The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-08-15
FARM UNDERTAKING..

| FARM UNDERTAKING..
| The subject of farm undertaking i
| commanding wide and increasing inter
est in Kenosha county, and a consider
able number of farmers in this county
are securing tile and making prepare
tons to do some undertaking. With
in year tile factory, with three i'm
proved kilns, has been established II
Kenosha, and a ready demand exists fol
all they can make.
One of the steps of developing this
growing interest is the draining of the
"Wood" farm, which has been in pro
gress now a year and half, and will re
quire until next winter 10 complete the
present plans. The Wood farm contains
800 acres, and is one and quarter miles
long by one mile in breadth. Its eastern
boundary is five miles west of Kenoshs
and half mile west Of 5he Milwaukee,
division of the Chicago, Milwaukee &
st. Paul railway, and is distant So miles
from Chicago and 80 miles from Mil
Waukee. 1t is one of the pretties
patches of prairie for which Kenoshs
county is famous, and is a patrimony
good enough for prince. The contoul
is formed by the softly undulating linel
of the gently rolling surface. The cen
ter of the farm is the highest land in Tho
eastern part Of the county, and the
drainage water of the western part oftht
farm flows into the Mississippi, and thai
from the eastern part of the farm into
Lake Michigan On the highest part O
the farm is a natural pond which mus
be supplied from springs having theiI
source in distant and higher lands.
THE ENTERPRIsING OWNER.
Looking down the future. we see this
pond beautiied and fountain playing
in its center. A palatial residence
stands near it, from which a charming
view can be had of Lake Michigan, si1
miles to the east, and to the north anC
south and west, stretching miles in eacE
direction, beautiful rolling prairies, Dor
dered by strips Of wood and dotted with
farm houses and orchards, and enlivenec
by the hourly passing of the swift iror
horse on his way between Chicago ant
Milwaukee.
| It may be of interest to the reader *
know that this farm is owned by Mr.. I'LL
Holton Wood, formerly of Milwaukee
now of New York city. He is young
man, q years ofage, and is engaged ii
the enterprise Of furnishing rapid anC
cheap transportation of passengers from
Staten Island to New York, by raj
around the island, and rapid steamers tt
New York, SO that people can dwell il
Staten Island and do business in New
York, passing to and fro daily for a yer,
small fare. The farm is managed by T
G. Torrey, who has been in charge 70
four years. 1t is devoted to CROWN,
and fattening beef young steers ar
bought, grazed and fed until ready 70
the butcher
DETAILS OF THE WORK.
The undertaking was commenced il
| November, 1882, under the supervisor
Iof Mr.. Torrey, and has been pushe
summer and winter. The plan was t
drain such land as was usually too we
i to pillow. This land consisted of numel
Gus small ponds where the water stood
large part of the year, and circuitou
swales extending from them followin
| the natural slope of the surface an
| holding for long time the drainage {
| the surface. These quite numerou
pond. and swales made crooked Wor
| of the blowing, cultivating and othe
| farm work, as they could not be crosse
by the teams. The understanding ha
| made these ponds and swales dryer tina
| the high land about them and luxuriaI
crops are now growing on them. Th
plowman no longer turns his team
their edges, but passes right through an
makes straight furrow from one end {
the field to the other. A field of 1l
acres of corn can be cultivated in straigl
!. rows from end to end.
II Some of the details of the operation
!, of draining will be of interest. The fir
draining was done by contract at {
much per rod for digging the ditch, la,
ing the tile, and back-filling.
COST OF WORK AND MATERIAL.
II Now the men are paid certain pr,
& per rod for digging and back-filling, al
! a skilled workman lays the tile by Il
e day for fourteen bitches. The lowe
5 average depth of ditch is 8 #. in, al
/ Is cents per rod is paid for digging al
baek-flling. From 8 it. in. to 4 #. t
e price is 81 cents per rod from #. tc
v #. 6 in, SO cents from 4 #. Gin. to 81
K so cents from 5 #. to 5 #. 6 in,
Z cents from 5 #. 6 in. to f., 81 fro
T s #. to 6 # 6 in, $125. There has be
IS paid for tile up to July /, S., 110.37, a
four cars remain on hand. There |
Ibeen paid for freight on tile $685.
The sum paid for labor to July !
Sc, 235. Al.
In all forty-one cars of tile have be
bought. The sizes of tile for all later
lis q inches in diameter; the sub-mai
Id 8 to 4 inches, and the mains S tc
s. Inches in diameter. 1t will be seen t
r. the drainage on this farm is yet o
in partial. A thorough system with dTa
no 60 feet apart over the whole farm wo
n. require ten years to accomplish, and
quire an outlay larger than the pres
Sd value Of the land. Under the pres
He plans 125 acres remain to be draiT
mt which will be completed by winter.
ort
me
on The Wool Gr0uer estimates that
lly. introduction of double-deck transpo
I'd ton would add 35c. per head to the Vi
ery i of sheep In Texas.