Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1858-06-24
For the Guardian.
How to Make Good Times in Buchanan
County.

How to Make Good Times in Buchanan
County.
Mr.. EDIroR
Allow me to suggest to your read
ers mode of procedure by which we
can relieve ourselves from our present
embarrassment. There is no doubt but
it requires action TO bring about so desir-
able result. But how, and when, and
where, shall we commence. Show us
the means within our reach. In the first
place, | think it must come from the
ground. We must have something to
sell, and somebody with the means to
buy and send it to market. In order to
raise a good crop, we must have more
prairie broken up; let every man break
all be can. We have sixteen townships
in the county; let US try and cultivate
say one quarter, or four townships, next
year, besides what We need for home con-
sumption. Suppose two should be put
in wheat and two in corn that the wheat
should yield ten bushels to the acre, and
be worth fifty cents per bushel-this will
make $3.50, 400. Suppose the corn to
yield 40 bushels, and be worth 25 cents
when put into pork. This will be $3.50,
800 for two townships. This would make
an aggregate of S69l 200 for two arti-
cles only, to say nothing about the beef,
butter, cheese, poultry aud eggs that can
be sent to market. The saleable pro-
ducts Of the county next year should not
be less than one million of dollars in
value. This would make good times,
indeed, with one-quarter of the county
in cultivation. Well, say the farmers,
we can raise the stuff, but how shall W,
get it to market As to that, we had
better turn in and vote the one per cent.
tax to the railroad. We have the pledge
of the company to receive scrip in pay
ment for the tax. We can sell our sur
plus this year to the men who DO the
grading for scrip. We want the road,
and we believe it will pay 1t is very
small sum, and it is no more than right
that we should help make such improve
ments. The Galena and Chicago road
has paid 22 per cent. dividends to the
stockholders, though it had no land
grant. The Dubuque and Pacific has ~
fine land grant, and the stock will Weld
a good profit. We, as people, should
not stand still forever because the board
of directors cannot borrow all the money
to build the road. We want it now
There is no use in laying still for FIVE or
SIX years before We begin and then hayo
to put our shoulder to the wheel at last.
One thousand dollars of property would
have to pay ten dollars in scrip, for
which the county would get ten dollars
In stock. This is a small sum. Let
this road be built. and there would be
more or less grain and pork buyers as
every station. The above calculation Of
ten bushels of wheat to the acre, and
fifty cents per bushel, is moderate.
Our new Banking Law will soon be in
operation-the banks will loan to the
wheat buyers, who will pay the money
to the farmers this will diffuse money
through the whole community. A very
little money will do for wheat buyer to
begin with he can buy one carload and
send it forward daily, and receive his
pay for it from Dubuque, Chicago or St.
Louis almost or quite as soon as il will be
sent forward, thus the same money can
De uscu sometimes several tlmeS In the
same week, the stream of money would
be coming in as fast as it would go out.
Reader, just imagine such state Of
things as this--a Bank and Railroad in
this county, tith a dozen of our own
citizens buying wheat and pork, and do
ing several thousand dollars of business
each week on few hundred dollars Dor
rowed at decent rate of interest. Just
imagine the effect of eight or ten huadred
thousand dollars paid out in this county
for produce, and as much more brought
in, in the pockets of immigrants. who will
come to hire among live people So.
hurrah for the breaking plow, the loca-
motive and the bank I! We will show
you that old Buchanan County is rot
dead yet, and if We do Gle, it shall not be-
said we died without struggle We
will try-fortune favors those who help
themselves--another year We will all DO
able to pay our taxes, buy some new
clothes and take ride on rail.
AN OLD FARMER.