Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-24

Wellesley Hills, Mass. July 23.-
Roger w. Babson. adviser to over
1900 of the country's leading execu-
tives, has called another turn.
In n statement issued Saturday. he
outlines coming conditions in the real
estate field and advises the purchase Of
suburban property before it is too late.
The big movements in real estate
usually get well under way. said Mr..
Babson. before anyone realizes what
is going on. Because they nave seen
land unused for years, most people
think it will always continue so. inns
is why the original holder seldom
makes any profit from real estate.
The value is so close TO his nose that
he does not see it.
"A fundamental change in real estate
valnes is taking place. SO far it has
proceeded quietly without much public
itv. Few people have realized II. "A
few wise heads have discovered the
bargains in country homes and they are
quietly buying up all the land they want
for themselves and as much more as
they can carry for a speculation.
NV advice to those who want SUB
rrban real estate is to buy at once
For the past decade or more. people
have beer crowding to the cities. Now,
however. a reverse movement TO 'he
country is beginning. which promises
IA he tbe greatest shifting in population
since the institution of the railroad.
Within the next 10 or more years, the
building of suburban homes should riva,
the growth of the automobile, gooa
roads, the movies, the monograph or
radio! o
I'm fact. these inventions MAKE
possible the suburban movement. a
few wears ago country homes were nm
tied 10 the rich or to those employed Ia
the country. because only such peopit
could afford means of transportatloS
Now automobiles have come Within
reach of the great middle class of people
They are increasing at the rate of more
than a million a year. Ten years ago
there we're 1000, 900 passenger automo-
biles in the United States. Today there
are about 10000. 600. which is an av-
erage of one car to about every ~
people. They are bringing new and bet.
ter roads and opening up millions OF
acres of hitherto inadressable land.
The more cars purchased. the more
families there are who can have a SUD
urban home. even though the breadwln-
ner must work in the city. Wage earn
ors during the last period of prosperity
spent their money for motor cars; IN
the next period Of prosperity they will
buy country homes.
The motion picture has put the To-
cal town hall on a par with the city
theater. The motor truck is giving
the rural or suburban dweller nearly
the same freight and express facilities
as has the city.
~ - 1.-.- n~o ya,In rnttfnS
which never could be served by trolley
cars. Automobiles are bringing the
school houses and the village to within
a few minutes of the country home.
Chain stores are carrying to every COM
munity the same efficient merchandise
ing as the city dweller enjoys. Last
but not least the radio. especially if
developed on General Squire's wired
basis. gives to suburban homes the fin
est city lectures and music.
The reason for suburban expansion,
however. is not alone the attraction Of a
country home. In the cities. congestion
of dwelling house space and high rents
long have been brewing discomfort.
For more than five years now these con-
ditions have existed. Rebellion on the
part of the rent payer is reaching the
point of explosion. Almost any kind of
a change would be attractive. Once
the average city worker realizes that
with a few hundred dollars and a flivver
he can get a house of his own with all
the land he needs. the chances are two
10 one he will move.
THE city no longer has a wall around
it. Railroads make the first breach
but the railroads opened up only mar
row strips along their lines radiatine
from the city. In most cases the rail
roads followed the valleys and low
lands, which are not the best building
location. Between these lines are
miles of land much more desirable for
building but which have been inacces.
sible to the commuter because men had
no means of getting to the train. II
is in these areas between the railroad
lines and within q radius of Is or 20
miles of the cities, which the motor
usr and good roads have opened up.
that the most spectacular development
in new building should take place!