The St. Johns herald., 1894-11-01
WESTERN FARM LANDS.
Owners Are Advised Not to Sell
 Them at Present.
Coming Years VIII Witness a Strong De- mand for Farms and Prices Wn' Rule E1uch Higher-The
 Present Situation.

During the last year great many persons have come into possession of western farm properties through fore closures, says the United States In vestor. As the present owners, to a large degree, are residents of the cast, their only desire is to rid themselves of these holdings as soon as possible. A word of caution to such persons may not be out of place. Real estate val ues in the west are greatly depressed as a result of last years panic. In many localities it is difficult to find purchasers at any cost. Now there is reason to suppose that eastern holders of western lands may be deceived by sharPers, making use of this very state of affairs. These lands are worth something to-day, and later on they will be worth great deal more. It all depends on the ability of the pres ent holders to carry them until times improve. The danger is that certain parties with long purses and long heads will magnify the unfavorable side of the situation for the purpose of frightening timid investors into throw ing over their western lands at merely nominal prices. A word of caution to holders of western farm lands is time ly for a number of reasons. In the first place, there is every reason to be- lieve that the worst that can be appre- hended in connection with the western situation has been fully discounted in the drop in real estate prices which has already taken place. Owners of land should be on their guard against any and all attempts to convince them that pr1ces will go lower. The chances are that values will enhance rather than depreciate. In some localities there is already reported to be a better demand for farm properties. Prices are bound to be low for several years, but, there is good reason to believe, with an upward tendency.
 The financial depression in the United States will undoubtedly keep immigration down to low point for a considerable period. The fact, how ever, must ever be kept in mind that this country is the center toward which the population of the whole world is tending. Coming years, there fore, must inevitably witness strong demand.fCr farm lands in the United States. Tn this connection it is well to bear in mind that about all the good government land has been disposed of, and that farms are not going to be ob- tained as cheap in the future as in the past, other things being equal.
 A great deal is being said at this time regarding the sharp competition which the American farmer is going to en- counter in the future as the result of the opening up of new agricultural re- gioGs in various parts of the world. 1t can be safely said, however, that in the long run this country will be able to hold it's own. Temporarily, the Amer ican agriculturist may experience hard ship. It may even be admitted that prices of cereals will permanently re- main on low level. The situation will adjust itself in time, and if the farmer is obliged to take lower prices for his wheat and corn he will obtain what ever commodities and services he may require at correspondingly reduced rates. It is idle to attempt to demon strate that America is about to take a second place as the great food produc- ing country of the world. This fact should be kept in mind by holders of western farm lands. Whatever may be the status of their investments to-day, it can safely be asserted that five years hence will witness prices considerably in excess of those now obtainable.