The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-04-04

During the last year q aseat many
person have come iato possesSion Of
western laxM properties through fore
elostiies,,sayS the Unised States Inuestor.
49, the present owners, to q large de-
gree. + residents of the east, their
only desire Is to I'll themselves of these
sholdings5as soon as possible. "A word
OF cauAAMst II such persons NAV not be
out 9 sptaces Hal estate values in the
west are greatly depressed MS a result
~ inst year'sspanic.s In many localitiea
It's diihcnit tostind purchasers at any
sc0St.S Now thelsSis reason TO suppose
that eastern holders Of western lands
MAJ deceived by s~harpers, making
Snse sofssthis very state Of affairs. These
lands ~ worth something to-day, and
Inter on they will be worth n great deal
mort. II all depends on the ability of
the present holders to carry them until
times Improve. The danger is that GER
parties with long purses and long
heads will magnify the unfavorable side
sof the situation for the purpose of
Engineering timid investors into throw
lug over their western lands at merely
nominal prices.
A word ofcaution to holders of west
ern farm landssis timely for a number
y reasons. In the first place, there Is
every reason to believe that the worst
that canb be apprehended in connection
with the western situation has been
fully discounted in the drop in real es-
tate prices which has already taken
place. Owners of land should be on
their guard against any and all attempts
t~oSconvince them that prices will go
lower. The chances are that values
will enhance rather than depreciate. In
some localities there is already reported
70 be q better demand for farm proper
ties. Prices are bound to be low for
several years, but. there is good reason
70 believe, with an upward tendency.
The financial depression in the United
States will undoubtedly keep immigra-
ton down to a low pointfo a consider
able period. The fact, however, must
evse be kept in mind that this country
is The center toward which the popula-
ton of the whole world is tending.
Coming years, therefore, must inevita-
bly, witness a strong demand for farm
lands in the United States. In this con-
nection 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 obtained as cheap in the flu
tnre as in the past, other things being
equal.
a great deal is being said at thistime
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 regions
in various parts of the world. 1t can
be safely said, however, that in the long
run this country will be able to hold its
own. Temporarily, the American agri-
culturist may experience hardship. 1t
may even be admitted hat prices OF
cereals will permanently remain on a
low level. The situation will adjust it.
self in time, and if the farmer is obliged
to take lower prices for his wheat and
corn he will obtain whatever commodi-
ties and services he may require at cor
respondingly reduced rates. It is idle
to attempt to demonstrate that America
Is about to take a second place as the
great food producing country of the
world. This fact should be kept in
mind by holders of western farm lands.
Whatever may be the status of their in
vestments to-day, it can safely be as
serted that five years hence will witness
prices considerably in excess Of those
now obtainable.
rfrraRHLLan ~