76 THE FARMER'S OUTLOOK 



the present day. Essentially the value of land 

 must depend on the remunerative nature of 

 agriculture. It may be that profits lie in the 

 future, as was the case when America's expansion 

 was going on. So long as lands in a progressive 

 community remain to be developed some one will 

 be found to colonise them partly with the inten- 

 tion of making a livelihood, and partly with the 

 hope as population increases, and transport 

 facilities become available, to write up the value 

 of his property. Though it would be too much 

 to say that this movement will go on whether 

 farming conditions ensure profits or not, un- 

 doubtedly the income-profit from land is only one 

 factor. The provision of railway facilities is an 

 important part of the development of new areas. 

 The railway pioneer looks ahead to forestall 

 competitors and joins hands with the speculator- 

 farmer. In fact, the obstacles, whether physical 

 or financial, affecting the exploitation of trans- 

 portation are probably a much more important 

 factor in the development of new countries than 

 the economic conditions affecting the utilisation 

 of the land. At the present time, Canada is the 

 country in which a combination of these factors 

 have been working together at full pressure 

 towards the development of agriculture. Specu- 

 lation in agricultural land is precluded by the 

 Homestead Laws, which require occupation and 



