The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-09
"GO WEST MY BOY"
 NOW BAD ADVICE
Traveller Tells Why Farming
 In West Is a DelusiOn.
Better Stay In New England Without Capital Or
 Youth.

Facts upon the conditions in the farming sections of the West and South and the reasons why farmers or their sons will do better to remain in the East are given to readers of The Farmer by o. M. Congdon, of New York, a well known lawyer who has travelled extensively throughout the country in the interests of clients, and who is spending a, few days vacation in this city.
 To d reporter for The Farmer he yesterday said:
 Our New England people are, in my judgment, making mistake in many cases, in sacrificing their com fortable homes here to pay an exhor- bitant price for property in the West
 Good hometsead lands are prac- tfcally impossible to get-the .col- called Desert Claim is a de1uston and snare, for it will cost more to bring it to profitable state than 1 would buy a well improved farm in some other section. E 9tIt is true that wonderful things have been done in the West and large fortunes made in lands, but all the lands now worth anything are so far from transportation or are so tied up with irrigation projects. of an expen- sive character, as to be undesirable. Cultivated land, such as those in the Wenatchee and Yokima Valleys Of Washington the Hood River Valley of Oregon, and the fruit sections of of 1 California. cost from $500 to $3,o0o per acre according to the crops raised Southern California offers the least l inducements according to price, of practically any section of the West. I outside of a. remarkably mild climate. But once away from the seashore and the irrigated portions, it is a land of blazing heat, parching dust and naoun- tains barren of verdure.
 l %SaE] kHaa people in Los Angeles were out of en1- ployrnent.
 .And when you get away from the coast states, into New Mexico, Ari- zonas Wyoming, Montana, Western Colorado, you are too far from a mar takes up too much of the profits. 1 s'The South, today, offers the best opportunity for profitable farm invest ments of any section of the country i Virginia, North. Carolina and Florida have exceptionally good lands, at req sonable and even low prices.
 t'But before spending time or money to look up lands there or any where, be sure you are dealing with reliable firms.
 ttIn spite of Southern traditions I found that there are just as many business men as those of any other section I have found a more gen. l uine o1d-scE1oo1 courtesy right here in l Bridgeport than I found in the South
 Summing the matter up in few words of advise, based on my actual experiences:
 Don't believe all the pictures in frailway and real estate circulars.
 Don't go West thinking you can get a government claim for little or noth- ing, that is good for anything.
 Don't go at all, unless you's goi f$10,00o to start in with.
 I Don't go South, unless you have fully informed yourself as to condi- tfons, climate, shipping facilities, etc I There are hundreds of good farms in the South at very reasonable prices
 Don't go South expecting to find the sectional feeling all gone; it ism t by whole lot.
 Lastly, if you are midd1e-aged have a comfortable place here and 3 Iliving-stay. If you are young anc ttDad' owns a good farm that vii loens day be yours, stay. Take off youl coat, use your brains as well as youl lelbows, and make that farm pay
 Pioneering may be all right, but the
 prairies and cities of the West and the hills and wales of the Sunny Soutt are full of heartbroken discouraged examples of the cWanderIust.' l There are countless opportunities near at hand,
 Study yourself. your wants, youl Iconditfons. and then see what you car find tC meet them