Morris tribune., 1907-08-10
KEEP THE ACRES.
Enormous Demand for Land is sure
to Come.

while good tenants are SO scarce
there is great temptation to par
with the old farms. They may not pe
yielding good interest on the invest
ment they represent, neVertneiess
good fertile acres must soon come &c
be at great premium.
While our population is multiplying
rapidly our acres remain the same
We have an immense population to
draw from in settling a new country
as compared with some thirty years
ago. Think of it in the pioneer days,
Illinois filed up at the rate of 1000
people per year, while Oklahoma sew
enty years later filled up at the rate OF
fifty thousand per year.
In 1910, Illinois was admitted as
territory with a population 10000. In
1918, eight years later, she was admit
ted as a state, with population of 3d.
600, or an average increase per year OF
a little less than 1900. Chicago was
then just a little frontier village on
the edge of a swamp. Westward
stretched vast empire, idle and un-
inhabited, save by Indians and buffalo.
People laughed at the idea of this
mighty expanse of country ever being
settled.
History records no more astonishing
facts than the change wrought III our
generation. From Illinois to Oklaho-
ma is a far cry. Yet the comparison
is startling. Only seventeen years
ago, Oklahoma was thrown open for
settlement. In few weeks time it
had a population of fifty thousand
people, or as many as had Illinois
when admitted to the Union. In l9o6
Oklahoma was admitted as state
with population of over million, or
more than twenty times the popula-
ton of Illinois eighty eight years ago.
Furthermore, since 1900, the United
States has lost at least five hundred
Thousand settlers to Canada, a popu-
lation equal to ten states hike Illinois
eighty eight years ago, and still the
the gap closes behind them. What
shall we do for acres 80 years hence?
The millions that have been pouring
into the country west of the MISSISSIPPI
nj for the last eighty years are still
coming. Every year their number are
increased by thousands. Where will
thev 90? On the west they have
reached the Rocky Mountains.
James J. Hill states that in 1901,
fortv-three years hence, the United
States will contain a population or
two hundred and fifty million people.
Think of it for moment! Grasp its
significance! Think of placing three
in the United States for every one
here at present. Year by year our
exports of breadstuffs are decreasing.
Mr.. Hill stated that in few years the
limited States would be importing
wheat and breadstuffs and he has now
under the construction of vast rail-
road system in Canada to bring wheat
from the Northwest to feed the enor-
NOUS population of the United States.
This does not mean that all the land
living in the wild state must be
brought into cultivation, but that al
ready under cultivation must be care
fn,,v husbanded and made to yield far
better returns. 1t means that This
country is to witness such an increase
IN the value of farm lands as has
never occurred in it's history. This
increase has already begun. The re-
mort of the Secretary of Agriculture
for the current year comments on the
astounding increase in the values OF
farm lands, an increase not connned
to any locality, but extending from
ocean to ocean. All over the East'
where values have been declining for
wears, in competition with the more
productive and cheaper lands OF the
West. a rise in price has occurred.
The fall significance OF this u.s. tha1
our last West has been found and IS
being occupied.
While the year 1905 has marked a
rapid, general increase in land values
If has also witnessed the greatest rush
of land buyers and home seekers ever
recorded. Land seekers are pouring
into the Southwest as we'll as the
Northwest, literally by train loads
coming from all parts of the country
and all classes of people. Conserva-
tiyes call it Gland BOOM"
AS a matter of fact, this movement
is NOT land boom. 1t is the last act
in the drama of peopling our great