Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-05-31
INCREASE IN WESTERN
CANADA LAND VALUES
But Forty and Fifty Bushels Of
Wheat to the Acre.

During the past year there has been
a greater demand for farm lands in
Western Canada than for a number Of
years past. The demand is for good
farm lands improved or unimprOved.
And at an increase Of from ten to IF
teen dollars an acre more than the
same lands could be had for a couple
of years ago.
The rise in the price Of every kind
Of produce grown on these Western
lands, in some cases to double and in
others to treble the price prevailing be-
fore 1914, have attracted and are at
tracing in ever-increasing proportions
the men who are anxious to invest
their money, and apply their energies
in the production of wheat for which
the allied nations are calling with
voices which grow louder and more
anxious as the months roll on, and the
end of the war still seems distant.
Beef, and more especially bacon, are
required in ever greater quantities,
and the price of all these things has
scared, until 1t is not a question of
what shall we produce, but how much
can we produce. Even should this
world calamity be brought to a close
in six months from now, 1t will be
years before normal pre-war prices
prevail, and meantime self-interest IL
not patriotism is turning the minds Of
thousands back to the land. The in
evitable consequence has been the rise
in value Of land, especially wheat
land.
The Calgary Herald, commenting on
these conditions says:
"From inquiries made from leading
dealers In farming and ranching prop
critics, and from the information gath
. cred in other ways, it is known that
the value OF all land-wheat land,
mixed farming properties and even
good grazing land-has risen In the
last two years 40 per cent. Wheat
lands in some districts have practical
" doubled in price. One dealer in
farm lands recently sold three sections
for $40 an acre, one extra good quar-
ter went as high as 800, and another
brought 500. These are, Of course,
large prices, but that they will be
e1ualed or even surpassed In h near
future is beyond question. There is a
feature about this rush to the land
from which the most solid hope can
be drawn for the success of the move
ment. The proper tillage of land, to
produce large crops in a climate like
ours is now understood and practiced
as 1t never was in the early days OF
the province. 1t would seem too thai
with the increase Of land under cult
walton, the seasons are changing
and the rainfall becoming greater ant
more regular.
Crops are being harvested, especial
~ in Southern Alberta, which would
have seemed impossible to the old-tim'
farmer, with his Old-fashioned ideas
Of breaking and seeding. And at thu
price now set by the government TO
wheat and which possibly may be In
creased during the coming season, tn
return to the practical skilled agricul
turist must necessarily be very large
"Wbat matters $40 or wen $40 al
acre extra on wheat land when a re
IL as high as 90 bushels and eve
more may be taken from every acr
sown? With hogs bringing $50 a hur
dred pounds; beef on the hoof at 81
and mutton SIG, while wool under tn
new government arranged system O
handling and sale brings 60 cents
9pound (and these values cannot ia.
to any great extent for some years
the demand for land will continue an
values increase in a corresponding d.
gree.
'There has never been in the histor
Of Canada a time so favorable for tn
farmer as the present; s~elf-interes
the inspiration of patriotic feeling, ii
aid freely extended by the COVER
ment, who are permitting the impoI
Of certain agricultural implement
free, all these tend to still furth'
raise the price of Alberta land."-A
vertisement.