Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-07-12
Something of a Farm.

A correspondent writing from Peoria.
Ill, gives the following account of the
scale upon which farming is done at the
West
The Farm of NJ. T.. Sullivant. of
Burr Oak, near Chatsworth, Living
ton county Illinois, is not only big
but a we'll managed and profitable en-
terprise. The farm is eight miles
square, containing 40, $50 acres-64
sections, Government survey. IL is
subdivided into thirty-two farms of
1880 acres each. Each farm has a
captain and a first and second heuten-
ant, all under control of a commander
In-chief, its owner and Brigadier gen
eral, j. NJ Miner. There are $4,000
acres under the plows, over 10000 of
which is in corn this season, which
looks finely; this required LOGO bush
els of corn for seed this year. The re
mainder Of the farm is used for grazing.
small grain and grass.
There are two hundred and fifty miles
Of hedge fence, besides other fences ::
one hundred and fifty miles of ditch
for draining wet land two hundred
men and four hundred work horses and
mules are used on this farm. There is
employed, also, one surveyor, two
book keepers, four blacksmith :. and
eight carpenters. An accurate account
IS kept with each farm, and with each
man, horse and nule-horses and mules
being all named or numbered, and
charged with amount paid for them
and their food, and credited with their
labor. There is no more regular OF
systematic set of books kept in any
banking or manufacturing establish
ment IN the country than Mr. SuIli-
vans.
The whole Of this land was entered
rom the Government about twenty
years since by It's present owner at ST.
. per acre. The farm at this time,
with the improvements made upon ii
and personal property connected with
it, IS worth about $4,000, 600: SO Won
see we have a millionaire in Central
Illinois IN the person of a sturdy far
lner, who shows what I know about
farming by his works, and can stand
IN the centre Of his farm and say truth
IuIly, am monarch OF all I survey
Putting up Fences by Machinery.
A correspondent of the Toronto
Globe writes: "While passing few
spare days with a friend in the West, |
was much amused at a novel way OF
putting up fence posts. The land was
rather low than otherwise, and although
soft enough IN the fall, would have been
very bard IN dry summer weather.
lhe implement employed to facili-
tate this business was none other than
a 'plle-driver, made as ordinarily used,
with about twelve feet drop for the ram,
but constructed of much lighter mater
rails. The seantGng was only 2x6 and
5A3 inches, with the exception of the
sllls, which We're stronger and made of
haEd wood, to facilitate moving about
m operation which was performed
by the same oxen that raised the ram.
Inc Eam Itself was composed of the
butt OF an oak leg, six feet lone, band
ded with IRON at the lower end. to pre-
vent splitting, and about sixteen inches
"a diameter. Grooves were pIowed init
on each side, SO IS 70 admit OF its NOV
ING readily in the guides. II was hoist
ed by yoke OF cattle attached to a
rope, passing under one wheel at bot
ON and over another at top, and the
plan answ cred well by pulling the ram
rapidly up to its elevation, from which it
descended with tremendous thud'
on the cedar post, which was pointed
an iia-a Upright, and Immediately IN
der the ram. About three blows drove
ne post nearly four feet into the earth,
aud almost all went quite straight. a
1eW-one here and there-were crooked;
but these, [ was told, would be pulled
straight with the cattle, or dug out at
the foot so as TO allow of their being
pressed over, until they all came in di.
rect line. [ was informed that this