The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-07-11

AaS ASfoOoIihS lAeln IdIHcT, ~ CHooSe d
man among them to send each week to the
HERALD, few lines Tor many if he willy,
ofsuch news, items, farming notes, ETC..
as interest themselves. I would that eve.
~ township in the county were thus rep
resented in these columns. Our friends
would more than ever be unable 70 do
without their county paper. Let our Har-
rison farmers think of this, and make the
beginning, thus making your county pa
per the medium for free interchange of
ideas, and experiences relating to farming
in all its branches.
The greater portion of this township is
level, yet not low, drainage is abundant.
consequently the land is tillable as any
can be. Owing to this levelness, road ma
king is an absolute necessity, and the plan
adopted is about as follows: The entire
road is plowed up; teams with scrapers
are then put to work, and the earth on the
sides Of the road thrown into the center
to the depth of five feet, thus forming a
grade like that of railroad. bitches are
cut on each side of this grade connecting
with the nearest roll or slope; this insures
drainage, and in time the grade becomes a
solid, even an excellent road, though
confess it is not very pleasant to ride over
when new, especially in IAN old rickety
buggy"
Harrison has no principal creek, except
ing the little Muchachinock, which dips in
to the western border half mile or so and
continues for mile and a half, when it
makes speedy turn for the Des Moines
river. Cedar Greek, however has its rise in
this Tp., las does Loss, and Kenebeck, while
some dozen or more find their beginning in
its various parts. Being almost prairie
Sc ction timber is not had IN abundance,
yet groves are seen dotting the landscape
in every direction; these however, are Il e
works of prudent people, who have thus
wrought luxury for themselves; benefit
to their stock, and pleasure to the travel
er. saw one grove that was quite valu.
able, planted in the early settlement of the
country, when the borers did not destroy
the locusts, 1t had grown beautifully until
these pests came with their death warrant
for all locust trees. Though not thorough
ly killed, its owner declared his purpose to
cut it down, and stated that it would fur
nishs posts enough to fence an eighty
acre farm. At fifteen cents per post this
would MAKE the neat little sum of 500, as
the value of a worthless grove" then
large quantity of fuel will be left after the
posts are taken. The fence question is
getting to be serious one saw a board
fence building, which without allowing
anything for the drawing of material, was
costing $1.25 per panel of sixteen feet. I
give the cost in detail: lumber 80 feet, cost
in Oskaloosa, S3.2 cents, two posts at 30
cts. each, 40 cts, nails 2 cts. Total 1882.
At this rate the enclosure of an eighty acre
farm with four board fence, pine lumber,
good oak posts, eight feet apart, would
cost 5000. or $3.50 per acre. This would
be good subject for the proposed Grange
to discuss. Let them devise ways and
means to lessen the cost of fencing, or sug-
serviceable fence that will necessarily
cost less
Three handsome churches are owned re-
spectively by the United Presby terian, and
Methodist Episcopal denominations
Eight school houses are almost in constant
use, and demonstrate the fact that knowl-
edge is well sought after
Among the improvements, noticed that
of M. Pickens,-a fine two and a half story
house, with basement and other convent.
ences. Just west this is an almost new
house put up by Abner Cook, on the ruins
of a former one, also new, burned two
years ago. Farming must be fair busi-
ness when an occasional burn out does not
bankrupt the unfortunate loser, or very
greatly dishearten him.
Harrison TIP. is not without its coal in
terest, and on the west line, about four
and half miles from OskalOosa, lies the
original Bones bank, well known as one of
the first opened in Mahaska, and well re-
member that years age. the blacksmiths of
Oskaloosa, were only satisfied in their
burnings by load of coal from this bank,
1t being recognized as the best. While it's
quality is still as good as ever, other mines
nearer at hand have driven it out of the
OskaloOsa market. 1t is now worked by
MIR. Francis Manifold, who with force of
twenty miners is enabled to take out
daily average of 1910 bushels The day l
visited the mine, at o'clock p. m, there
had been six cars filled, each holding 300
bushels, This coal is sold by contract to
the T. r. r. of l., who have switch from
Given Station to the mine. distance of
one and a half miles. Each morning
empty cars sufficient for the days work
are taken up, and at evening loaded with
coal they are on their way TO the coalless
regions of the northern part of our State
At seven cents per bushel,-the contract
price, ther is a daily average gross income
into this township of sos from this mine
alone. Going south about two miles from
this point, found the pottery of VIM.
Myers & Bro, who do a very respectable
business in their line.
regret that my limited time in this Tp.,
only one day and night, forbade as thor
ough an acquaintance with Its interests
and people as desirable. hope, however,
to visit 1t again.