The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-12-22
Wonderful Southern De-
veIopment Shown.
A BILLION AND A HALF
This Represents the Increase in the
Value Of Dixie Farm Properties
Within the Last Year or Two.
What Southern Farmers
are Doing.
Especial to News and Observer

(SDeclal TO News anu ODSeINcI't
Baltimore. Nd. Dec. Elm pub
fishing this week six pages of letters
from bankers and others throughout
the South indicating wonderful adj
vance in the value of farm lands, the
Manufacturers Record says:
While it is true that the industrial
development of the South is going for
ward with amazing rapidity, it is
nevertheless true that, by virtue of
the extent of the agricultural interests
of the South, agriculture is yet the
foundation OF the business of that sec
ton. A change from poverty TO pros
perity of the farmers, and change
from land without a selling value 10
land in demand at an advance OF 90
to $50 per cent. over the nominal
price of one or two years ago, is the
most far-reaehing developments in
Southern advancement of the last
quarter Of a century. 1t is far-reach-
ing in many ways. 1t means that
within the last year or two Southern
farm properties have increased not
less than 81, 600. 100000 in value, prob
ably at least $l,500, 900. But more
than that, it means that under this
improved financial condition the
Southern farmer has gained new cour-
learned how TO market his cotton crop;
that ne has fought To q finish the
great battle as to whether the pro-
Queer or the Speculator is TO control
the price of his staple. Having won
this fight. the entire handling Of cot
ton from the field To the factory,
whether the factory be in this country
or i'm Europe, has entered upon an en-
tirely new stage in its history. 1t also
means that land will be more thor
oughly cultivated, for the successful
man, whether he be u farmer, mer-
chant or a manufactures. is always
better able to work to good advantage
than the one who is fighting losing
battle. During the last six years the
total value OF the cotton crop, in
Guiding seed has been $360O,000,0O
against $2,190,000,000 for the proceed
ing six years showing Il gain III the
last six years over the preceding six
of over 81 ,400, 100000. 1t is not, how
ever. due to this great increase in cot
ton alone that the Southern farmer
is in better shape. More and more
has the diversifcation Of agriculture
gone on: more and more have fruit
growing and Embarrassing, hog and
hominy' with the meathouse at home
rather than in the West. been devel-
oped throughout the South.
"A study of the bankers letters de-
terest Many of them tell of an adj
vance in the selling value of farm
lands ranging from SO to 100 per cent.
within the last two years very few
report less than % per cent. increase,
and the average reports would indicate
an increase of considerably over so
per cent. in two years, and the larger
part of il in the last twelve months.
One correspondent in South Carolina
says: In many instances lands are
selling for three and four times as
much as they would have brought
four or five years ago. Another CORE
spondent in the same State writes that
in his county there are seven banks
with deposits aggregating S1,00O,0O0,
most of it belonging to farmers, where
as ten years ago there was only one
bank with deposits of $125,0O0. An
other in the same State reports sales
of farms in his section at heavy
advance, and gives as illustrations one
case where a farm increased in sell
ing price from $4,000 to $500 and
another from 1920 two years ago to
$4,000 a few months ago as indica-
tive of the general conditions.
I'm Alabama land which sold five
wears ago at $3.50 to $500 an acre is
now reported as bringing $1,000 to
$4,000 an acre and in one part of the
State there has been, it is reported, an
increase i'm the part two years of 80
to 200 per cent.
.srbroughout the central South, it
is very generally stated this increase
is due mainly to the increasing pros
peritv of the farmers and very largely
brought about by the advance IN cot
ton. cotton lands selling to consider
able extent on the basis OF the price
of cotton. In some parts the increase
is also in part due to immigration, but
h hos rnf
small factor except in Arkansas, TeXas
and other of the more southerly ana
southwestern States. In the tobacco
districts of Tennessee where the grow
ers have made with equal success the
same character of fight for better
prices that the cotton growers nave
made. there is reported realization
on the part of the farmer that wh"f
banded together they hold whip
handle against all possible combina-
lions tn beat down the prices of then
product and tina with this has come
new courage and strength. Through
out Virginia there has been very con-
siderable advance. due in part to i'm
proved cultivation. increased DIVERSE
fication and the raising of live stack
and in part to the purchase OF many
farm properties by people from other
sections.
''The realization by tho peonle Of
the entire South. bankers, merchants
and farmers, of the power of cooper
alton in the proper handling AMI MAJ
keting of the two great staples. cot
ton and tobacco. has brought about a
community of interest which is des-
tined to exert a very great influence
upon the entire business interests of
the South and of that portion of the
business world which is in any wav
dependent upon these staples or upon
the general prosperity of the South"