Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1910-07-08
would as quickly become cOngest-
ed with humanity.


fortunate investments will be mad
in the SO-called newer areas, and
as this is the favorite region for
promoters to cOnjure with at this
time, it is likewise quite certain
that there will be many disap-
pOmtmentS, too, for in the man
ner many trades are negotiated
chances are plentiful for the un-
sophisticated to not only lose
their money and enthusiasm, but
a large portion of their faith in
mankind.
1t seems the height of folly to
buy without having first seen
what is bargained for, but this is
exactly what many are doing.
One should know in advance
whether he is buying an inacceS-
Sible mountain side, a patch of
aridity, a swamp or land actually
irrigated or irrigable with water
instead of words. When it comes
to a section where one tract may
be a veritable gold mine in agricul
tural production, and a nearby
practically worthless, it
Is an easy matter to crate on the
virtues of the former as repre-
the pOtentialitieS of the
latter. 1t is the part Of wisdom
for those seeking investment in
land to personally visit and criti-
cally examine the tracts under con-
SideratiOn, or at least have a COM
petent, trusted friend do so. Cen
orally it is wise to avoid the agent
whose prospectus promises re-
turns calculated to make CrOeSuS
wealth look like the prOverbial
thirty cents. There is a vast diff
ference in soils, locations and en-
virOnments. As every rose has
its thorn, so every section has its
drawbacks as well as attractions.
The prospective purchaser should
look well before he leaps. for
he might be jumping in
to the vortex of trouble. If there
is doubt as to title, location, quail
ity or price, take the benefit of
the doubt. A long distance land
investment, generally speaking, is
not wise. 1t is a fact that one
wanting Land might more often do
infinitely better if he were to lOOl
about and buy at home, for not
all the opportunities are confined
to one section, or one branch of
farming. Farmers in the great
cOrn-belt should deliberate long
and well before they sell out and
move to strange regions with the
idea of bettering themselves.
Those who sell because "it does
Mt pay to farm high priced lands
practically acknowledge their in
competence, for the buyers must
consider them mistaken or they
would not buy. Lands in England
for example, valued much higher
than those considered best in
America, are cultivated with pro
fit.
1t is human nature to look away
from home for opportunity, when
as a matter of fact it may be
found under foot. Often the best
chances are at our very doors.
where We are acquainted with col
ditiOnS and know reasonably well
what may be expected. That "fa
miliarity breeds contempt" seems
to be no more clearly manifested
than in the case of those who con
tend that there are not OppOrtm-
tiles at home. They are plentiful
and for the man with the Drawn
and brain properly balanced, con
petence and comfort may be his
by taking advantage of the open,
mgS within easy reach. The man
young or old, who has for in
stance! a good farm in the corn.
belt can scarcely hope to do bet
ter than stay with it, and the cit,
man wishing to invest in a pro
ductive farm, might go a long di
tance and run great risks withOu
doing better than he could in hi
own county.
4 Land is a most desirable pos
session, and he is a wise man VIII
secures a productive tract Will
it is yet within his financial reae
but these remarks are intended 8
, a hurdle to help check the LAM
crazy in their long distance daS
! for land; to encourage them t
stop, look about and Investigate
They are not to discourage Ian
buying, but to favor it; to Ell
4