Progress and Achievements of the Colored People / Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success

by Kelly Miller; Joseph R. Gay

BECOME A LAND OWNER

From the material point of view, there is nothing on this earth that leads to so much success, security, and social standing as the ownership of land.

By owning land you become a landlord, and you gain that opportunity by thrift and economy.

Land is the soundest investment in the world, and it has always been one of the great objects and hopes of the people of the earth to own a small slice of its surface.

If you own land, you acquire a sense of responsibility to the community where it is located. You are invested with a dignity which you can not obtain in any other way. You possess a sense of security and independence that nothing else will give you.

All over the world it is land which is considered first security. In this country, the courts refuse money or jewels for bail, insisting upon land as the requirement of the bond.

The reason is because land is a fixture; means security that can not be carried away or be lost, it is always there when it is wanted.

Buy land, therefore, if only a small portion. If you can not get forty acres, get twenty, or ten, or one, but get some land, and you will be surprised to find how fast your acre will become two, etc.

There are always opportunities to buy land on time, so that you do not have to wait until you have a large sum of money, but you can pay in small amounts on long time.

It is a good business that of real estate. You buy land, then subdivide it, sell a part to pay for the whole, and own the rest. It is a common, every day transaction, and is successful, but you must keep your eyes open.