The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-08-14
ADVANCE IN
FARM LANDS.
Especially So in tie South.
INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS.


Never in the history of the United
States has there been such an active
demand for farm lands through out the
entire Northwest, nor such phenom-
email advance in prices, as during the
pas three years. In Illinois the ad-
vance has been from 500 to $3.50 per
acra in Iowa, from $35 to $75, and
even higher in Minnesota, from SIS
to $50, and in South Dakota, from
$3.50 to $50. Real-sstate prophets
md others have each year predicted
the top had been reached, and that
orices must decline. Such, how
ever, has not been the case. On the
contrary, not only practical farmers,
but bankers, mechanics, merchants
and manufacturers having the idle
money have shown their confidence in
the future OF cuItiviable lands by
making liberal land invest ments.
The question now agitating the
minds OF real-es:ate agents (through
whom 80 per cent. of all the farm lands
are sold) is, where can we find low
priced real estate, and where will be
the next great advance in lands?
advise all real-estate agents and
others who handle farm lands that
every indication now points to the
South as the center of the next great
boom, and our reasons for thinking
this are based upon the following
facts:
Southern farm lands are too low, as
compared with the market value of
Southern farm products. To illustrate !:
In Iowa lands selling in the market
for $50 to SIS per acre are rented for
only So per acre. In Mississippi. and
esrec:ally in the great cotton belt, the
Mississippi valley, improved planta-
tions can be bought at from $50 to $35
per acre, and readily rented for $6 and
81 per acre cash, or, what Is better at
the present high price of cotton, for
100 pounds of lint cotton per acre, and
upon which the taxes are not more
| than half what they are in Iowa OF
Illinois.
ALI indications point to an Increased
demand and increased local market fo1
all kinds of Southern farm products
The development of Southern oil
fields, furnishing cheap iuel, is attract
ing the attention Of manufactures.
The construction of an interoceanic
canal, whether at Panama or Nicara.
qua, will make New Orleans the gate
way to important new markets tina,
use largely the mining, manufacturing
and agricultural products of the South
1t will be the means of calling the at
tention of thousands of tourists aud
capi talists to the fertile lands OF the
Mississippi valley. It will result ir
large investments OF Northern capital
which is Invariably followed by immi
grafton and a rapid advance in ths
Iprice of farm lands.
| Unimproved hardwood timber land!
of the best quality are yet on the mar
ket at points in Mississippi between
Memphis and Vicksburg from 81 to ST.
per acre. The cost of cl3aring an,
fencing these lands is not to excees
1910 per acre, and when cleared they
will grow q bale of cotton worth from
$40 to $50 per bale, or sixty bushels o
corn worth from sixty cents to 81 pc
bushel, to the acre. Every resl-estat
agent who has studied the agriculture
conditions of this country understand
how, with the rapid increase in popu
lation, making constantly lncrease'
demand for everything eatable, it l
utterly impossible for fertile lands t
remain at present values N any section
of our country, either North or South
The new Industrial and commercla
conditions that obtain at New Orleans
the recognized metropolis OF the South
are a source of wonder and surpris
IN those who remember the Crescen
CITY as it had been for half-centur.
prior to 1900. Throughout the cit
1s now heard the hum of new indus
tries. and New Orleans, instead OF he
ing sleepy and quaint old Souther
CITY. Is last coming to the front as
CITY OF commercial activity, with pros