85 
1870 improved land ranged from $40 to $75 per acre ; now, from $30 to $50. Richland : 
During the past two years farms have not advanced over 5 per cent. on the value of 
1870, and this has been caused by the improvements made on them. From 1860 to 
1870 the increase in price was over 100 percent. Hancock: The intrinsic worth of land 
is not now as much by $10 per acre as in 1860, but the numerous lines of railroad built 
through the county since 1860 have caused it to be 50 per cent., and in many cases 100 
per cent., higher than then. Morgan: The best farms now are held at $75 per acre, 
and none less than $35. Ogle: Present prices from $25 to $80 per acre, according to 
location and improvement. De Witt: Not so valuable as they were five years ago, but 
at least 334 per cent. higher than in 1860. Decreasing in value at present, owing to 
the extremely low price of farm products of all kinds. Clark: Increasing, at least 
50 per cent. since 1860, besides the increase in value by improvements, which is at least 
50 per cent. more. Winnebago: Land worth $20 to $25 per acre in 1860 was worth $40 
to $45 in 1870; since then it has not depreciated nor advanced, except near fast-growing 
cities. Boone: On account of improvements farms. are higher than in 1860, but de- 
cidedly lower than in 1868, because of the decrease in the prices of farm products. 
Lawrence: The western fever for cheap lands and free homes is a constant drain on our 
population, and causes land to be sold for less than its real value. Macoupin: About 
the same price as in 1860, but they have been much higher. Putnam: Good farms are 
worth $45 to $75 per acre. Madison : About 40 per cent. since 1860; where more capital 
_ has been used for improvements the percentage is of course greater. It is an accumu- 
lation, not an increase. Peoria: Decreasing, owing to the rapid development of the 
States farther west, which has attracted all the emigration, even drawing on the popu- 
lation and capital of this State; to the fact that agriculture does not pay, and to the 
general depression in business. Lee: Decreasing. Cause: railroads running west 
through large tracts of cheap lands where wheat and other grain can be raised and 
sent here for less than we can raise it. Good farms can be bought here for $25 to $50 
per acre, with good, fair improvements, that would have brought, in 1860 to 1865, $30 
to $75 per acre. Stephenson: About on a par with 1860, but 25 per cent. less than four 
years ago. McLean: Decreased in value the last five years, but about the same now 
as in 1860. .-Are now better improved, and perhaps with the improvements would sell 
10 per cent. higher. 
WIsconsIn.— Outagamie: All farms, especially those which have not been cropped to 
death by cultivating wheat, have increased in value since 1860, average about 25 percent. 
Saint Croiz: Increased since 1860, on the average, 25 per ceut.; timber-lands fully 100 per 
cent. The completion of the West Wisconsin Railroad to Hudson, on Lake Saint Croix, 
and the connections by railroad with Saint Paul, Minnesota, have greatly enhanced the 
price of farm-lands. Fond du Lac: Farms that sold in 1864 for $75 to $80 per acre are 
now down to from $55 to $60. Dodge: Decreasing, except wood and timber lands, 
which are rising; about 20 per cent. higher than in 1860, and about 20 per cent. lower 
than four or five years ago. Brown: Increasing, on account of the iron-smelting fur- 
naces in the county, and new railroads. Vernon: Under the wheat-growing system 
farming lands are decreasing in productiveness, but still are increasing in value owing 
to increasing population. Lands in the old-settled parts that were worth $25 per acre 
in 1860 are now worth $30, and in more recently-settled parts they have doubled in 
value. Green Lake: Decreasing, though worth more than in 1860. They have been 
much higher since that date than they are now. 
Waukesha: Improved lands range in price from $20 to $30 per acre; improved farms 
from $40 to $65 per acre; close to villages, $100 per acre. 
MINNESOTA.— Goodhue: About five years ago there was a great decline in the market- 
value of farms; during the last three years farming lands have remained about sta- 
tionary. _Watonwan: In 1860, 95 per cent. of the land was held by the Government at 
$1.25 per acre.» Much Government land in the county yet, and iarge grants of railroad 
land. Average market-value of farms now about $12 per acre. Faribault: In 1860 
most of the county was Government land, which is now worth $10 to $12 per acre. 
Iowa.—Delaware: Increasing—about double; then worth on the average about 
$12.50, now $25 per acre. Appanoose: Not increasing. In 1860 worth from $3 to $10 per 
acre, now from $10 to $40, according to location, improvements, &c. Clinton: Have 
increased 100 per cent. since 1860. Boone: Increasing quite rapidly. More than half 
the farms in the county have been made since 1860. The same land at that time was 
bought at $3 to $5 per acre; these farms are now worth $25 to $35 per acre. Sioux : 
Increasing rapidly ; no farms in the county in 1860. Cherokee: Increasing slowly. 
The price of wild lands is from $3 to $7 per acre, according to distance from market 
and intrinsic value. In 1860 there were less than one hundred inhabitants in the county, 
and the average price of land was about $2 per acre. Improved farms are worth $10 
to $20 per acre; in 1860 they would not have commanded more than $5 per acre. 
Adair : Market-value in 1860, $5 to $10 per acre; now, $10 to $40 per acre. 
Missouri.—@rawford: Improved lands, $20 to $25 per acre ; unimproved, $5 to $12, 
which is fully double what they were in 1860. Logan: In 1860 the lands in this county 
would probably average in value $2.50 per acre, now nearly $15 ; some improved lands 
