The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-12-04
EMe ae,mnerat.
IN EREAT WHEAT FARM
r t,rV-FTvE THOUSAND ACRES
fN SPRING WHEAT.
CultlVatIOn, Labor, Cost OF PrOduC
tiOn, Profits.

many IhTBo WhonV S'N"A"S
Throughout the Eastern, Middle, and
even the Northwestern States, the ordi-
nary grain farmer seldom possesses
more than 200 acres, But here at Cas-.
Belton, in Dakotah territory, in the val
lev of the Red river, is striking excep'
tion-a arm of $4,000 acres, held'by Mr.
Oliver Dalrymple. Four years ago this
enormous farm was a portion of the far.
reaching wilderness. No evidences OF
human life were visible. Prairie fowls,
snips, jack rabbits, the prairie squirrel,
or gopher, were the inhabitants, while
wild ducks snd geese congregated in the
creeks or Marshy spots. A few years
previously buffaloes and badgers were
common, and on the untitled prairie
their bones lie thickly strewed. Some
of the Directors of the Northern Pacific
Railway hsd acquired these lands and
wisely appointed Mr.. Oliver Dalrymple
their manager with half lfinterest in the
concern. Mr.. Dalrymple brought to his
serious task goodly experience acquired
in successfully farming 5000 acres at
Lake Elmo, near st. Paul, MINI.
On Friday, the 26th of September, the
members of the Royal Commission,
Messrs, Read and Pell, your Commis-
sioner, and party under the guidance
Of Mr.. James II. Drake, Assistant Mana
q, ger of the ST. Paul and Sioux City Rail-
roaa Company, were most Hospitality re-
CelVed by Nj, Dalrymple; were driven
lor miles oyer this prairie farm; examin-
ed Its dark, friable, ,alluyial SOIL perfect
zee zee irom ,Et5ne, varying from twelve
- - Srsty inches deep, resting upon an
arglllacAous clay rich in vegetable re-
mains; gathered information as to the
cost OF wheat production, and speculated
on the permaneuce of continued wheat
growing. The arrangements of this
great farm are well arranged and syste'
matically carried out. Minor details re-
ceive more attention than on most farms
of 100 acres; time and labor are every
where economical. On one of the sub
divisions of the property te'ephonic COM
mupiGation at cost of only $500, is es-
tablished between the superintendenFs
Office and that of his foremen, and this
rapid and direct system Of control is
being extended throughout the whole
estate. Substantial and economical
wooden buildings have been erected at
suitable points, consisting of houses for
superintendents, sleeping and dining
rooms for the men, stables, granaries and
-sheds for the storing of the numerous
and valuable machinery and implements,
with blacksmiths' and carpenters shops
Handy to the various buildings, wells
varying from fifty to eighty feet deep,
.shave been dug in the sand and gravel
bed which underlies the clay. On one
fam avenues of trees have been planted
out Amid such modern equipments and
good cultivation it is difficult to realize
that this busy, profitable settlement was
FIVE years ago lonely, barren prairie.
This Dalrymple property cost from
forty cents to FIVE dollars per acre. There
are no Federal taxes; rates mostly for
school purposes, amount to ten cents per
acre, The estate is partitioned into di-
visions Of 5000 acres, each under the
management of divisional superintend-
ent, one of whom, on horseback accom-
panies his fifteen or twenty teams to
work, sees to the plnughing or drilling,
observes and reports as to the behavior
of the men, The condition of the animals
and the efficiency of the machinery.
Each division has two or more sets of
buildings and in connection with the
principal homestead of each farm are
the quarters for the men-large wooden
barracks rooms sometimes over the sta
bles, comfortably warmed with stoves,
where fifty men sleep in busy times two
in a bed. Hard by are the kitchens,
each with a capacity to provide for the
wants Of hundred men, presided over
by the cook and his mate, who, on re-
uuisitien through the foreman, draw
supplies from the stores-hour for bread,
puddings and cakes; beef, which costs
fully Sd. per pound; pork, bacon, cheese
and butter, tea and coffee and other good
things. But the stores, literally provid-
ed with necessares and luxures, in
cluding some of the best butter and
coffee we ever tasted, wisely dispense
neither beer nor spirits Three hot
meals day are provided-before 6, at
noon and at Z; meat, bread, puddings
cakes, tea and coffee are provided with
out stint. All payments are made by
the book-keeper on vouchers signed by
the foreman. Men can draw their money
as they please. Some take it weekly; a
few spend it at the beer saloons at Cas-
selton; others, more provident, allow it
run on for weeks, or even half year.
The rates vary with the season. With
board during the spring $l8 a month
(18S. week. is paid, during harvest
wages advance to So "a day, during the
the threshing season the rate is reduced
to So; during the autumn months the pay
is $25. No pieCework is adopted, but 80
thorough is the uperintendence that
full work is obtained from both man and
beast. During harvest and threshing,
which is done out of the field, as many
as 800 men are frequently employed.
Even with this great accession of labor
ers work proceeds systematically and
harmoniously. No rows occur, brawls
and fighting are extremely rare, but
when they do occur it is unfortunately
on Sunday. Dismissal for insuboldina,
ZION is scarcely known. Men Injured or
sick from causes beyond their own con.
troll are nursed and have medical aid
gratuitously. Extra men in harvest and
during threshing only receive pay for
the hours they labor So soon as frost
prevents blowing the whole of the men
are dismissed, with the exception Of the
divisional manager and about ten men,
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