Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-03-04
LAND VALUES IN POLK

Will Polk County experience boon
this year? That is, If rapid rise II
land values may be called boom
Let us look some facts square in th
face.
There is no doubt that land in Poll
County IL as fertile and as well adapted
to fruit raising as that Of any count!
in Oregon AS a place to raise apples
pears, prunes and cherries, Polk Coun
ty is willing to take a chance on the
blue ribbon. Fifteen of the twenty
eight first prizes awarded at the Sa'
lem cherry show were captured by
Polk County growers.
Land in Yamhill, Benton, Marion
Linn, Lane and Douglas counties is
selling today for about double the
price it commanded a year ago. Land
in these counties sold a year ago al
least fifty per cent higher than similar
land can be bought for in Polk Coun-
ty now. If prices find a level, (and they
always do,) then Polk County lands,
especially in the vicinity of Dallas,
must go up 400 per cent within the
next twelve months
This is no vain boast. 1t is not hot
air. Look at these figures: A great
many tracts of land in adjoining coun-
ties that sold one year ago for $50 an
acre have been re-sold recently for
from 1920 to $3.50 an acre, Similar
land can now be had in Polk County at
from $40 to $50 an acre. Let such land
increase in selling price to even $12O
an acre, what will be the per centage
of increase?
A farmer can raise dollar wheat,
fifty cent oats, nine cent hogs, two
dollar apples and thirty-fve cent
cream on 500 land at a greater profit
than he can raise similar products at
one-half the selling price on $25 land.
Land in Polk County Is worth the
money as an investment at double the
prices now asked. Heretofore, we have
not been selling our land. We have
been giving it away The low prices at
which town and country realty has
been held has been the greatest obsta-
Gle in the way of rapid progress and
development. Low prices have not
stimulated lively buying, but have
had exactly the opposite effect. Home
seekers and investors have not been |
eager to buy in country where the
best land has been held at from $50 to |
SIS an acre. Without even stopping to
the character or quality
Of this land, the greater number of
them have taken it for granted that
Il was not worth much, and have
gone on to other fruit-growing sec
lions and paid from $3.50 to $500 an
lcre for land which was in no way
better than that of Polk County-and,
in many instances, not as
rood.
The Observer has long believed that
ow valuation of real property has
,een one of the most serious draw
'aeks to Polk County's industrial and
growth. 1t has often
eemed to us that our farmers and |
own dwellers do not appreciate the I
act that they are living in one of the {
arden spots of the world, else they
'ould not be willing to part with their 4
aluable land holdings for a mere
raction of their real worth. While
valuations are to be avoided {
here is such a thing as being too
heap-and that is what has been the
latter with land prices in Polk Coun-
=. 1t is gratifying to note, however,
nat conditions are rapidly changing
'r the better. Property y-owners are c
to realize that they have
which others want and are e
illing to pay for, and, as a conse- e
ience, real estate valuations are in
'easing day by day. There is little v
anger that the boosting process will 4
overdOne. We are yet a long way 4
ON boom" prices. a