The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-07-25
NEW IRON BRIDGE.

NEW IRON BRIDGE.
Learning of bridge in course of cree
ton at the Roberts mill, on North Skunk,
l drove over there, and found large force
of men at work, under the supervision of
our excellent County Surveyor and Bridge
Commissioner, N CAvEN This bridge
will be iron, of the z. King pattern, 80
feet span, and will cost when completed
ready for use, about $4,000. On one side
of the river, the pier rests upon the solid
bed rock, on the opposite side, the rock
could not be found, and oak piling was
driven to depth of sixteen feet, timbers
were then placed over them, and the inter
vening spaces filled in with small stones,
pounded down, thus making a foundation
as good, perhaps, as the bed rock itself.
South and west of this, is found coun-
try of later settlement. On this divide
may be seen some handsome locations,
while the soil cannot be eXcelled anywhere.
A number of Democrats in this neighbour
hood protest against Greeley, and positive
ly declare they will not vote. One very
intelligent o. farmer told me that what
the Democrats did would depend on the
Baltimore Convention. mildly suggested
that he was just two weeks behind the
times, when he gave me look that was
intended to "squelch" me- still live.
HON. L. f. ELLSWORTH,
one of Mahaska's representatives, owns
and lives upon good farm in the choicest
part of Monroe. From him | learned that
q proposition for the establishment of
cheese factory of 400 cow capacity is being
entertained by the farmers of this neigh
borhood. There can be no better invest
ment for farmers than this, and we hope
our Monroe friends will be successful in
their enterprise. A large tract of wild
land in this Up, owned by Geo. Read, of
Newburgh, N. Y, lies unproductive, ex-
cept of weeds and hazle brush. Land like
this, owned by men who do not improve
it, and hold it only for big prices, cannot
fail to be a detriment to any locality in
which it may be. Rumor says Mr.. r. pro-
poses to establish model farm on this
tract; hasten the day.
Monroe Tp., like many others of our
county has number of toilers, known as
timber farmers by the more prosperous
prairie farmers as
TIMBER RATS.
While l admit that they are not as pros
porous and successful as many of their
neighbors of the prairie, yet have great
respect for the man who has courage suffi-
cient to plant himself in the woods, and
with his own good arm hew him out a
farm. These are they that will make the
wilderness blossom like the rose" and the
waste places to give forth fruits abundant
ly. Let us encourage, rather than dis
courage these workers. What if they do
make virtue of necessity )" they are
none the less to be commended.
THE CROPS
of Monroe differ but little from those OF
other portions of our county. Wheat will
be good average crop, and had there
been no bugs, the crop would have been
unequaled by any for several years past.
One farmer assured me that he had better
wheat than in five years previous. Others
invariably speak encouragingly. Oats are
excellent. The harvest is nearly through,
will be quite done ere this is read. Many
reapers will then be driven up to the side
of the fence and left to stand in the wealth
er until again wanted. Farmers, can you
afford to be so Indifferent? In one case |
had thus stood out. They probably worked
two hours 10 get it in working order. IL
hours for one man. The oil, dirt, and other
accumulations of the previous har vest still
adhered, dried on, and very hard to re-
move, nothing about it was ready for use.
Wood work was warped, iron rusted, the
connecting chains refused to be put On,
and that machine, in its perversity caused
more profanity than a hundred well kept
machines would have done. The machine
was cursed ; its maker doubly so; they
cursed each other, and fearing they would
put me on the list next, left with the re-
Election that farmers might profit by ask
ing themselves does it p.y?
North Skunk river, Middle, Cedar, and
Pleasant Run creeks, with their feeders,
furnish abunC ance of water and drainage
for the township, and the timber along
these streams is sufficient to supply the
prairie districts, and all things considered,
one will look far and often TO find better
place to live than Monroe township.
GEO. II. LEE.