The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-09-07
GREAT INCREASE
IN LAND VALUES
But Future Rise Will Be Greater
Because of Exhaustion Of
Cheap Soil.
LIVE STOCK VS.. er~.~s
LIVE o VS.. Gn-.NS
Department Report Covering Past II
Years Shows There is More Money
in Former Than in
the Latter.

Washington, d. c., Sept. 5.-1ncreases
IN the value of farm lands of the
United States from 1900 to 1905 are
discussed in a most illuminative fash
ion in a report just published by the
department Of agriculture. From it
these general conclusions are drawn:
Cheap and is exhausted.
The urban population is fast gaining
and will continue to gain on the rural.
Values of farm lands have increased
in the last five years as never before;
but the increase will be still faster in
future because of the exhaustion OF the
supply of cheap lands.
The values of farm products are as
sured of remaining high and remun-
erative hereafter, and farming will be
a better and better paying business as
the years pass.
Going back over a period of fifteen
years, it is shown that there has been
q greater increase in average values
of live stock products than OF grain
products.
These conclusions are drawn from
the tabulated statistics which repre-
sent careful study of conditions In all
the states. In 1900 the average land
value of medium farms tne
country was s21.S0 per acre; In 1898 IL
had increased to s29.11, a progress
which can be described as no less than
q marvel.
Increase in East as Well as West.
An especially significant fact is that
the farm values increased in every
state in the union. The
farms Of New England. New York and
New Jersey are getting their values
back. The average acre Value m
creased in Maine from s2o;52 to s23.ls;
$50 to s23; Massachusetts. SAL to $40;
Rhode Island, $39 to $40.
These increases are highly Significant
when it is considered that farming mas
been on the decline and many Farms
IN these states have been abandoned.
wear by year, for two decades past,
throughout this region. The
of the cheap land supply has turned
the westward wave back upon Itself;
and there is no doubt that already there
has begun a readjustment which Will
in the nex two or three ecade give
a new value and utility to the undevel-
oped agricultural which IN
the east have been abandoned on ac-
count OF the superior attractions OF the
west.
The dominance of the midwest in
agricultural wealth is we'll shown by
comparing foregoing New Englana va az
lues with the following, OWL the
increase in farm land values in west
ern states from 1900 to 1905:
Illinois, $54 to SIS; Iowa, $40 to 1854;
Indiana, $41 to $55; Wisconsin, 1871 10
S4S; Nebraska, $50 to $31:: Kansas. $50
to s24; Missouri, $24 to s34.
Illinois is credited with the most val
liable farm lands in any state, New
Jersey second and Iowa third.
The south has come in for a good in
crease, but not to napar with that
of the north central states. Thus Ken
lucky increased from S25 to s32; Ten
nessee, SIT to S22; Alabama, IS to $l2;
Mississippi, $40 to SIG; Louisiana, SIS
to $26; Texas, SIS to s11; Oklahoma, $3.50
to SIT. 40. On the basis OF percentages
the south had a better gain han any
other section; but in actual values per
acre 1t is still behind every other sec
ton, even the mountain states of the
west.
All the foregoing figures. it should be
explained, are for land value only;
they do not include improvements. In
the North Atlantic states, in 1900,
buildings represented SO per cent Of
the total value of farms; in the South
Atlantic states. 25 per cent; south
central, 10, ana north central, IS per
cent.
Live Stock Ahead of Grains.
In all this statistical array nothing
is more interesting than the study of
the values of animals and crops at
the farm year by. year from 1880 to
1905. 1t is heard to realize the great
fluctuations that q W taken place. For
instance, in animals, average years in
Al ~, Ll~ we 80,