The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-17

The price Of farming land depends upon
the profit in farming as compared With
the profits afforded by capital invested in
other pursuits. When the value of aRri-
cultural products declines in value, the
prices of land decline unless the cost OF
production is decreased. Lately the in
quiry has been propounded by several pa
pers. Are the values of farm land adj
vancing?" The replies have been as
varied as any one could expect, some cor
respondents claiming that an advance OF
80 per cent has taken place, while others
affirm that there is q constant decline. 1t
is observable that eastern farmers are
more inclined to believe in advancing
prices, while the extreme western ones
more universally report decline.
We can see a good reason for continued
decline in western land values. Wheat is
not only extraordinarily low in price, but
the immediate future is not hopeful. Our
export demand is small this spring, and
surplus will be carried over to the new
wheat year. Ii Europe should have a
good crop it is difficult, to see what dispo-
sition can be made Of another large crop
in the United States. Not that the masses
are surfeited with bread, for we know that
some even suffer from hunger. but this
question of distribution We are not now
discussing. surplus remains unsold,
notwithstanding low prices, and this be-
comes burden on prices. keeping them
very low and unrsmuneratiye.
Then, too, there was a craze for western
The cream has been taken of much OF ii,
and fertility must be restored or a; least
husbanded. Freight charges, remoteness
from markets that take much perishable
stuff and the low prices of cattle have led
TO dissatisfaction. Mortgages are causing
forced sales, and the usual appreciation OF
farm ysiues in a new country has ceased.
The protest of these people against such
class rule as marked the most of the
period since the war was evidence that
net profits from farming had dwindled.
In the East the maj part OF the replies
indicate hopefulness. The future looks
brighter, and the demand for land is be-
coming marked, If We may accept the
tenor OF the replies as trustworthy. This
Is due in part TO the diversihcation of our
efforts. just "a fast as we ind that some
western competition can be evaded by the
DTOGucLOn OF pGFlBnEDl6 our
condition grows slightly better. Many
are not making money, Il is true. and
some farms are heavily morigaged, but
these correspondents believe that more
people are wanting land than were five
years ago. The prices of corn, hogs, po-
tRsOes and many OF the other principal
farm crops have been better than they
were a few years ago. and all hope for
sound growth in the demand for ali kinds
of stock and vegetables. How much
ground there is for this faith no one can
say with certainty.
This matter is q most important one to
every farm reader of this department.
What road are we travelling? You want
10 hear from all other counties in your
own and neighbOring states, and if each
reader will serve himself and his brother
farmers in this matter, all can know what
farm values are doing. and by their course
We may determine the true situation of
the farmer. Believing that you will serve
THE SENTINEL farm department gladly and
willingly, We ask these two questions, re-
quessing YOU to answer them on postal
card addressed 10 4 agricultural Editor SEN
TINEL. The questions are: o. Are farm
ing lands advancing in cash value in your
county, and if so, why? (2) Are farming
lands declining IN cash value, and II so.
why? All those who are willing to serve
US IN this investigation should write the
name of the county on the card. Let US
have the answers from our readers at
their eRrliest convenience.