The Blackfoot optimist., 1916-11-30
Increased Land Values

monies connected with the blowing
Of the first furrOw for the Shelley
plant were conducted, and in CONVEX
sation with the farmers present it
appeared to be generally conceded that
the land for several miles around the
factory site was Immediately advanced
i'll price 20 per cent. The location of
sugar factory does advance the value Of
land adjacent to such an institution.
Another illustration-I have some hold.
ings across Snake river from Blackfoot,
and about six miles from the Blackfoot
factory. : The intention is to run a spur
from the railroad to tap these holdings
together with other holdings for miles
southwark from mine. No sooner was
this decision of the sugar company
reached than the farmers who will be
Immediately benefited claimed that it
meant about $50 per acre more in value
to their land. This has been the history
Of every factory in the upper Snake
river valley. This applies particularly
to lands that are within profitable
hauling distance to the factory, or
from the factory, or from one Of its
loading stations. The hauling stations
ought not to be greater than three
miles,
More Than Three Times
There having been much speculation
at all times in the west as to the di.
rect benefits to be derived from the To-
cation of an industry as affecting farm
lands, as well as town property, and Mr..
Duckworth stating that it enhanced the
value Of lands for more than six miles
from the location of such factory, the
Tribune editor made further inquiry of
Vice President and General Manager
T. R. Cutler Of the Utah. Idaho Sugar
Company, at Salt Lake, and he re-
piled:
"The location Of all Of our factories
whether in Utah or Idaho, or any other
state, have had a great tendency to in.
crease the value of farm lands 1 might
give you concrete example in Utah
more than Idaho. would refer you
particularly to Garland, Utah. where
lands before the construction of sugar
factory ranged in price from $50 to
$75 per acre; the value Of which is now
from $175 to $3.50 per acre."
1t transpired, following the cores.
pondence regarding the new plant for
Shelley, that representative of the
Tribune visited Salt Lake on private
business, and incidentally in converse.
ton with Vice President Cutler on the
subject, on Monday, the Goth of this
month, he very earnestly stated, in an
swer to question as to whether sugar
factory-aside from its payroll for part
of the seasOn-was of material advan-
tage to the development of the section
interested, that the company had been
content to buy 100 acres at $500 per
acre, choice site, and he added:
Progressed in Idaho
"We have been doing business in Ida
no for fifteen years. When we first
started land was valued at $50 and $40
an acre. 1t has increased more than
three times since that period, and our
investment for site shows much
greater increase. Town lots and agri-
cultural land, Immediately adjoining
such property have increased in value
propOrtionately.
Thus it will be seen that an indus
try means much for the development
Of this part of the virgin west. Not
only does it benefit the lands for mile,
around but affords measure of pros
perity that must appeal to any com
munity as an asset of permanent worth
and naturally, that means a gain on any
item incident to the agricultural bust
ness. If one enterprise can treble OF
quadruple the value of farm lands, OF
residence property, in the production Of
single product, from which is derived
Il regular revenue, no discount is to b.
placed on the future development Of
the soil of Idaho.
Inadvertently it was cited with va
{ rious sugar officials and agents com
municated with, that the cOmpan.
/ does not deal with foreign banks, eithe
, in handling payrolls or beet contracts
and usually pays through local banks il
: the neighborhood, thus the system o
!, cash operation becomes of value to
a community.
0 In stepping up the value of Shelle,
A lands and bringing them into profita
: BILE productiveness, and increasing tn
: value of the holdings, as well as prOvid
ing payroll of moment, and becoming