Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-25
LAND As SAFE INVESTMENT
Money So Planted is Better Placed Than in
the Bank
CHANCE FOR PROFIT AND NONE FOR LOSS
what Constitutes the Basis OF
Security for Good Returns on
Capital Put in Farm
Lands.


in the progress of civilization in this or any
other country. History has repeatedly
demonstrated that as a general rule, the
man who owns the land he farms is a
more valuable citizen than the man who
farms a rented place This statement
should not be construed to mean that every
man who is a renter is an undesirable
citizen nor that all land owners are better
citizens than are the renters; It is not in
tend \ to convey such an idea. The young
man with limited capital or. perhaps, with
no capital at his command often rents a
farm for few years until he Is able to buy
and this is certainly commendabe. There
are, however, a class of farmers who re-
main renters mainly because they are poor
managers and never get enough money to-
gether to purchase farm. Others who
have enough capital are afraid to invest
their surplus, fearing that land values are
apt to decline and their holdings become
less valuable in the future. 1t cannot be
denied that farm land is at times doomed
above Its normal market value, In which
case a reaction is sure to follow. Sooner or
later, however, periods of depression pass,
land values are again restored, and usually
another increase in price follows. 1t is so
with all kinds of property.
Are People Leaving the CountryG
During recent years we have heard a
great deal about people leaving the country
to take up work in the city at wages that
are more remunerative 1t is argued by
some that the direct cause of this immgra-
ton from the country to the city is that
farming is Improbable as compared with
other lines of business. AS a matter of
fact, a greater proportion of our people are
now living in cities than was the case some
years ago. In 1850, for example when the
population of the United States was &,000,-
OOO, only IL per cent of the people lived in
In cities Of 5000 INHABITANTS or over, while
in 1880, when our population was over TO-
100000, SO per cent of our people lived in
cities of 5000 or over These facts certainly
demonstrate that our urban population is
increasing more rapidly than our rural.
This however, does not prove that farming
is Improbable, neither does 1t indicate that
land is not a good investment. We believe
that land is one of the safest and best in
vestments for the small investor that can
be found anywhere. We agree with Hon.
jeremiah Rusk, who, when he was secre-
tary of agriculture, in writing on American
farming 100 years hence, said: What land
will be worth In those days no man can
venture to estimate, but of one thing we
can all rest assured. and that is that the
richest inheritance man can leave to his
grandchildren and their descendants will
be a farm of many broad fertile acres ir
the United States of America"
An Are of City Building.
The reason why the city population is In
creasing is not because farming is un
profitable, but because this is an age which
especially favors city building. 1t is al
age of railroad building and an age o
manufacturing. In 1880 for example, on
total manufactured products were valued
at, approximately. $1,000, 100000, while II
1900 their value was over $13, 900 100000. Dur
ing these fifty years there was an averag
increase in the value of manufacture,
products of 70 per cent for each decade
The amount of money paid for labor dur
ing the same period increased from 1927.
000.0o0 in 1850 to $3.50 00O0 900 in 1900, Will
the number of hands employed Increases
from $4,000 to $4,000. The increase men
toned has only reference to manufacturing
railroading, mining, commerce and othe
Industries, which draw men to the cities
have met with equal rapid growth, an
this is one of the main causes of the in
crease in our city population.
Another factor which has contributed t
the growth of our urban population is tn
introduction of improved farm machinery
needed on the farm to perform a give
amount of labor than was the case MT
years ago. One man can now do the wor
of two or three during earlier times. Fun
thermoTe, our modes of living have change
the man In the country makes create
demand upon the man in the city tina
he used to. He buys his meat and he sci
his cream instead of first making 1t int
butter. His wheat is ground at larg
milling centers instead of in his own con
munity. He dresses better and max,
greater demand upon the city merchal
for clothes. shoes, buggies and all sor
of commodities. What were considere
Injuries a few years ago are now consi,
cred necessities. Many other things mlgl
be mentioned which directly or Indirect
contribute to city building
strong Demand for Land.
Further proof Of the statement that Il
city is not growing at the expense OF Il
country for the reason that farming is u
profitable or that farm property is n
good property is found in the tremendo
activity that has manifested itself in laI
dealings the country over during the la
ten years, Stop for a moment and co
slider what the mad rush for the Rosebl
land in South Dakota last summer NEAR
Did it not mean that people had the "lal
fever?" Did It not show that there is
strong desire in the heart OF every ms
20 own land? The Rosebud land was n
TO be given away but was sold at $3.50 p
acre, and yet 50 per cent of the land
be disposed of was not as valuable as
great deal OF land that can be purchas
from private parties at the same pri
per acre. IL was generally known tn
there were only about $50 good claims
the total OF 2.24O 10 be sold stn 107t
people registered in hopes OF getting t
coveted prize 16O acres Of land. The sal
condition OF affairs has existed wherey
large tracts OF land have been opened I
When a large amount Of Canadian la
was opened for settlement a few We
ago the same rush was seen, all OF viii
goes to show that the public realizes I
value OF land. The agricultural press
doing a great work for the country
bringing before their readers the wonder
business opportunities and land barga
there are in various parts OF the count
Number ~f F~r~,s Iacre7stHo.
During the last fifty years farms ha