, 1921-06-12

world war, when prices of a.
were abnormaliy high and when the
rrice a. labor of all kinds was exor
bitant. Hence the actual cost TO the
present owner Of these buildings and
dwellings is moro than hat at which
similar structures can be reproduced
today. Very naturally tho present day
owners desire Z get the cost out OF
their properties when offered for sale
today. Hence TO that extent prices
are higher than the actual cost teray
II tho buyer built that Identical build
ing for himself today. But there are
decidedly offsetting features to this
view Of the case that should also be
considered by both the buyer and the
seller.
During these three years that have
passed since our war days. Casper has
been ever and constantly increasing
in its place rs a city and as a bust
ness center OF our prosperous coun-
try. She has immensely added to her
business activity and become one Of
the noted and talked of cities OF the
west She has during these three
years added n fourth to her popula-
ton. She has enlarged her territory
and beautified her streets and homes.
tltf OuoATto1 OL Ill hlnnE nus IL
rcase and became more prosperous
During these three years she has
changed from a growing town to n
growing city Therefore. In all fair
ness. we must expect and allow that
her realty. just the ground. the lot on
which the dwelling. the residence or
business block is now built must have
increased in its value during these
years Values must increase under
such conditions and when looked at
in this light ID not show any features
of ~fnflLtion or mlreai valuation
Let us Just for n compare
the price movement in our city with
that OF the growing cities of the east
nnd to our west. As stated, our city
has in the past three years increased
its population by at least ~one-fourth.
has ~increased its wealth by half. its
banking activities and facilities by n
half and its Industries ia n very large
degree Dur realty prices in the mean
time. outside of a very few marked
exceptions. have shown no tendency
to skyrocket. A natural and conserva-
tive increase there certainly has been,
and Il would speak I'll of our business
acumen IL such had not been the case.
A natural and healthy increase in
values is always TO be desired. But
there has been no skyrocket jump in
u values. Common sense and rea-
son has marked these increased vaiu-
atoms. Therefore such natural In
creased valuations are to be expected
and to be hoped for in our prosper
Gus years that are to follow. Now
such increased valuations in Casper
have been at n ratio of from 10 to so
per cent. according to the locations
and improvements. A steady natural
increase. But just contrast this natu-
raj growth in values with that OF some
of u sister cities. Seattle. during
her so-called boom days. witnessed
properties skylarking in a few
rionths. and in many cases, days:
from 100 to 500 per sent in its realty
valuations. Los Angeles is now 60
ing through much the same situation.
Wichita. Kan, had. and suffered from
just such a whirlwind of prices during
its five ear of price initiation. Find
lay n Lima, Ohio. had similar dire
experiences. All these suffered re-
action and all have felt the iron
tongue of mor and difficulties of
recuperauon- But we In Casper are
to be congratulated that, reason IND
gdod business sense has so far con-
trolled u realty values. And to
this fact may be attributed our faith
and hope for a steady. natural and
ever increasing demand for our realty
at prices that command the wisdom
and confidence Of both the buyer and
the seller.