River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-01-04

WISCONSIN.
Pierce county lies in the western
part of Wisconsin and is bordered
on the east by the St. Croix and
Mississippi Rivers. The county, in
the Southern part, was originally
fairly we'll timbered, but at the
present time is wholly devoted to
agriculture. The recent bulletin
issued by the United States Census
Bureau develops many new con-
ditions of interest to the student
of political economy. The popula-
ton in the last decade has fallen
slightly in numbers, but the materi
al progress of the county and in
crease of values shows the advance
in real estate and the gradual ac-
emulation of wealth. The greater
number of farms contain from so to
100 acres in area, the next larger
class containing from 100 to us
acres.
TOTAL ACREAGE
The total acreage OF Pierce
county is 360,320 acres. In 1900
there were 333, 641 acres included in
the farm area and ten years later,
Notwithstanding decrease of about
1,500 in population, the farm lands
of Pierce County covered 347, JIG
acres. To realize the real progress
of this county, one must remember
that the county has made the great
increase in wealth hereinafter stat
ed in spite of the fact that their
population, on account of changing
from one industry TO another, had
decreased about 500.
VALUE OF FARM PROPERTY
According to the census of 1900,
the value of farm property in Pierce
county was $40, 1873, 1874. Ten years
later this value is given at $780,
948. This difference means that
the people of this county increased
the value Of their farm property
nearly 80 per cent in ten years. To
fully realize this great gain, it must
be remembered that the people Of
this county overcame the economic
loss of nearly. 10 per cent of their
of some of their pioneer resources.
In addition to this they increased
the value of their farm property
alone at the rate of nearly per
cent per annum in addition to the
amount of wealth consumed for the
sustenance of their people.
This county lies only short dis
tance from the Twin Cities of Min
nesota. The increasing population
of St. Paul and Minneapolis natur-
ally draw to themselves much of
the agricultural products produced
in Pierce County. The analysis of
the figures given by the late census
bulletin shows that the value of the
buildings upon the farms of Pierce
county increased in this decade
81 100000, besides the nature de-
probation in that time. The value
of the domestic animals upon the
farms in Pierce County likewise in
creased 100000 during the same
time. In 1900 the value of the
farm lands alone in this county is
given at $11,835, 800. In 1900 the
average value of all farm land in
Pierce county is given at 500 40 per
acre and ten years later, in spite of
the loss of population, the average
of this property is given at $34 SO
per acre.
THE FUTURE
The returning tide of immigra-
ton from the West is bound to seek
opportunities investment in
counties like Pierce. A noticeable
increase in population in this
county will then show a rapid
rise in land values for the reason
that all of the county is occupied as
farms, leaving only $1,000 acres for
the sites of the cities and villages.
The owners of land in this county
are bound to be benefited also by
the increase of population at the