The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-05
WARS END WILL
S{E NEW ERA Of
FARM DEVELOPMENT
Glass Who Have Heretofore Furnish
cd Immigrants Now Kept in the
North by High Wheat Prices.
FARM FIGURES, HOWEVER,
ARE STILL HELD FIRM
Question of Stability of Powder Town
Also interests Richmond Land Men.
Local Speculative Buyers Engaged
In Other Fields.

viii Virginia and North Carolina
farm lands continue to sell as readily
this spring as they did the past two
years, and will prices continue to
hold to the present high standard
per acre? These are questions fac
ing local real estate men who deal
in these lands.
Since the war sent wheat soaring
to the top OF the ladder in prices.
Western farmers have stopped the
rush for Southern lands. In the past
five years all records were broken
by the sale Of Southern lands to
Northern and Western farmers the
cold climates of the North and North.
west with the exceedingly high price
OF farm land per acre caused a nature
al tendency to move South where
lands were cheaper. climate more de-
lightful and scientific farming just
budding into glory.
Sons OF scientific Western farmers
began TO migrate. The home lands
were too high for their poCEethuoks,
and convinced that there was a new
era dawning in the South they fiock+
ed toward Virginia and North Caro-
lima where. as is well known. exists
the most temperate and agrec bic
climate in the world.
But since the war began, wheat has
gone up. and farms in the North and
Northwest are being worked for ths
money there is in them. COnsequent-
ly the North Dakota, South Dakota.
Michigan and ohio farmers that
seemed to look Southwark haV. all
most ceased their tours of immigra-
ton. This condition is not expected
to last more than a year or SO, as the
end of the war will probably start
even a greater demand for Southern
farms.
High Prices Sull Hold Firm.
But, though IL is admitted that land
sales of both city and county prop
erty are slow just nov and are chief
ly made for the immediate demand
of some purchaser, the prices hold
firm and are higher than in years.
One real estate man thinks that SO
long as real estate spectators are
operating in Powder Plant" fields
that there is TO be no regular" BUSH
ness transacted ny real estate men
until these war speculations are end
ed. The question OF the stability OF
Powder Town was also talked by
this real estate man, who thinks that
such towns may exist for several
years. even If the war ends soon. lie
predicts. however. that there will be
somebody caught when the bottom
does fail OUT He did not seq that
powder towns'' could last, unless
they we're intended to supply gum
cotton and explosives long after peace
Is declared.
In the meantime those who are
handling country estates are asking
such nice little prices as from $50
to $1,000 per acre for land that could
have been bought fifteen wears ago at
from $40 TO 5000 per acre. Take for
instance the direct question Put to
dealer in farm lands who did not
know the questioner was a newspa-
with a prospective customer:
"At what price could I get small
ten-acre farm within one mile OF a
trolley line?' was asked. The real
estate man answered promptly: "Ar
from $50 to $500 per acre"
''At what price will YOU sell ME
ten-acre farm on the Richmond to
Petersburg car line?'
Anywhere from $50 TO $1,000"
was the answer.
AS to city real estate. the demand
is slow but the prices are very high.
There has been no depreciation In To-
cal real estate. Though spectators
are few. those who are buying seem
to be doing so for personal reasons:
that is, with some particular business
object in view or for the purpose Of
building either store or a home.
After the War-What?
After the war ends, what? This IN
the question that real estate men are
asking. After the Civil War ended
it was two years before business was
a W HE normal
tate man recalled working as a boy
in cotton mill. his salary being
fixed at ten pounds of -four or half =
bushel of meal a week. He referred
10 this to show the low wage scale
that must prevail in Europe after
the war.
There will be a demand for money
by the European governments, he
said. Capitalists will give preference
in loans to governments over individ-
uals. as the bonds are of greater value
and more secure. Thus the millions
OF Europe must face poverty with
little but their lands and their hands.
Real estate is governed by the pros
perity of the nation. Lands will not
advance If business Is duh. Business
in this country may or may not hold
firm after the war. On the other
hand. the demand on this country
may in several ways be larger ana
immigration may~make q demand for
real estate even stronger than before
the war. 1t is hard to tell what the
outcome will be.
But real estate men are watching
and waiting The nation. In their
opinion, stands on the threshold Of
an era of prosperity such as was
never before faced by the business
world.
To install Stave NH.
Especial TO The Richmond Vfrginian.1