Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-03

Nebraska farm lands are just now be-
ginning to receive their merited share
of public attention. Local real estate
men, particularly those who make Il
speciality of farm property, report a
constantly increasing inquiry for Ne
braska lands. and admit that prices
have increased very materially within
In Nebraska within three or four miles
of railroad station are now seldom
sold at less than $40 per acre, and more
frequently bring prices above that fig
ure, while farms as far away from
railroad facilities as ten miles can
hardly be bought for less than $40 per
acre. These prices compare very ia
vorably with figures obtained for farm
lands in older and more thickly settled
states of the union.
One of the first reasons for the de
mand at advanced prices for Nebraska
farms is the uncommon prosperity of
the Nebraska farmer. This condition
Is not altogether the result of the gen
eral good times that prevail throughout
the country, although in large measure
to even approximate the gain of the
farmer through the increased consump-
tion that has so far enhanced the price
of all agricultural products, but con
servative estimates put the gain for the
last year at not less than 80 per cent.
This is n tremendous item in itself, hut
it is not the sole foundation of the Ne
braska farmers prosperity.
The Nebraska farmer has succeeded in
conquering nature to very large de-
gree; that is to say, he has learned
how to farm, and the experience of the
last few years has demonstrated most
conclusively that the return of the
harvest follows the hope of the seed
time as surely in Nebraska as anywhere
under the sun. 1t took n long time to
present stage of reliability, but the
intelligent, persistent effort of the hus-
bandman has beer rewarded, as the an
nual shipments from within the state
amply attest.
Another potent factor in the situation
is the gradual trend of the market to-
ward the source of supplies. Men IA
miliar with the conditions say that at
present the selling price of all farm
products is relatively higher in Omaha
than in New York. Especially is this
true of live stock. Many things have
contributed to this result, none probably
more than the opening of the market to
the west. Where not so very long ago
the states on the western slope of the
continent We're forced to send their sur
eastern market, they now sell all on
the Pacific coast, and the demand is
such that the order has been reversed
and the source of supply on this side
of the divide is being called upon to
meet the demand from the west. The
growing trade with the south is also
bringing new customers to the doors of
the Nebraska market. All these ele-
ments contribute to the maintenance of
the local market above those of the east,
| which formerly dominated the pro-
ducers of the west. The operation Of
the natural laws of trade have thus cut
| away most of the ground on which the
calamity shouter formerly Stood and the
farmer finds himself really at the very
gates Of the market once so far away.
1t is these facts which are now draw
ing the attention of investors to Ne
braska farm lands, and which are en-
couraging Nebraska farmers to employ
their profits and savings in extending
their present holdings.