The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-02-14
Mobiles County Stock.
No. TX.

NO. Ia.
The ADVANCE continues its series of
articles upon Mobiles County Stock and
Stock Growers this w elk, by write
up of several of the leading stock
growers of the West End. Having
secured special Livestock Reporter
for the country about Adrian, our re-
porter sailed forth the other day and
naturally enough brought up at the
East Branch Farm, owned by Senator
\. NJ. Crosby. The Senator showed
hlm over the ''rancl," gave him the
points, and he has given us capital
report, full of facts and suggestions.
We expect, from time to time, to give
a dozen or so more of such reports from
the West End, our purpose being to
write up every stock-raiser and dairy
man in the county, if we can secure
the facts. But to the report:
lBY OUR SPECIAL LIVE STOCK REpoRTER.l
SENATOR A. n. cRosBY's 8 EAST BRANCH
EARM-FINE BUILDINGS, FINE STOCK
AND Everything IN APPLE PIE
ORDER.
Per instructions your correspondent
harnessed himself up to drive out from
Adrian to see what the farmers were
doing in the way of stock raising. Not
being decided as to where or whom we
were going to see, we looked out in
many directions and at last our eve
espicd Il windmill to the northeast.
That settled the matter 1T once, and
finding the sleighing good, we soon
hauled up at the trough of the said
windmill. Here we found a man keep
ing the oxen away from the trough to al
low heifer to drink. Not feeling GER
tain whether the fellow could talk
English. we hesitated whether to dis
turb Inn or not, but us reporters are
not usually hard up for cheek we called
out, II say. Ole, is the boss at home. ="
Did one OF the fans of that windmill
hit me? Guess not, but l almost wish
ell it had, for there right before me
stood the boss, (Senator Crosby in
stead Of some Ole as I had supposed.
DID l faint? Not much. Cheek came
to my rescue, and Il good hearty shake
from the Senator's hand assured mo
that he appreciated good joke and
that my plans had not been all kicked
over by my stupid blurder. But TO
business:
"Eas, Branch Farm" situated q
miles from the lively village of Adrian,
consists of 760 acres mostly on the table
lands of the kanaranZie, a beautiful
clear stream. with gravel bed, afford
ing the best of pure water. The build
ings are I'LL good and substantial, house
large. well, clstern, cellar and all. III
keeping with q first. class farm. The
barns, sheds End granary are rocmy
and convenient. Mixed husbanGry
seems to have been tile Senator's idea,
for we find horses, oxen. cows, heifers.
steers, sheep and hogs. III all about 24O
head. Besides, in the line of grain and
seeds, we find two Or three thousand
bushels of oats. 1000 bushels Of wheat,
and barley, rye, flax and timothy Ii,
lesser quantities. And we must not
forget to Say one or two hundred bush
els of corn, (but don't ask where it
come from.) You all know last year
was an of year on corn. In looking
through the different stables we find:
First-Horses and colts. 1G or II head:
then six pure bred Short horns. If
Worthington butchers could only get
such for beef. "the wicked would cease
from troubling" and Dams hotel he
blest.) All first-ciass animals. Next
we take III the COW barn. Here we fiud
a nice lot, mostly young, three and four
years old, grade htiftrs Ill in splendid
condition. In fact I'LL the stock horses,
cattle, sheep and hogs, are III good con-
ditiOn.
In answer to my question, "Does it
pay to raise stock in this loculity,' the
prompt response came:
Yes, sir; as well or better than in any
of the older States. With th(natural
grasses and land ut $40 or SIS per acre
why should it not pay here. We have
every advantage that any other locality
has and many that others do not
possess. 1t almost provokes me to
have men ask such questions. Why,
only short time since noted stock
dealer Of Iowa said to me, "YOur cattle
weigh heavier than ours. / came up to
buy young cattle. but have decided not
to buy, and now think that l shall soon
return and buy ranch. l am satisfied.
your grass far eXcels ours, and if can
arrange satisfactorily with the railroad
will ship 1000 head that we now have
on hand to this locality next spring."
Now don't ever ask me whether stock
raising will pay. An acre of $40 land
will pasture as much as an acre of $40
or 500 land"
Our winters they say are long, and
can you afford to feed five months?
Senator-We can. My hay costs me
less than $1.25 per tor, labor is cheap
during the winter months, and when
we get tame grasses, timothy, clover
and bluegrass, to 60 with our natural
wild pastures, our feeding season will
be a very short one.
How about your neighbors. Are they
doiug anything in stock?
y, yes, across the creek, that large
white house and red barn, you zee.
That is K. H. Does, the hog man. He
is just starting, but has the lntelli-
gence and push to make anything lie
undertakes a success. The next house
west belongs to u. Boyle, but is under
the management OF Il. O'Day. They
have 4 nice lot Of stock, 40 to 60 head.
Just started in last fall. Mr.. B. is a
man Of means and makes things move.
We expect soon to see him head the
list of stock men in Mobiles. 10 the
north of Mr.. Does you see large
grove. That is our friend Hosmer's,
proprietor of the Walnut Hill Farm,
and if you want to know much of him
you must drive over and see them at
home. Splendid company. Glad to see
you. But you must go there yourself,
take an inventory and write them up.
They have a lot of stock. You should
spend week in this end of the county
to form any idea of the stock men.
There is John NJ. Grace, George Slade,
Thos. Williams, VIM. Thorn, and my
nearest .ne;ghbor, J. Tarbert, he has 80
to 40 head Of nice ones IT you want
to advertise our county we'll, write up
the livestock interests, give facts and