Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-11-01
iowa Farmers and Fairs.

iowa Farmers and Fairs.
We publish below extracts from
the address delivered by Governor
John Scott, at the opening of our
late State Fair.
Let every Iowa farmer read and
profit, too, by the facts and sugges-
tons:
"The men of twenty years ago,
mcagcr us the show would seem,
did more than we do to-day. riley
lid echat they could! All honor to
those good and brave men who SO
well laid the foundations on which
we so poorly build. They felt the
need of the improved and purc-brcd
stock; they sought it out, they found
it, and we possess it. But do we
so kecnly and so generally realize
our duty in the same matter? l
fear not; else we would do, as our
opportunities and advantages are
greater than theirs, a hundred fold
more than they.
Gas | can discuss nc matter cX-
haus; lively on such an occasion as
this, may l be permitted to simply
state 4 few facts of very prac-
teal nature bearing upon the
importance Of improved stock and
their better care? In doing so !
refer to the actor by name, because
it is but justice to him, and because
his name must add force to the les
son taught.
"The Hon. Oliver Mills, the old
est member Of this Board, gentle
man to whom the State is indebted
for valuable service elsewhere, Of
fers this experience showing the
value of blood in cattle. Fifteen
years since he settled in Cass coun
ty, Iowa, then but sparsely popula-
ted, and with large quantities of
very superior grazing lands open as
public commons, with the intention
of feeding stock. He expected to
purchase a large proportion of his
stock from the people of that sec
ton, and his first act was to dis
tribute twelve valuable thorough
bred short-horn bulls among those
people free of cost. Mark the re-
suit. From this single act Of one
man, with forethought and liberali-
ty, the whole Nishnebotany can
boast of the finest grade cattle in
Iowa to-day, and have received for
years an addition to their revenue
scarcely to be estimated.
sLet me give I'm example in illus
tration. In April last Mr.. Mills
sold six high grade steers of his own
breed; one of these, only thirteen
months old, and weighing 1875
pounds, brought him $50. Five
others, two years old, averaged
$50 pounds, and sold for $97 each.
A lot of ree-year-old steers, sold
about the same time, weighed 1850
pounds each, and brought 1923 per
head. But perhaps the best illus
tration is found in the experience
of Mr.. Mills son, who bought lot
of yearlings in September (half
bloods), costing only some SIG
each, and weighing each, on the
10TH of June following, an average
Of 1850 pounds, and selling for
$6s.5O per head.
"While few men were doing
business in this way, what was the
course Of the average Iowa farmer?
Your neighbors and mine were sci.
ling two-year-old steers, full fed, the
common stock Of the country, at less
than SAT dollars per head, making
a difference to them and to the
country of more than $40 per head
in favor of blood alone. Now, mul.
tiply this by the number of cattle
marketed annually by our farmers
and we have the astonishing result
of two hundred thousand times $50,
equal to SlO,O00,000 per annum,
which depends upon the conduct Of
our Iowa farmers, and which is
gained by their wisdom, or lost by
!! their folly, in one branch Of indus
| try alone.
But most intimately associated
with this is the rearing of swine,
mules, horses, sheep; and the same
/ rules apply in all Of these, and at
least doubles the stake played for
in this great game of honesty, thrift
and success, which gives comfort
and independence.
81 call your attention to these
things now, that you may not neg
lect the opportunity here offered of
supplying your necessities, and OF
bringing good to yourselves and
ncighbors. Here are the choicest
i herds and focks of the land, from
which you may select to-day and
choose tomorrow.
"You cannot each distribute 4
dozen among your ncighbors, but
do not fail in that you can do. Many
can supply themselves with the
single animal they need; but if not,
there are few here that could not,
by cooperation with their neigh
bors, own a valuable share in one
animal, and reap large profits in the
early future thcrcfrom.
"The time has now fully come in
which the Iowa farmer must be
true to himself and his surround
ings. He must bear in mind that
this is an age of progress. The
world moves, and he that is content
to stand still moves backward. The
overland roate succeeded the Nor
mon trail, to be itself lost in the
dust OF the railway. The time to
trudge and drudge is in the past,
and the farmer who is not alive to
the great privileges and solemn du-
ties of self:culture, cooperation.
dealing honestly with his farm, his
stock, and his family, as well as by
his neighbor, is on the wrong road.
and had better employ himself in
answering advertisements such as
agents Wantcd'-' Ten Dollars for
| One Dollar or some other business
by which he imagines he can get
more than he gives. He that neg
lccts to cultivate his brain and fields
| lnoc+lx, will find his family dis.