Page:The truth about the railroads (IA truthaboutrailro00elli).pdf/166

Rh —from 62,947,000 to 91,972,000. Immigration during the ten years ending in 1910 was 8,795,386, or more than double that of the preceding ten years. The total of unappropriated and unreserved lands in the United States has fallen since 1890 from 55.32 per cent of the total area, to 40.98 per cent, and the 59 per cent appropriated or reserved represents the best selections.

In the three States of North and South Dakota and Minnesota, there were, in 1900, 47,654,452 acres of unappropriated and unreserved lands, and in 1910 but 7,536,333 acres. With the reduction in the available government land, farms have become more valuable, and less easily obtained by those of small means. The average value per farm of all farm property has increased from $3,649 in North Dakota in 1900 to $13,109 in 1910. In South Dakota, the average value in 1900 was $2,901, and in 1910 it was $15,018. In Minnesota the average value in 1900 was $3,549, increasing in 1910 to $9,456. It is interesting to compare here the average value of the holdings of the Rh