Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-05-24
Does Farmina in Iowa PAY 2

This question naturally suggests itself
very earnestly to all who may be tempted
to leave the farming fields of other states
and enter upon agricultural enterprises
in this. To a person here, where one can
see the question answered on every side,
the Interrogation would be useless, for he
daily meets with men who cnme to Iowa,
poor-but are now the nobleman of tho
country and the controllers nf its govern
ment. There are thousands Of instances
Of this character which would best illus
trato our declaration had we the space to
mention them. And so superior are the
advantages presented Ii our country for
agricultural pursuits, that men Of observn.
fion who had hitherto followed other bust.
ness have been farsighted enough 10 see
that all that was needed to insure the re.
nlizatlon Of handsome fortunes was % The
confidence 10 embark ia farming, and (2)
the necessary energy to carry the enter
prise through without faltering. Farming
among rugged hills and stony fields is
different from following plow through
glebe where it will run from the time 1t
comes from the shop until it is worn out,
without striking q stone-anduAore than
all, there's difference in farming where
one mau can raise an eighty-aore crop by
himself, and where he can raise only ten;
aud fnd poor harvest even in that.
When We know many men whose expert
ence for the last ten years has shown what
can be done, We take single instance, of
a well known gentleman in this State,
which will show tho truthfulness of our
remarks in convincing manner. In the
last issue Of the Ceder Falls Gazette we sec
the following extract;
"PERsoNAL-.We received a call last
Thursday. from Senator G, Il. Clarkson, of
Grundy Co., one of lowa'e best and most
practical farmers, and with all a firm friend
and well wisher of the prosperity Of Ceder
Falls. Mr.. Clarkson is an old printer by
profession, and publisher Of paper for
twenty Eve years in Indiana. The same
energy which marked his success as an
editor seems to have followed him to the
rural districts of Iowa. His farm now
contains GAO acres. and his sales of produce
the past year will amount to $4,000"
From intimate personal acquaintance
with Dir. Clarkson. we are enabled to tell
how he con menced and how he is at pres
ent situated. In 1856 be left the publish
ing business in Brookyile, Indiana, and
with moderate capital came to Iowa, and
invested in land in Grundy county. He
commenced his present farm Of $40 acres
by pitching muslin tent on the center OF
il, and in which he lived with his family
until he constructed frame house. lie
Immediately started in his "breaking
teams," aud put out what he called crop
Of "sod" corn--and succeeded in plant.
ing over two hundred acres in this manner
This was fenced only by constant watch
ing, but when the harvest came, the corn
was sold for lumber which put fence
around the entire farm in to protect the
next seasons crop. The following season
saw more Improvements, and the plow was
kept moving until over 400 acres put in
annual crops, and until their return had
made their owner abundantly able to build
him splendid residence, the finest and
largest barn in the State, and make other
improvements ccrrespondingly. The ig
ures in the extract above shows what this
farm brought its proprietor last year in
produce alone. Other sources Of income,
such as stock growing and speculation
will increase this income at least one half
these figures speak for themselves, and
need no comment from us. The farm of
Mr.. Clarkson-which bears the name of
"Melrose'.--is situated on high rolling
prairie, and from his residence can be
seen a beautiful panorama twenty-five
miles in circuit. There are at present,
thirteen miles of fence dividing the farm
into different fields aud fnc blue grass
pasture of over ons hundred acres shows
that blue grass can be raised in Iowa de-
spite the prediction of croakers. The
barn is sixty by one hundred feet has
twelve feet stone foundation underneath it
all afIording splendid siabling for stock.
On the wall are sixteen feet posts the
siding is of matched pine, and the roof
LOG feet long and 1856 feet wide [running
measure contains 81, 600 shingles, which
with the pine siding aud finishing lumber
we're hauled distance Of fifty miles by
teams-the barn having been constructed
before the extension of the ID. Il 5. Z. X. X.
from Ceder Falls. The inside arrange
ments Of the barn are complete, aud de-
scription of it, and other interesting iea
lures Of the farm, such as the machinery
used, &C., would show its throruough
equipment had We the space. Rude aud
imperfect as our sketch of it has been, the
reader will be enabled TO see that "farm-
ing in Iowa docs poy."-[ Desmoins Regis
ter.