Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-08-10
tFor the Journal
College Farm.

= q 80 II
y FR,mD NAH1s well, 4 have returne'
from the College Farm, and will now MAKE
my promised report.
found Hon. Richard Gaines, Trustee frou
Jefferson county, and our agent for thu
Farm and Improvements, doing we'll, indus
trious, economical and faithful. The foun
dstion Of a bank barn was built, two fee
thick and eight high, 4ax6o feet, substantial
and good-looked sufficient to set big mil
upon. The stills were placed upon the foun
dation, but tho frame would not be ready Il
raise for about week. It is to be covered
with oak boards, and bsttened with pine
Oak SIS per 1000, pine SIS, at Fairfield
and GIG for hauling. We have 1000 feet fo
batten and doors. Oak shingles at s.. We
intend to paint it dark color, like RAILROAD
depot.
Houss.-Only the kitchen, one and hal
stories, store.room, etc., suitable for large
house, which is intended to be put up il
future. Also, now to b. built, wash-room
milk-room, and wood-house, joining thu
kitchen. Stone on the ground for the cellar
and lumber-oak $15, linn and walnut 81!
to $50. Brick kiln just burned.
We have 10 acres in wheat, corn and
Hungarian grass. This was broken last year,
but We have broken no more this year. We
have 120 acres under good fence.
Cost Of feuce-240 rods of post and boart
fence, S six-inch bosrds-97A cents per ,od.
This is estimating our timber, of which We
have plenty, at 2 cents for each post In this
t-,ce We have found remedy for one diff
rhs (which have often seen in my travels,
nsmely that green oak boards will shrink
endwise, and once in 8 or 10 rods break the
nails aud part 4 or s inches. Il NAV be said
that to lap boards 80 as not to have th EN- all
meet on one post will reuiedy this difficulty;
but spprshend shat ss the lumber shrinks,
the nails will break in different places Once
in about 10 rods, We Get two posts and had
the ends OF tho boards nailed upon each and
shey have how sArank sndscise SO as to drass
apart about four inches VII lumber
shrink snd.ciss?
200 rods worm fence, rails high, stake
and rider, rs cents per rod estimate value
Of timber 2 cents rail.
l20 rods posts, morticed, with fat rails
Is cents a rod estimate value of timber 8.
cents each. This is probably as good a. the
board fence
We had donated to US by Mr.. Jam es
Smith, nuseryman at Des Noinss, 500 worth
of trees and plants. We set out l6O apple
trees, and probably 60 died Of drouth. The
others are beautiful trees, and in good con-
dition. Also quantity of grape-vines and
rhubarb. We have donated to the College
Farm several valuable farm implements and
patent rights, among which is Mower, BY
Mr.. Woods, of Mass. 1t is intimated by DR..
Hickey that he or his assigns will donate
one of his valuable Grain Sewers. They are
no doubt ap excellent thing, and ii the Col
lege Farm uses them, it must of course be q
high recommend.
The total cost of all cur improvements,
when the barn AID the back part Of the
house are finished, will be between 81 600
and $1,000: We had appropriated by the
State $4,000 when we started nearlv two
years ago. Cost of land $3.50. Locating
Farm and other contingent expenses about
$1,000. Collected on subscription $242. First
6 months interest on the $4,000 Story Co.
Bonds will be paid this fall, $3.50; $3.50 more
OF interest due 10th of January which Judge
Evaos of that county assures me will be
paid this winter as fast as the taxes come in.
This will pay all debts and costs up to that
tine, aud leave US with all the lands donated,
and about 81, 900 of subscription.
It may be asked where the College is, and
where the Farmers school is which We
started to build and open? We started with
the intention of economizipg the funds of
the State to the best advantage, and l believe
we have nearly all practiced upon the prin-
ciple *hich Governor Kirkwood wrote me
in June last. "For one l will not consent
to have standing on the Farm pile of unfin-
ished buildings as monument OF my folly
and want Of business capacity"
So, not until the people of this State are
willing to tax themselves, and the railroads,
and nonresident land owners (and their
amount is immense through all the thinly
settled counties) can We have Farmers
College, where the poor class, and the farm
sr's sons, can get an education above the
common school, at about half the cost Vt our
high schools. Ours is nearly pattern after
the "Pennsylvanis Farmers High School,"
which again hear this SUMNER, IS we'll ss
last fall when visited it, is succeeding
beyond their fondest expectations.
SUEL FOSTER.