The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-27
North Dakota Farmers Purchase Lands F0reclosed by State

in Burleigh. Bottincau. Rcnvillc. Nc
Henry and Ward counties, although
there are holdings III practically
every county in tie state.
Average S24 an acre
Values of the lanus held average
about S24 an acre. This amount in
cludeS improvements on the land. III
some cases listed IS fencing. houses
or barns. and III others. as complete
equipment except machinery.
Practically every acre owned by the
state because OF foreclosure is adapt
able to cult ,ation, and much of it
is planted to nike, crops. All Of it
is rented or leased this year. much
Of 1t to the men who form crly owned
it. The crops on the STATE land in
clude wheat, oats. lax. barley. speltZ.
corn. potatoes and rye.
Although the amounts CT land III
the holdings vary, they average $50
acres to the tract. There are ap-
proximatcly 500 parcels Of land II
der lease today.
The rental required by the state
through the Bank OF North Dakota.
is one-fourth of the crop. delivered
a. the elevator. without expense or
charge to the state. Although the
rentals all vel the state are good,
Mr.. Cox said, those in the northwest
crn part Of the state are especially
valuable, yielding enough rental to
pay the interest on the original loans
on the same tracts.
Promise Good Yields
One OF the developments watched
with special interest this year is the
breaking up Of new ground and SOW
ing it to flax. This crop promises
to be especially eood this year. and
promises to bring two dollars a
bushel above the %thrcshing charges.
II the crop tu. Is out well. Mr.. Cox
said. a great deal Of the state land
may be sold.
A farmer can go far toward paying
Tor his land with one good crop. it
was explained. The average price of
a quarter section is $1,000. The first
year the farmer can break and SOW
100 acres Of new land to flax. and
that acreage will net him about $500.
The following year he can put the
remaining 50 acres in flax. and the
loo acres he put to flax the year
before. he can SOW to wheat, plant
TO corn or potatoes, Or some other
crop.
In five years time, it is said, a man
can make his living from a quarter
section, and at the same time pay for
1t. Or, If he has other holdings that
will pay for his living expenses. he
AN Just about make the land pay for
itself IN two average years.
OF the land held by the state under
the jurisdiction of the land commits
sioncr. $1,000 acres arc to the credit
OF the institutions. and have reverted
to the state. Compared with the mil
lions OF acres in original holdings.
this amount seems small.
Terms Are Good
This land is not segregated, except
for the purposes Of bookkeeping, from
the other state land, and is handled
by the same board. The foreclosed
land Is leased by the board on the
same basis as that originally owned
and never sold by the state. Like.
wise, the %forecioscd land may be
bought from the state either at pri-
vatc sale or at auction.
II sold at private sale, the pur.
chaser pays cash at its foreclosure
price, plus five per cent interest te
the date Of purchase. If he buys a,
auction, however, he can buy the lane
on time pay. lent at not less than it!
appraised value: one-fifth cash ant
the balance in deferred payments, no
to exceed 20 year.. One-fifth of thu
purchase price is due and payable
every five years until the entire