New-York tribune., 1906-10-01
FARM VALUES JUMP.
James j. Hills Admce Regarding
Return to the Soil anticipated.
[FrOm Tho Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington. Sept. 3o-The advice of James j.
Htl the railroad president that the people OF this
country should return the soil lest they be
too profigate with their resources and exhaust
the available supply. has apparently been antici-
pated by the farmers of the United States, who.
according 10 bulletin issued by the Department
Of Agriculture. in the midst of astounding
prosperity, with farm lands high in value that
it is difficult TO get free cheap land for cultiva-
ton. The bulletin. which is prepared by George
Il Holmes. chief of the division of foreign mar
kets' and Is on the subject of Changes in Farm
values, gives Compa rative table showing the
difference in the average real estate valuation of
farms by the acre in the various states and terri
tories in the five years since 1900 In the state of
New York farms of medium equipment have
jumped in value from $3 5S an acre in 1900 to s51 "a
in 1905. The bulletin says:
Evidences of prosperity among the farnoars -
the United States have been multiplying in recent
of finance and trade transportation ard o MoIIo
factqres which has attracted world wide attention
PSce P IN recent annual reports of the Secretary
upon which it based have indicated such nro
round changes as taking place in the economic re-
reflections of many students of the economic nrin
Clples accompanying, If not underlying, agricut-
int. in the first place and perhaps of more funda-
cheap land of the Republic and of the states and
railroads has become substantially exhausted in
exhaustion of such lands has been reached so sud
econonlic ~ mas gwen sort OF shock to the whole
90 accompanying this has been the continued gain
I.,ah OF urbah upon agricultural population, so that
aiInoGgh the quantity and value of agricultural
6ea G@poFtS nave remained at high figure there has
ees peei a con continuing readjustment and gain of de-
az Tt upon supply sqntil farmers apparently have
muneratve if not high prices pe''01 u l'Fly re-
tb consequence Of these profound influences upon
sums suthed a new and higher dignity. Farmers have
lated surpluses and become depositors in hank;
@ ana tle owners Of bank stocks; they have bought
estate IN the town, ana they have sent their saw
lands " IT. states for investment in agricultural
had his aten4t r Sle me-. oHe the town investor has
1t should not be inferred. however that tbis
rlLoHeTlent n4 Is one Of mere speculation. Indeed
SpeGuaIdon 81 ea pure ard simple plays small part
uine capitalization sustain the hicFer Saigns
tr @ nave peen realized in the last few half dozen
iInpTTfGVetnent in the practice farmng-it would
of farming 5very improvemmeenff IN ef al art @ ana science
sisnihed net increased profit " H''0'i1e N"S
In explanation OF some specific instances q, in
| creases in farm values, Mr. Holmes furnishes the
1oHowlng excerpts from the communications of his
New York correspondents:
are bSiIdne fbar8 a. tuatons where railroads
tori itarals ms aIso IN dairy regions where cheese fac
bres bes are out; but. generally speaking there has
OF Iard no niproxenent in farming and In the price
btshg tSahyuga Couny1The prices for farm produce are
to- Ss tfR nan IN dS put so many farmers going
pT4Ses nave not kept PAGE with other prices
COunty-ThiS il
SLOW on account of poor and scarce held One a are
getting good education and 80 per cent OF tba are
t, oT not want TO worl, on farm; they go to the
procession and consequently the old people want 10
themselves " rart S; as Lney @ can no longer run them
section are for sale with very buyers and this
Another correspondent: There is a 70 9egerai near IN
present high prices Of cheese and gram and f bo TO tnS
improvements made in the last fVe years in bnid
Chenango County-There is not much sala for
that well located prodGetve eaf and Of Of those
@ @roaos are wanted by men OF means for an invest
stated averages Rural delivery of nail fsse fss
RnOnes e ana milk condensaries have made general
farmers improve their buildings and surron5Sl
also have mdGn tan to a
era i aoe oTH oTnented and happy and gem
PVT when you get down to sales OF Tower class
Of chfoa chEs GtRsy are nS5 high Psoe d
regarded as taking place along the better and more
Colu9bta @ a GountyEI visited nearly every county in
that good farms with good budnss a9 caa N b Is os6t 5sSt
S for 9ne,half to Of what the budngs
throSxR a H0'' 70 replace IN every county have been
Another sI.S oorespondent: While there has been
faTas which are are at al desirable meet with much
sa5 saGnGt get help S. to work them
u eef the are .aoWs 6S sHs bsB
them have not; all are growing up 70 weeds and
brush. A good many farms with fair TO medium
years ago were worth SO an acre '--'' d i'~
Delaware County-Farm values have increa sad
from 1860 TO 1905 considerably. owing to Increased
prioes for milk butter. cattle and sheep. There Is
a new railroad building through this county and
the price Of land has advanced during the year S
be no advance.
Dutchess Notwithstanding our uneouaIed
Iecities both OF location and market the price Of
farm land Is exceedingly low. with sales.
Another correspondent: The advent OF a number
OF New York Citys wealthy people has materially
raised the price Of farms for farming purposes Ii
Erie CountyThe city OF Buffalo is In this county,
and nearly all farms within ten or twelve nliie5
around 1t are used for truck farming, that land
being valued all the way from $3.50 to $500 acre
according TO location and soil.
Genesee County.Very few sales OF farms in the |
last ten years. The county is full of factories
which take all tho better grade OF hep and leave
only tho old, the unsteady and the unsatisfactory
TO work tho farm Consequently farming is not |
what It used To be before the day OF many other
industries.
tables (ten acres) near Rochester sell as high a.
81, 900 acre. and the statement applies to green
house culture also. Some Of the better farms ara
producing milk. and such held little bet |
are much higher especially apple orchards The |
general price OF land is some better than five years
ago, IN some cases much better: buildings and ths
growth Of towns have materially enhanced the |
price OF farm lands.
Nassau County,-A great many farms have bee1 |
sold In these two counties Queens ana Nasssn9 |
an aore. according to location. sonae SneV Hsos
farms have been bought fer development Others
Niagara County,-Ths high prioe OF farm lapas |
INCREASE In population OF the citlss 0
Yneias Soyntx,-1Sops are the principal product