Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-07-17
An Honest Letter.

Last week our contemporary gave
space for the publication Of letter
from Paul Dane, which will give
the reader some idea Of the differ
ence between farming in Alpena
county and farming in the far west.
AS Mr.. Dane has no object in view,
aside from showing the true situa-
ton of affairs, the letter is not, OF
course, written in the interest OF
any railroad land commission, and
does not, therefore appear so glow
ing as those letters which are writ
ten by land agents. The following
is the letter which we are pleased
to give to our readers:
l deem it a duty l owe to the
people of Alpena, and the sur
rounding country, to give them the
benefit Of my experience, after n
residence of fourteen months In
Carroll county, western Iowa.
The country is q rolling prairie,
well watered and abundantly sup
Piled with wild grass. The princi-
pal crops raised are wheat. oats,
and corn. Wheat averages from Is
to 20 bushels per acre, and corn
from so to 60 bushels per acre
The price Of corn in Carroll
county, for the past nine months
has been from II 1-2 to ID cents
per hushel, and wheat from so to
90 cents per bushel. The best but
ter. in June, sold for five cents per
pound, and eggs at six cents per
dozen. Potatoes range from 10 to
25 cents per bushel; and hogs from
50. 40 to $500 per cwt. alive.
Now, Mr.. Editor. you see that a
farmer must raise large quantity
of produce to receive much money.
And TO do so he must have consld-
cradle capital, as farming imple-
ments and machinery cost great
deal. A combined reaper and
mower s175; breaking plows from
s2S to 80; stumble plows SO; lnm-
her wagons sS5; corn cultivators
from s35 to $40; and seeders $50
A good span of horses will cost
$3.50: a set of harness S35. 1t re-
anires three horses to break prairie,
so that party starting on ne"
place will want not less than $4,000
after having his land paid for, tc
carry him through, until he car
raise a crop, as he can expect
nothing the first year except a littl.
sod corn, and great many do not
n]ant any corn on the sod because
il binders the second blowing II
the fall. Two thirds Of the settlers
in that section of the country ART
Germans. There are great man,
who have bought land from tn
, railroad companies onfive years tim
with interest at six per cent; am
} the majority of those persons tin'
that they have not been able .
meet their payments, and that tn
, railroad companies take the land an
= improvements, and the farmer ma
, that he has lost what capital D
had when he commenced, and ais
! his labor for Ave years.
: The cost Of building Is heavy .
I common lumber. such rs you wonl
, cali shipping culls, is so per m:
Now, Mr.. Editor, / must mentio
. the drawbacks; the most seriou
!, of which are the tornadoes, wh'c
J are of frequent occurrence an
$ demolish everything in their pat
a And as a general thing there al
, very strong winds, some are calic
: "hlizzards" and carry snow WIN"
ALA the air 80 thick that Peep
4 travelling are frequently los
: Several people in the neighhorhoo,
. Of which I write persisted when on
a short distance from a hons
The scarcity Of wood Is a great y
Q convenience, 40 that very few fenc
are made of Lumber or rails. Son
: pastures are fenced with baro'