New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-13
THE FARMERS WAR.
IN THE sTOcK-RATsING DISTRICTS.


DIsTRIcTs-A MODEL STOCK RARM-THE TERMS
on WHICH THE BANKS LEND MONEY TO AGRIcUI~
TURIsTs.
TrRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or THE rRrBurEI
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, July S1.-The wheat and stock
farmers of Central Illinois less affected by freight
charges than the producers north of here and,
as q natural result, / find much less excitement
among them over what is known as the " Farmers
Movement" than have already remarked IN other
porto of the State which have visited. Wheat
is much more precarious crop than corn, as well AZ
more exactng in the attention it requires at certain
seasons of the year. and the farmers therefore,
less inclined to raise it, Add to the consequent ABB
sence of an over-stOcked market the fact that
bushe of wheat is worth from four TO six times as
much as an equal quantity Of corn, making the cost
of transportation much less percentage OF It's
market value and you have an explanation CT the
greater prosperity of the wheat farmers. cannot
learn that they have made much money during the
past few years, unless they have been trading IN
stock giving their attention, partially to some
other outside business; but they have not been run
ming behind, as many Of the corn planters have
The stockholders in this vicinity to have been
doing better than any other class of farmers. at
tended, yesterday. q sale of blooded stock on the
grazing farm of James N. Browns Sons in Berlin,
about II miles from here, on the Toledo. Wabash.
and Western Railroad, and beside riding over the
estate which is 5000 acres in extent met number
of farmers who are engaged in the stock-feeding
business.
STOCK RAISING IN CENTRAL ILLINOIS
The majority of the cattle fatened in this vicinity
are Texans which driven into Kansas and herded
there for season, the laws OF this State not al
lowing cattle to be brought directly from Texas
here because they are often affected with disease
which has proved very fatal to native stock. They
are then purchased by the farmers of this vicinity,
who either 90 TO Kansas themselves or send their
agents there and turned into their rich bluegrass
pastures. The stock is sold of and renewed every
Fall by those who keep the cattle year, while pur-
chases are made In the Spring by those who Craze
only during the Summer. Some of the farmers do
not feed their herds at all during the Winter. leaving
them to live on the bluegrass through the whole
season. with the exception that they occasionally
turned into the stalk fields for day during unusu-
ally stormy weather. OF course. cattle treated IN
this way and provided with no shelter except such
as is furnished by the hedges and the rows of trees
that are planted around the margin of the fields az
wind-breaks," win not grow fat but the graziers
say that they come out in good condition in the
| Spring as they were in the Fall, and are ready,
when the nutritious grass starts in the Spring, o
| take advantage OF il. Some of the farmers feed
their cattle little during the latter part OF the sea-
| son. beginning about the middle of February; but
there is difference Of opinion as to whether it paws
| or not. To keep cattle well throughout the whole
year requires about four of this rich prairie to
the head If the stock is not kept over Winter two
and a-half acres of land will support steer and
fatten him. Charging fair rent for the land, aud
the cost of the stock delivered on the farms here
about so head has been the average profit that Is
made by fattening Texas cattle. and in this blue
grass region for man who has a farm that is large
enough there is no branch of agricultural business
| that is nearly as remuneratiye While, therefore,
the stock feeders of tbs vicinity are greatly inter-
esed In having cheap freights, and sympathize with
those who suffer in other parts of the State they adj
NIT that their rates have generally been about as
low as they ought to be- and that the business they
do is of such q nature that little increase would
not ruin them as it does the planters, who are
getting less for their crop than the actual cost OF
making it,
CATTLE FARM or THREE THOUSAND ACRES.
Grove Park the farm which visited yesterday,
is one of the most valuable in this vicinity IL con-
taius as have already remarked, three thousand
acres of as rich land there is in this State forty
of which only is planted to corn while the remain
der is in bluegrass pasturage. The house Is an I'M
pretentiOus two-story mansion. such as wol-to-do
farmers were in the habit of building twenty years
ago, and is reached by drive through beautiful
grove of oaks, naples, and black walnut trees. Al
some distance back of the house are the stables, not
model structures by any means, but commodious
and comfortable for the horses and booded stock OF
the farm Driving past these came into broad
field of level prairie land divided from those adoin-
ing by Usage orange hedges by beautiful rows or
black walnut or locust trees. The walnut trees are
from six to ten inches diameter, very thrifty and
remarkably clean aud regular in their appearance.
The locust trees in this vicinity are injured by a
worm; but az new sprouts shoot up when the orgi-
nal trees die. they afford perpetual shelter, and
are planted in great numbers by the farmers. The
first field had been fed rather too close, and the
bluegrass had been unable, on that account, to
keep out the weeds The others that we saw were
in better condition, and in one where about
hundred Texas steers were feeding the grass was
up to their eyes" The land of Grove Park
Farm is considered to be worth about one hundred
dollars an acre, and would probably bring fully
eighty dollars an acre. II sold at auction The own
ers now have upon it about Thousand Texas steers.
and are managing another farm OF equal size which
they rent in the neghborhood.
HOW FARMS ARE MoRTGAGED.
As might be supposed the farmers in this neigh
borhood show signs of greater prosperity than many
of those in other parts Of the State that have
visited. They live in better houses, are better
dressed and can afford more of the uxuries Of life.
There are too, fewer membranes upon the farms
| here than where the farmers depend largely upon
| their corn crop, and money can be borrowed on
! much more favorable terms. In former letter
mentioned the fact that in parts Of the State
| large proportion of the farms mortgaged to
Eastern capitalists. Since that time have obtained
| some more definite information 10 the terms on
which these deeds of trust are given and the money
borrowed. In "A certain town of not more thar 1000