The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-10-04
Land Values High.

The Hon. James Wilson, Secretary
of Agriculture, has recently received
$4,000 letters from so many prominent
and substantial citizens, giving, at his
request, their estimate of the increase
of the value of farm lands in their re-
spective 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, leaving
out the very poor and the extremely
valuable, the result is believed 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 assess
ment valuation, which is notoriously
an differentiation in every community,
but Secretary Wilson's correspondents
were instructed to fix the value in each
case at the price at which the land
could be sold If thrown upon the mar
ket- Thus 1T is believed that these fig
ures are the first ever collected to come
approximately near the truth, and the
result is decidedly interesting.
An average valuation for each State
was struck and also one for the
country at large, and the gain in each
State has been a handsome one. In
1000 the total value of all the farm
lands in the United States, including
Improvements, was $1S,279, SOB, SS7, and
In 1905 it was S24,410, 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, $3,-
500,OO0,000, while the South Central
gained S1,2OO,OOO,OOO. The Atlantic
and the far Western States also gained
handsomely, but only by millions and
not by billions.
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
$21 per acre. Iowa's gain was So per
acre; Ohio, $40; Indiana, S13; Nilsson
nj, $40; Nebraska, $11: Wisconsin. S11.
while such good States as Michigan
went ahead only 81 per acre, Minnesota
only 81 and Kansas only IS. North Da-
kota gained S. and South Dakota 50.
Among the Southern States the
most striking gain was recorded by
Louisiana. the Development of the rice
fields helping that State greatly.
Louisiana's gain was an average Of IS
ger acre. The only other Southern
State to approach this was Kentucky,
with gain Of 81. Many of the others
ran from So to s.. This does not ap-
ply to the Atlantic coast Southern
States, where the gains averaged slight
~ larger, one State, Florida, showing
an average Of 50 per acre, which was
the biggest gain Of any Atlantic coast |
State, North or South Among the far |
Western States Washington makes the |
best showing, her gain being almost |
$40 per acre, and her closest COM
petitor Is Idaho, with gein of over So |
AT the present time the average price |
per acre of farm lands In the Middle |
Western States is as follows: Ohio, !
$57.43; Indiana, $54.96; Illinois, |
1881; Michigan, $36.3S; Iowa, $64.56; |
Missouri, 1910; North Dakota, 1892;
South Dakota, $22.56; Nebraska,
$31.7 Kansas, $2399.