Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-02
THIS is THE NATURAL coNcLu
SION FROM A STUDY OF
CONDITIONS
THE VIEWS OF Able MEN
Hon. J. E. Roberts, Director Of tho
Mint, and Hon. vespaslan Warmer.
Commissioners Of Pensions, Tell cour.
ler Correspondent That Price VIII
Go to $125 and Higher.

Go to $125 and Higher.
Washington, d. c.. Nov. 1.-tSpe
ciaD-Upon the subject Of Iowa and
values and future, Hon. George q.
Roberts of Ft. Dodge, director Of the
mint, is an optimist of the most pro-
Iounced type. OF all the known se-
curities and investments and things
desirable to possess he considers that
a good Iowa farm stands at the head
and without rival.
Mr.. Roberts optimism toward lows
land began a score or more years ago.
when 1T was selling at q quarter Of
present values, and he has remained
consistent "bull" to this day. Mr..
Roberts owns several farms in north
western Iowa and none of them are
Tor sale; at least not at prevailing
prices He says. all good Iowa land is
worth $100 an acre and that the day
ts not far distant when it will be i'm.
possible to purchase a good farm for
less money 1t may be three or five or
even ten years before the general
price OF $lOO per acre is reached but
II is suro to come. He is sure that if
Iowa should produce another such
crop as that of 1905 In 1906 and other
conditions continue favorable. as
seems quite probable, the $10O price
VIII be reached in less than five years.
Reasons For His View.
Mr.. Roberts bases his conclusions
upon facts and probabilities that rem.
der any other view impossible; upon
the tremendous increase in the worlds
production of gold. Gold is the unit
OF value as a means of exchange and
therefore an ounce Of gold will con.
hnue to be worth approximately $50,
but this does not mean that an ounce
OF gold will continue always to plir.
chase the same amount of meat OF
potatoes. or flour or clothes. With the
rapid increase in the production Of
gold the purchasing power of the gold
dollar will decrease. Plentiful money
means low rates of interest and low
rates OF interest cause the investor to
look about for an outlet for his sur.
Plus money at better rates of interest
IMAM ne is able to obtain through di-
rect loan. He is afraid Of this propo.
sitlon and that for one reason or an
other. The country is full of all kinds
OF schemes and attractive investments
but the majority of them are unsafe
0" uncertain. In his hunt for a safe
ana certain investment, yielding a fair
interest, the investor finally gets back
70 the earth and to the farm. Pan.
les and furries and labor troubles and
changes or administration and thou.
sand and one demoralizing conditions
may arise to depress or destroy values
but the man whose money is invested
In good land in such state as Iowa
is secure. 1t is the one property that
nothing short of a convulsion OF the
earth c~1 affect
Iowa Soil Is Profitable.
The area Of land in the United
States of the character Of Iowa soil
and climate is very limited" said Mr..
Roberts to the Courier correspondent.
THE great bulk Of the corn produced
comes from half dozen states. OF
which Iowa is the chiefest. Corn Is a
cereal which is rapidly growing in IA.
vor throughout the world This is
clearly proven by the fact that. not
withstanding the tremendous crop Of
this year the price remains at figure
that makes its raising profitable. With
the continued demand for corn the
price will advance and with It the
value of lands suitable for its produc.
tion
The farmer who has paid for his
farm and has acquired little surplus
naturally turns to land for investment.
If possible he will put his money into
land in his immediate neighborhood.
an additional forty or oiohty The ,,,ot