The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1919-12-18

The growth and development OF
the Plains country and the estaDlish-
ment Of property holdings in tins
section has been placed on an ex-
ceedingiy substantial basis IN the last
twelve years. Prior 10 that time the
country was considered the domain
OF the Whiteface who reigned su-
rveme. There was no outlet for crop
produtcion and il was not encourag-
ed moro than was sufficient for the
feeding Of animals and home con,
sumption. Real estate was looked
upor as valuable only Tor range TOT
cattle hence did not have substan-
tial commercial value as u does TO-
day. r.,
To the sturdy pioneers, who Tor
saking birth place and family ties
came west 10 build an inland empire
goes the credit for the building OF
the foundation upon which tne
plain, country has grown TO con
Alteration and recognition as lead
ING commercial belt Of the great
Southwest.
There is an old story told of the
homesteader who took up a section
Of land, which is applicable 20 tne
conditions which existed less than
quarter century ago. This nome
steader, according to the narrative.
had an opportunity to sell one half OF
his section for a small sum OF money,
which was so small TO be OF no con
sequence and in making the deed he
conceived the idea Of playing a JOKE
on the purchaser and instead OF max
ing the deed for the half section ne
inst decided the entire tract OF land
in his possession.
The building OF the railroad into
Lubbock and subsequently important
branches Of the Santa Fe changed
conditions materially With the out
let thus provided and the realixation
that the soil Of this section OF the
Plains was adapted to agricultural
production came the cutting up OF
the open range lands into farms and
the breaking Of the soil for agricul-
n,ral production. This also brought
about the building Of substantial
homes and other improvements and
from that time on Lubbock county
and the Plains country began 70 fig-
ure in the commercial world a. a ter
ritory with substantial real estate
values and the owner Of property IN
this section was considered forin-
nate.
These conditions have been con
ssantly changing year TO year untii
today real estate IA on as suOstsntial
basis as in the older developed agrl-
cultural sections Of the vest, al
though Il IS generally conceded that
lands can be purchased much cheap
er than in the older settled sections
and still produce more actual pro-
duets than in the old established agri-
cultural districts For instance. A
recent article in an Iowa newspaper
recited an instance where certain
farmer had produced several acres OF
wheat which when harvested and
threshed proved to produce 2s bush
els 10 the acre. The article went on
10 state that this farmer had been Of
fered $500 per acre for this land and
had refused the offer. Here Is an in
stance Of what is accomplished IN
the Plains country. A few days ago
a farmer sold a bale Of cotton on the
streets in Lubbock for <22s.00 which
was the sum realized less the ginning
charges. This bale of cotton was
one Of several raised on tract OF
land which produced a bale to the
acre. This land is held at $50 per
acre and one crop will return four or
five times the initial value OF the
land. OF course il would be useless
10 state that this was not an excep-
tional case yet the Iowa case purport-
ed TO be an exceptional one. Inc
markets are just as convenient IN the
Plains country as they are IN Iowa
and the same high prices are paid
and lust as adequate railroad faclll-
ties are maintained and today there
are thousands Of acres Of land
available at such prices.
The assessed valuation Of the prop
erty Of Lubbock County is given at
9.4OO,OOO and the market price OF
improved lands range from $40 per
acre TO S75 depending upon their To-
cation and the state Of Improvement
The Writer will attempt to give some
=. hstantial figures showing the real
estate values and opportunities m
this section. There are thousands OF
acres Of unimproved lands available
m the CuuuAN AA0Ah w ~ -" -
acre and in some few instances even
a lower price than this. This land Is
all equipped with soil that viii grow
and mature any OF the products that
can be raised in the temperate zone
and Is Just lying idle awaiting the
hand Of some progressive farmer TO
Weld up their stores Of richness to
the world II u common occurrence
for farmer. who win follow scien-
tlfic principles in farming TO raise
one crop that win return him In cash
his initial investment In one year
The deep clay subsoIl. which absorbs
and holds moisture "a sufficient 10 IN
sure a crop every year except IN the
event of a succession OF dry years
which happens infrequentiy In the
history Of West Texas.
Nlns,y-nlns per cent Of the i~.ds
IN the county are tiliahIs. with al ths
time only $4,000 acres under cultl-
walton % the $4,000 acre. IN me