Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-06
INCREASE IN FARM VALUES
Instructive Results Of an Agricultural
Department Inquiry.
UpuFr IN The sCUm AND WEST
General Increase in values of Land,
Equipment ana Buildings of
Thirty-Three Per Cent I'm
Last Five Years.

The published results OF an inquiry prose-
cuted by George X. Holmes, the expert
statistician Of the division of foreign mar
kots in the Agricultural department, on
the subject Of local conditions affecting
farm values throughout the United States
cannot but be of interest and instructive
utility to the practical students of eco
monte conditions and the progressive
farmers in all parts OF the country. This
inquiry was conducted by Mr.. Holmes
through correspondence with 5000 state,
county and township crop correspondents
i'm the autumn of 1905, and is therefore not
only down to date, but It brings out ex-
pressons from persons who are in posi-
ton to know what the tendency Of farm
prices is in their immediate locality. Com
parlson is made in this inquiry with the
reported farm values according to the
census of 1900, and the general results
brought out show what the value of
farms, medium in quality, with equipment
and buildings, has increased about 80 per
cent during the five year period.
1t has long been an opinion prevailing
among many persons throughout the coun-
try that IL there is one class OF wealth
that increases very slowly, IL at all, 1t
is farm values. Persons who have aban-
doned farms in the eastern states to take
more productive holdings In the west are
inclined to believe that farm values in
the sections, of the country which they
left have steadily deprecated during the
last forty or fifty years. Many observers
OF conditions in newer agricultural sec
lions of the middle west and northwest
are frequently heard TO say that farm
values, except in close proximity to thriv-
ing manufacturing towns, tend lower in
to forty years ago. It is Instructive, there
fore, to note the details of a complete
inquiry into all the agricultural regions
of the country. with the problem worked
out by percentages for five-year period
to show just what the facts are with
respect to changes In farm values. The
details of this inquiry also show what
in the opinion OF the correspondents in
the agricultural sections, are the causes
of increase or decrease in farm values
in their particular sections.
Mr.. Holmes inquiry discusses in detail
the changes in farm values, whether such
changes are produced by improvements
upon, or exterior to, the farm. Consider
alton is also given to the changed condi-
tons of farm values in the eastern states
| as the result of the absorption of what are
| called abandoned farms" by wealthy per-
sons acquiring such properties for summer
residences. Consideration is also given to
the effect upon farm values by changes
in methods of agriculture, as we'll as in
| the nature Of the operations upon the
farms. In examining conditions in the
newer sections of the middle west and
northwest the details Of changes in values
are shown with reference to sales Of prop
erty by farmers who have gone in search
Of cheaper lands or to points further west
ward for the purpose Of experimentation
with the reclaimed arid lands.
Where Increase IL shown.
This inquiry by. Mr.. Holmes experts
| shows that the rates of increase in farm
values have been higher in the south and
west during the fve-year period than in
any other sections. This high percentage
is represented to be a 40 per cent increase
In farm values in the south central grour
Of states, extending from Kentucky and
Tennessee through Oklahoma aud Texas
The western group Of states shows almost
the same increase, only a fraction of pei
cent lower, this group being all OF the
so-called western states. The third in the
order of increased valuation is shown &c
be the south Atlantic states from Della.
ware to Florida, in which group a IS pei
cent increase in values is shown The nortt
central states showed an increase o ( 81
per cent, and In this list is incorporated
all the north Atlantic and middle states
II appears that the cotton farms of this
south show the highest rate of increase
4s per cent. and the next in order come
the hay and grain farms. with an increase
of 80 per cent, the live stock farms in
creasing 81 per cent, farms devoted primo
pally to sugar increasing 80 per cent. and
the tobacco farms increasing 80 per cent.
In discussing the aggregate increases IN