56 





4. Inferior soils, comprehending the poorer argillaceous 

 or shallow siliceous soils. 



SECT. 1. EXTRA SOILS The class of extra soils com- 

 prehends town parks and all lands possessing, either 

 from their nature or situation, peculiar advantages which 

 enhance their value. 



The principal things which enhance the value of soils, 

 so as to take them out of the ordinary rules adapted for 

 valuation purposes, are 



1. Contiguity to cities or market towns. 



2. Superior condition or nature. 



3. Great local competition. 



1. Contiguity to Cities. Land in the neighbourhood of 

 cities becomes valuable beyond its agricultural capabili- 

 ties. It is sought after by wealthy residents for building 

 purposes, for recreation, for health, for scenery, and its 

 exact value depends upon circumstances wholly beyond 

 the range of those rules by which ordinary land is regu- 

 lated. In the neighbourhood of Belfast, 100 per acre 

 is not uncommon for land to be occupied as sites for 

 factories, and having within them a suitable supply of 

 water for such purposes. All such cases must be left 

 entirely to private arrangement between the contracting 

 parties. 



Market towns give an extra value to lands in proportion 

 to the size of the town and the distance from it. 



In the vicinity of large market towns, where there is a 

 constant market and good competition for all kinds of 

 agricultural produce, the value of land is at least double 

 what it would be in ordinary situations. 



This increased value begins to diminish at the distance 

 of half a mile. 



At the distance of one mile from a large market town, 

 the increased value of land is about half as much more as 

 it is worth in an ordinary situation. 



At the distance of a mile and a half, the increased value 

 may amount to about one-fourth of its ordinary value. 



