHTLY ovERDoNE.
& Fruits, especially peaches and yegs
tables, ere, of course, the chief products
of Delaware, and the prosperity of thu
farmers ia largely dependent on the frui
crop. So many people have been at
tracted to the State by the accounts o
the fortunes made in peaches that thei
cultivation has been rather overdone
and many farmers have necessarily faile,
to make any money out OF them. Still
the fact remains that in no part of tn
United StRses can peaches be raised 81
cheaply aud we'll ns in Delaware, ant
they must remain it's most importan
product. The dreaded ''yellows" ar
now causing q good deal Of unessines
among growers, and TO escape the diseas
the cultivation OF the peach is beini
pushed southwark, 30 that before lonI
Sussex county will probably rival Ken
in the extent Of its orchards.
FAvoRPD WITH MANY MARKETS.
Delaware farmers are nuch more favor
ably situated than those Of Penbsylyaui
as regards markets. They have not onl,
rail Communication with Baltimore, Phi
edelphis, New York, Wilmington an,
other large cities, but they can reacl
, them by water as we'll. In addition the
| i..... .....ul.al.. Al.ia ..an.r dnn.u IL. Al.