The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-02-11
ELKTON, FEBRUARY IL, 1898
RECENT LAND SALES IN
CECIL.

MARYLAND and indeed with the coun.
try generally. tor years past the
marketable value of farming lands in
this county has been so deprecated,
that it has been almost impossible to
sell even a good farm at price
approaching its real value Our
present purpose however, is not to
argue or even speculate, upon the
causes that have brought about this
unpromIsing condition of the land
market in Cecil county. The gen
eral causes producing it, were I'm
doubtedly the same in this county, as
In every other county in every other
Eastern State of the Union. Over
production of cereals, resulting
from increased acreage sown, and
increased railroad facilities for the
great grain growing districts OF the
West, brought the farmers OF the
Atlantic seaboard directly into COM
petition with equally productive,
and more cheaply cultivated lands.
The farmer in Dakota could market
his grain just as cheaply as the far
mer in Cecil county Maryland, and
could grow it at less than half the
cost. These with possibly others,
which it is not LOW our province to
discuss, have been the potential causes
in bringing about tbe depressed con-
dition OF the farming interests of the
Eastern States!
But whatever the reasons we know
the fact.
The same farm of three hundred
acres in Cecil county, that the owner
refused $50, 900 for in 1873, was sold
for s16, 900 in 1890. Tenant farmers
who in 1878 invested the hard
earned savings OF years in high
priced lands, lost everything in ten
years by the depreciation of land
values, consequent upon the fall of
prices of farm products. We could
multiply instances OF these in this
vicinity, if it were necessary.
When these farmers invested their
capital in land in 1872, wheat was
Sass, and corn $3.50 per bushel
In 1892, wheat touched sixty eight
cents, and corn thirty eight cents
per bushel.
BIT unavoidable as this showing
may be, it is no less the fact, that
Notwithstanding the present low
prices of grain, recent land sales in
Cecil county indicate, that the bot
tom has been reached, and the up
ward movement in market values
has begun.
Even as late as three years ago,
land could not be sold in Cecil
county unless at a ruinously low
price. Now it can be sold, and
at fair price. Nor is the upward
tendency in market values the result
oflocal speculative transactions. 1t
is the usual outcome of the reaction
in land values, attributable solely to
natural and not to artificial causes.
The local land market has stood
the strain OF continuous years of
depression. Intelligent farmers have
met the strain in retrenched expenses
and in more economical living They
have held their lands until the turn
ing point in values has been reached,
and the long looked for period of
appreciation has at last begun.
We do not claim that a phe-
nominal upward movement in land
values has struck Cecil; or that a
bounding "boom" OF doubtful utility
has overtaken her. But without
exaggeration state the fact, that
there is today good home market
for farming lands, and which the
recent record of sales in the county
proves.
As late as year ago, large
body of land owned by the
estate of the late Delaplaine Nc
Daniel was put upon the market,
and - 1878 very low figure at
public auction. That sale did more
to give the real estate market Of
Cecil county black eye, than any
recent local transaction in land. 1t
was quoted tar and near, as an
evidence of the deprecated value of
farming lands in Cecil, and created
outside OF the limits of the county,
an unfavorable impression upon
those, not familiar with the average
character of our land and its market
value.
But the recent record of sales shows,
that even in the case refereed to, a
rel action has since taken' place, for a
sarm of 400 acres t5eh sold for only
10000, eSSn average of $500 per
IS since been three times sold
ely advanced figures.
/ of number of excellent sales
ly consummated, and which we
Enthusiastically indicate the up
tendency of land values in Cecil |
the following are noticeable.
.Ssale of the Bayard farm on
Manor, 333 acres at
70.
4 gen farm in the First district,
ct SI4,575 90.
u farm in the Sixth dis
y at s6's50,00. !