The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1919-10-30
why LAND
PRICES SOAR
Tive Kansas City Reporters Interview
Over Hundred Farmers On
Land Prices

Recently two reporters representing
the Kansas City Star made a tour of
Iowa and Illinois to find out why land
in these states are selling so readily.
Here is what they have to say about
the matter:
With such an unusual condition ex-
isting in the two leading agricultural
states of the country, the question
very naturally follows:
What has brought about such a sit
uation?
Strange as it may appear, a very
unnatural condition has been brought
about through natural reasons One
cannot make an intelligent survey of
the situation in the two states without
arriving at the conclusion that the rise
in farm values in both states was en-
tirely due. 1t might have been en-
pected.
While speculation has resulted, es-
pecially in Iowa, speculation did not
cause it.
lands are high because they are worth
the money. That is the conclusion
that is forced upon one who has tried
to figure it out" from a disinterested
and unprejudiced standpoint.
Some of the best business men in
Iowa and Illinois, including farmers,
believe that the situation is bad. A
majority of the sentiment, a big MA
jority, so near as the correspondent of
The Weekly Star could judge, is on
the bear side of the question. There
is danger to the two states from pres
ent conditions, dangers which will I'M
fold as the story is told But even in
the opinion OF this majority, which
takes a pessimistic view of the situa-
ton, farm lands will maintain the high
standard Of values they have reached.
Hardly anyone in the two states be-
lieves that farm prices will be lower.
They may remain where they are for
several years. Possibly they have
reached the limit. for the present. It
may be that the men who are payinv
the high prices now will suffer severe
pay Cor their part for jumping up the
price" as they describe II In the two
states. and many of the spectators
may be financially ruined. But of all
the pessimistic views expressed, there
is lacking the opinion that farm lands
will drop again in price to the old
level. That is the best reason that
could be given for the belief that the
prices are high because the land is
worth the money.
A farmer of Grundy county. Iowa,
was asked by a correspondent of the
Weekly Star:
What is land selling for in this
county,
well sir" the farmer answered.
1T appears to be selling for any price
placed on it The other day a man
wanted to buy my farm. Why, said
to him, l wouldn't sell my farm for
$500 an acre, ad he said right off the
bat, I'll give you five and a quarter for
it."
"Who offered you that price" he was
asked, "a land speculatorg =
mo, it was a neighbor of mine he
replied. Zone of the best farmers in
Grundy county"
Now. Grundy county is to the Iowa
corn belt, perhaps, what Mclean
county is to the Illinois corn belt.
Iowa points with great pride to Grun.
dy county.
why" insisted the correspondent.
did he offer you the big price of 1925
an acre? For speculation"
"Oh, no, he wouldn't sell a foot Of
land if he owned all the county"
We'll, then why did he offer you
such a big price?"
II guess it was because he wanted
the land"
why didn't you sell to him.
Because | wanted to keep my
farm"
There is the pillar and ground of
truth" AS to why the Iowa and Illinois
land is worth the monty. The men
who own it do not want to give it up.
They want more of it, and they are
willing to pay almost any price foe it.
The question as to whether or not
they expect to make a return o the
land that will pay them dividends on
the investment is not the chief ques-
ton to enter into the transaction.
They regard that feature of the pur-
chase as a matter which concerns
them only. and IL they want to pay the
price it is only just and fair of the
public, or of the neighbor across the
way not to offer any adverse criticism,
Usually the man who is buying a $40C
ior gE01 on orc % wunv,~ xh,x 1ond