Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-27
VALUE OF LANDS
NEAR CITY JUMP
TO A HIGH FIGURE
Last Decade Has Witnessed
Trebhng Of Average Price
Of Farms Of County.
TOP WAS 500; NOW $500
Period Has Been One Of UNPARALLELED
Buying and Selling Of Country
Real Estate.

TT has been only during the last 10
years that the near proximity Of
Rock Island has had any consider
able effect upon the value of farm
lands lying beyond Rock river. At the
beginning OF the new century the
ctty's milk and garden truck and most
OF It's small fruit came from South
Rock Island. Since then there has
been a great change, to the benefit Of
property owners In the vicinity Of
Milan. Already the dairyman has
teen virtually forced out of South
Rock Island, but a comparatively
small area being left there for graz
ing purposes. To a less marked de-
gree, but for equally good reasons the
market gardener and grower of small
fruit are following him. South Rock
Island land Is becoming too costly to
be worked at a profit under any but
the most intensive methods.
So the dairyman has either gone out
OF business or removed TO a greater
distance, while the small farmer and
trucker is looking in the same direc-
tlon. II has been largely the result
Of this that farm lands lying within
q radius OF 10 10 Is miles have
doubled, trebled, or even quadrupled
in price during the last decade. The
same influence has operated in the
same manner. though to less mark.
Ell degree, in more remote parts of
the county.
FROM 800 TO $500 PER ACRE.
Ten years ago 800 per acre was
the top price for the land in this VI.
entity used solely for agricultural pur-
poses. and very little Of it had chang.
nc price at that figure. Farms com,
handing such a price were the bet,
ter improved ones OF maximum pro-
ductiveness and with little or no
waste, or part that could not be profit
ably titled The great bulk of farm
land was held at from $40 to SIS pei
ncre.
Now 5000 per acre is considered a
reasonable price for the best land
and the poorest is bringing not lest
than 800 per acre. The average lanC
owner In this country who has KEEP
his holdings through the 10-year per
led has profited handsomely. Tht
owner OF one OF the best farms in tbs
county he's the figures 10 show thai
he realized $40 per acre from his
corn land last year the crop beinl
fed 10 hogs and cattle. His farm
could not be purchased for 5000 pei
acre.
Ten years ago land in the west END
os the county, though fully as pro
ductive, was not held at as high &
figure as that OF the east end, chiefly
for the reason that the latter had bet
ter shipping facilities. About thii
time there was an influx from a dis
tTlct in the central part of the state o
families belonging to a certain re
ligious sect They had money and In
vested In farms i'm the extreme west
oIn end OF the county, mostly in thu
bottoms opposite Muscatine. For thi
swamp land that had always beel
considered unfit for agriculture the,
paid as high as $50 per acre. and a
once set about improving H. in Tim
drainage districts were organ zed ant
the danger OF spring overflow from
the Mississippi river and its loca
tributaries obviated Thai bottom
land is now producing as heavy crop
as the most expensive prairie land il
the county and none Of il can b.
bought for 800 per acre.
STARTS GENERAL ACTIVITY.
Those farmers who sold out to tn
newcomers sought other land to Gu
tivate. and there sprang up great az
tivity in real estate and prices bega
10 rise at an astonishing rate. Abou
the same time others came from cas-
and south TO buy farms and a nun
Ter OF Rock Islanders. being far-sigh
Ell enough 70 see a land boom coming
invested heavily in property in tn
lower end OF the county. Each farm
OF who sold bought property froI
someone else often near home. Ian
prices I'm the lower end OF the count
caught up with those in the uppt
end I'm a very short time.
But the upper end, too. was awak
Extensive industrial Developments q
East Moline and Silvis had salu
tary effect Buying and selling b
gan and each transaction called Il
q higher price basis than the or
preceding. Extensive diking an
drainage projects were undertake
along Rock river and tributaries, e
pecially in the Meredosia. Real e
tate agents became active and the