Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-02-11
Mr. EDITOR:

hk IzDlIOk.
Some weeks since
communication appeared in your paper
signed "A WORKING FARMER. I'm which
the writer mentioned some of the diff.
ticulties incident to farming in Central
Iowa There is truth in what the wri
ter of the aforesaid article remarks in
reference to grain raising and also in
reference to the enormous tariff charg-
ed 10y our Railroads tor Transporting
our grain to the sea board. 1t is much
easier to discover difficulties than to
remove them. 1t is undeniable howey
er that these evils exist and it becomes
us to look for remedy, aud the first
place to look tor a remedy is al home
tor it isa we'll established truth. that
Providence helps hose whohelp them.
selves
We devote too much of our time
and attention to farming on primitive
principles, and by thisI meanthe export
ing OF the raw material without any at
tempt at condensation or compression.
1t for example we can con cense thirty
bushels OF corn into one hog, and make
more money than will pay us market
price tor our grain, and at the same
time can have it carried to market for
the same money that it cost to carry
six bushels OF the same corn, we are
effecting saving both ways, and if
the hog in question was or,h six cents
per pound, and by butcheriny the
hog, and still farther condensinr the
profit of our farms. we could reduce
the amount of frei ght one third and in.
crease the valuepcr pound to ten cents
instead Of six, we are still advancing
IN the right direction. by adopting
this or similar course we not only get
ample pay tor all our labor but we re-
alize the largest possible return from
our farms and at the same time pre-
serve their fertility unimproved.
Here permit me by way of degrees
sion, TO mention a matter to which some
OF our citizens who are possessed of
the requisite amount of capital would
do we'll to turn their attention. and
that is the slaughtering and packing of
hogs tor our western market. The
saving OF freight alone, would be
enough to pay a fair profit on the
amount invested. For years to come
our best pork market must be in our
new States and Territories, to the
west of us. And 1t is, certainly,
very poor economy to ship our hogs
two hundred and fifty miles, to have
them butchered, when we can
do the work at home, cheaper than it
can be done in Chicago, and at the
same time, have our pork when dress
sed two hundred and fifty miles nearer
our best pork market. This is vast
field altogether unoccupied and "thc
harvest truly is plenteous.
What is true of hog feeding is equal
ly true of beef cattle, and if we would
SOW less wheat, plant more corn, and
feed more hogs and cattle, we would
realize much larger profit from our
farms. We need good butter and
cheese factory in every township in
the county, and can have them in II
months, if we try; 300 cows is all that
is necessary to begin with, and if once
begun, there is no fear that they would
not soon ie increased to 600. Farmers
think OF these things, and after you
have thought and investigated tor the
next six month, then act and act, just
as you as you do when you sow your
grain, don't stop till you hav done
the work, and success will follow your
efforts. A FARMER WHO Works.