The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-01-08
ACREAGE PRICES
ON THE INCREASE
Prominent Chicago Editors Invest in
Farm Land During the Year and
Other Chicagoans Come Out to the
County for Sites on Which to Build
Summer Homes.

Turning to that page in last years
history, which contains the facts about
the Lake county farm values, the minds
eye is struck by the pleasing type,
which spells "increase,, In large gold
letters. The page is further embeIIish-
ed with appropriate pictures, which in
retrospect, outline rich fields, which are
richer at the end of 1905 for the drain
age and irrigation, big barns, which
are bullying with the crops of last
year, cOrncribs sagging out of shape for
the grain they contain, rows OF sleek.
welI-fed cattle standing In their stalls
munching away at the sun and salt
cured hay, and there In the lower COR
ner a drove of those much-abused and
ridiculed animals, which provide the
poor city chap with the cham and ba-
con" and supplies.
Farmers Unaffected by Depression.
The last year may not have witnessed
that great day in the home Of some Of
the Lake county farmers when the
mortgage on the farm was cancelled and
the paper filed away with other val
uables ones in the lower bureau draw
er, but another year like the iasv, or
few at the most, will bring around
that day, too. The average farmer in
Indiana awaited this day. and your
turn is coming, too. Mr.. Lake County
Farmer.
Whether he is lord of all your sur
veys Crowded he does not get on his
windmill, for Lake county land is
quiet leveD or whether he has delayed
in buying that new binder until the
mortgage is lifted, Mr.. Lake County
Farmer you were richer on Dec. 81,
1908, than ever before.
Values Continue to Grow.
The pessimist farmer may wall about
the last year having been bad one,
owing to the panic. The visitors from
the cities kept "dinging" this into his
ears until he finally thought himself
suffering from the industrial depres-
sion. Even if fewer orders for rail-
road rolling stock and the close of
many factory could have affected him
directly, the value of his land was in
creased nevertheless.
Lake county farm values will con-
tinue to grow until the purchase prices
will be the top notchers in the mid
die west. This may not result through
the intrinsic value of the land as a
crop producer, but rather on account of
the location which Lake county real
estate holds in relation to the center
of population.
Othsr Factors at Work.
The population of Lake county is on
the steady increase and with it will
come the increase in farm values.
There are other factors which are
at work on the increase but working
from different angle. Not the least of
these is the fact that the county will be
traversed by interurban lines. The pro-
moters of civilization are doing more
throughout the state to make it the de-
sirabIe commonwealth than is ordinari-
ly given credit for. Lake county was
slow in getting its share, but they are
coming One, the Chicago, Lake Shore
& South Bend, already is in operation
through the northern part of the coun-
ty. The interurban from Crown Point,
the county seat, to Gary is assured.
1t will practically put the heart Of the
county in direct touch with Chicago.
Drainage Was Helpful.
Then there is the proposed Valpa-
raise, Hobart and Gary interurban
for which ground has already been
broken. In addition to these, the man
who has his ear on the ground can
hear the rumblings of other lines com
ing from practically every direction.
But it is a waste of time to speak
about them when 1t is possible to speak
on what has already been accom-
plished. This, however, does not mean
that the prospective buyer or seller
should overlook these reports entire
ly.
Drainage has been an important fac
tor in the last year in enhancing the
farm values. The last decade has found
the Lake county farmer very active in
that lines of Improvement The last
year has found him doing more in this
line than ever before.
Railroad Helps Much.
In the south end Of the county especi-
ally. much Of this work has been GO
ing on. bitches have been opened and
miles Of tile have been laid in the
ground. Other improvements in the
way of buildings would bring the fig
ures high into the thousands.
The Chicago. Indiana and Southern
railroad, traversing the county from
the north to the south end, has raised
the land value of the neighborhooc
through which It passes materially. It's
! completion has resulted in a direct