The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-09-03
Land Increases $40 Per Acre in
Value IN Six Years
FIGURES BY SECRETARY WILSON
IDAHO A CLOSE SECOND WITH
AN INCREASE OF SO PER
ACRE.

At the present time, states a WASH
'ington, D. c., report the average price
per acre of farm lands In the middle
western states is as follows: Ohio
s57.43. Indiana, $54.96, Illinois, 1881
Michigan 1851, Wisconsin $4S90. Min
nesota, s95.3S, Iowa, $34.56, Missouri
$34.7O, North Dakota $1S.42 South Da-
kota $22.56, Nebraska s3173, Kansas
s23.99. Washington $24.S9, Oregon
s16.45, California $3.50, Idaho 1885.
The total value of farm lands in WASH
ington state is estimated at $211,57S,-
932.
How 1t Was Reckoned.
James Wilson, secretary of agri-
culture, has received $4,000 letters
from as many prominent and substan-
tial citizens giving, at his request,
value in farm lands in their respective
neighborhoods since 1900. BY this
method the secretary has reached into
practically every community in the
United States, and as he asked every
correspondent to base his estimate in
each instance on medium lands, leav-
ing out the very poor and the ex-
tremely valuable, the result is be-
lieved to be as accurate as could be
achieved. Almost all other estimates
on farm lands in the past have been
too low because they have been based
upon the tax assessment valuation,
which is VIGOROUSLY an undervalua
ton in every community, but Secre-
tary Wilson's correspondents were in
structed to fix the value in each case
at the price at which the land could
be sold if thrown on the warket. Thus
it is believed that these figures are
the first ever collected to come approx
imately near the truth, and the result
is decidedly interesting.
An average valuation for each state
was struck and also one for the coun-
try at large, and the gain in each
state has been a handsome one. In
1900 the total value of all the farm
lands in the United States, including
improvements, was $18,279, 5O3,SS7 and
in 1905 it was $24,41O,276,963, figures
which are eloquent of the effect the
general prosperity of the country has
upon the farm Another significant
feature brought out is that the great
est increase, proportionately, came to
the central states. The north central
states gained in round figures $780,
100000, while the south central states
gained $1,000, 100000. The Atlantic
and the far western states also gain
ed handsomely but only by millions
and not by billions.
Striking Gains.
Among the individual states perhaps
the most striking gains in value were
made by Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Mis-
souri,. Wisconsin, Ohio and Nebraska,
all of which gained an average of not
less than $40 per acre. Illinois ap-
pears to be the banner state of all in
this respect, her average gain being
s21 per acre. Iowa's gain was SIS per
acre, Ohio's $40, CALIFORNIA; Sc, In
dianas s13, Missouri's $40, Washing
toms SO Nebraska's $11, Wisconsin's
s11. while such good states as Michi-
gan went ahead only 81 per acre, Min
nesota only 81 and Kansas only So.
North Dakota gained So and South Da-
kota SO.
Among the southern states the most
striking gain was recorded by Louis
lana. the development of the rice fields
there helping that state greatly. Louis |
ana's gain was an average of So per |
acre. The only other southern state |
n annroach this was Kentucky with a |
,ain of 81. This does not apply to the |
Atlantic coast southern states, where |
he gains averaged slightly larger, one
state. Florida. showing an average Of
70 per acre, which was the biggest /
gain of any Atlantic coast state, north
~ south. Among the far western
states. Washington makes the best
her gain being almost $40
,er acre and her closest competitor
s Idaho, with a gain Of over SO.