The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-04-09
SALES
INCREASING IN
NORTH DAKOTA
No Boom, and No Increase in
Price, Says kOsitzky.
Land Commissioner

Farm land sales are increasing in
North Dakota. especially the western
parts Of the state. and transfers Of
real estate are expected TO be greater
this year than for any year in the
past decade.
This is the opinion Of state of
f:cials here who have met and talked
with farmers from all parts of the
state.
"Tncrc can be no question that more
land is being sold this year than has
been the case at any time in the
recent past" said Carl r. Kositzky.
state land commissioner. "That
doesn't mean there is boom. SO
far as can find out there isn't. 1t
merely means that farmers are buy
ing more land close TO their home
farms in the belief that they can
make money from it by farming and
also in the belief that it is good
investment.
In a great many eases men with
growing children who are in position
to do so have purlha additional
land with the idea Of eventually turn
ing il over 10 their children. While
the children are ut home they can
help care for larger farm and when
they get married the old folks will
be able to help them get started on
farm Of their own
Plenty Of Tillable Land
Although land sales have been in.
creasing there is no appreciate in
crease in the price, according to No.
sticky and others. because OF the fact
that there is still plenty Of good
tillab!c land which is not under Guilt
walton or which can be purchased from
farmers who already have too much.
With the idea Of diversified farm.
ing taking root. it is pointed out. the
day when one farm consisted Of 1000
acres or more is passing. The great
grain farms are being broken up
into smaller portions on which diver
sificd farming can be carried on
successfully.
Another factor which operates to
prevent raise in land prices. it is
pointed out, is the fact that thousands
OF acres now are held by banks as
the result Of foreclosures during lean
wears when the grain crop failed.
This land is available for purchase
and is being johbcd off by the banks
as opportunity offers. Additional
land is held by the state receiver OF
closed banks and il also is being sold
as purchasers appear. Wherever pos.
sible. however, this land is being
sold in an orderly manner instead OF
dumping il on the market at forced
sale.
REQUESTS For State Land
Tillable farm lands. judging by
records Of such sales. may be had at
from $25 TO $40 an acre in the western
part Of the state. depending on the
location Of the land and the type OF
soil.
In addition to increased interest In
the purchase of privately held land.
numerous requests and inquiries re-
garding the possible sale of state
land have been received at his office
recently and more are coming in.
kositzky said. Applications to pur-
chase specific pieces of land, now on
file in his office. number 1874 kositzky
said. They are divided by counties
as follows: Adams 5, Barnes 2. Ben
son 10. Billings I. Bottineau 8. Bow
man 8. Burke 3. Burleigh 2, Cass 2.
Cavalier I. Dickey 3, Divide 5, Dunn
Is. Eddy .. Emmons Is. Foster 8.
Golden Valley l, Grand Folks J.,
Grant 4. Griggs /. Hettinger II. Kid
der s, LaMoure 4. Logan 4, McHenry
10, Mcintosh IA. Mckenzie 20, Mclean
9. Mercer l6, Morton "a. Mountrail
IL, Oliver !. Pembina 2. Pierce 6.
Ramsey 8. Ransom I. Renvillc 3, Rich
land 2. Rolette l, Sheridan IL, Sioux
3, Slope !. Stark ~, Stutsman -.
Towner 2. Walsh 6. Ward II, Wells
s, Williams 8.
Nelson, Sargent. Steele and Traill
counties were the only ones from
which requests for land have not
been received, kositzky said.
At a meeting last winter the state
land board decided not to offer any
state or school lands for sale until
other land now on the market is dis
posed Of.