Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-16
VALUATION ANDPRICE0FL Land
SPROBLEM OF DEEP INTEREST
Hundred Details Bearing On the Topic-One Of the
Leading Rural Subjects Yet Cannot Be
Elaborated in Public Print

Good substantial fencing and plenty
of it.
A considerable tract of forest. or a
wood lot large enough to offer shade,
pasture and an occasional contri-
button of fuel.
stream, in unfailing supply. Perhaps
this should have been placed first.
Buildings. On the Atlantic coast
the degree of attention placed on
buildings is regarded with amusement
by the western farmer. This para
column.
Accessibility to coal or wood, posts,
, rock. gravel. sand, timber. clay. ice.
general store. telephone, mail route
school. church. social gatherings
recreations. hunting, fishing, boating
pure air, absence of miasma, absence
of pests.
Neighbors A large territory could
be mentioned which has many of the
desirable features except human set
tiers. where life is solitude. An
other region where, after many at
fractions have been mentioned, the
reply comes back. "Oh. but such
people. You could never live therev
SO far. SO good; all these items arc
self evident, a mere enumeration of
generally known facts. Nor are they
seriously regarded by the assessor
Land is land, to him. The farm with
the alkali-gypsum water hole shows
the ono with the fine well of soft
water
To the real estate agent in his re-
volvins chair in town, also. land is
land and acres look pretty much
alike. He can always figure out a
set Of attractions is an effort to ad-
vortise and work a. deal.
A side hill barn is a convenience
inestimable. and side hill poultry
yard with snug cave-rooms is n chick
on home no flat prairie can match.
Still more valuable is the elevated
knoll on which to set the farm home,
giving 1t outlook. drainage. command
ing site. distinction. better air. None
OF these things are given a dollar of
regard by the assessor.
Ali these considerations taken into
account, to the tenderfoot there seems
nothing else to think of. Yet to tho
farmer of long experience. especially
the farmer of intense cultivation in
a gardening region like this. there is
ono item not yet mentioned at all.
which he. would have placed among
tho first--the texture of the soil.
This is feature difficult OF descrip-
ton and almost mysterious in detail.
Many plants seem to do we'll on either
tho sandy or the shale lands. and IL
the hoe is kept going both kinds arc
usually clear of weeds Alfalfa will
flourish anywhere II given enough
water. or die anywhere IL given too
much. We recall the black rich soil
of Illinois. the brown chocolate OF
Fowler Rocky Ford. the good loose
loam Of South Canon. the substantial
clay onion lands of our north side.
We note the interesting geological
fact that for 500 miles from Canon
City to Dodge City. the north side OF
the Arkansas river is clay shalc and
the south side is sandy.
But along with all this. the cultiva-
tor of experience who gets hold of
n piece of land having n certain in
describablc texture. not necessarily
rich. but a geological corn meal In
which plants delight TO grow. realizes
that he possesses an incstimablc trea-
sure. All other considerations sink 10
low point. With land OF such clcG-
ancc of texture he feels an unbound
cd independence. He loves II with
an affection like the love for his do
clio team. With such land he can
do anything. Yot the assessor and
the real estate agent alike ignore IL.
such piece of ground is a rarity. and
YOU never sec II mentioned In the
land advertisements You must hunt
and inquire to find II. when you do
find it. get II. at any price. AS a
Jewel from Natures hand It is better
than rubios.
NJ. C.