INCREASE OF AMERICAN LAND VALUES 499 



one liundred per cent, in twenty out of twent3^-t\vo cases, more than one 

 hundred and fifty per cent, in fifteen out of twenty-two cases, and more 

 than two hundred per cent., in ten out of twenty-two cases. 



The total figures showed that the bulk of the increase in the farm 

 land values in the United States between 1900 and 1910 occurred west 

 of the Mississippi. The figures for increases per acre lead inevitably to 

 the same conclusion, namely, that the farm land in the states lying west 

 of the Mississippi has increased, during the past decade, between one 

 hundred and three hundred per cent, in value. 



The same movement for the increase in farm land values has ap- 

 parently been going on steadily for sixty years. Although the census 

 figures prior to 1900 gave the value of land and buildings together, the 

 value of farm land predominates to such an extent that the figures for 

 land and buildings are indicative, though not conclusive, for the in- 

 crease in the value of the land.^ 



The acreage increases between 1850 and 1910 were so extensive in 

 the states west of the Mississippi that it would scarcely be fair to cite 

 increases in total farm land values. It is interesting, however, to note 

 that during these six decades the total number of farms in the entire 

 United States increased from one and a half to six millions; that the 

 total land in farms increased from 294 millions of acres to 879 millions 

 of acres; and that the total improved land in farms increased from 113 

 millions of acres to 478 millions of acres. Thus the total number of 

 farms increased fourfold, the total acreage in farms threefold and the 

 total improved land in farms fourfold, while the total population in- 

 creased slightly less than fourfold. Meantime, the total value of all 

 farm property rose from 3,967 million dollars to 40,991 million dollars 

 (an increase of tenfold) ; and the value of farm land and buildings rose 

 from 3,272 million to 34,801 million dollars (an increase of elevenfold). 



The increase in the value of farm land and buildings between 1850 

 and 1910 is distributed very irregularly over the different sections of the 

 country. For the entire United States the increase in the value per 

 acre was from $11 to $40 ; in New England the increase was from $20 to 

 $36 ; in the Middle Atlantic States, from $29 to $57; in the East North 

 Central States, from $13 to $75 ; in the South Atlantic States, from $6 

 to $23; and in the East South Central States, from $6 to $21. West 

 of the Mississippi the increases in value per acre were, for the "West 

 North Central States, from $6 to $50; for the West South Central 

 States, from $6 to $19; for the Mountain States, from $6 to $21; and 

 for the Pacific States, from $1.55 to $48. A comparison over so long a 



'In 1910 the total value of the farm land alone was 28 billion dollars; of 

 the farm buildings the value was 6 billions, or about a sixth of the total value 

 of farms and buildings combined. The proportion was approximately the same 

 in 1900 — land value, 13 billions; buildings, 3 J billions. 



