Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-10-09
The Farm is Paying Property.

Mr.. /. A. Shingledecker, one of the
best known and most respected of Au-
dubon county farmers, has grown weary
of the calamity" campaign the demo-
Gratis are making and in contribution
to local contemporary takes occasion
to note the prosperity on the farm, and
the improvement that has taken place
within few years. MIR. Shingledecker
is one of acknowledged ability to speak
upon the subject, and his contribution
is so timely, truthful and withal so SEN
sible that we take the privilege Of Civ
ing it wider circulation:
"The farmer, instead of growing
poorer from day to day, is absolutely
growing richer from year to year. Now
/ will give you the evidence, and apply
it to the Audubon county farmers, as l
know more about them than do about
those at a distance. Fifteen years ago
/ came into Audubon county, and at
that time there were not half-dozen
respectable farm houses in the county.
The older citizens will remember the
sod house, the dugout, and the board
shanty in which the farmer lived, but
what do you see today? Almost every
farm that is occupied by its owner has
a neat comfortable farm house with ap-
propriate out buildings and thrifty
grove of timber. Ten years ago farms
were poorly supplied with stock and
implements; now each farm has all the
implements that can be profitably used
ana all the stock the farm will support.
Then there were but few farms fenced /;
now the land is nearly all enclosed with
substantial post and wire fences; then
the farmer and his family went to town
and church in lumber wagon; now
every farmer has neat buggy or car
raige for the convenience and pleasure
of himself and family. Then you could
scarcely find musical instrument in a
farm house, now you find an organ in
almost every house. Ten years ago you
could find many houses without news
paper; now every house has from one
to four or five newspapers and periodi-
Gals for the entertainment and instruct
ion of the family. Less than ten years
ago there were from one to half dozen
foreclosures of farm mortgages at each
term of court and the bulletin board at
the court house was constantly plaster
ed with sheriff sale notices; but for the
last two years the foreclosures of farm
mortgages have scarcely averaged one
to the term, and | am told that the
sheritf's Office is almost worthless. |
learned from the Chicago newspapers
less than year ago that ourretail mer-
chants had reported TO the wholesale
houses there, that cash sales Were more
easily made, and accounts more prompt
ly paid than ever before. Now the
above statements are facts that cannot
be gainsaid for the tangible objects and
the records alluded to are before you.
Now what does this mass of evidence
prove? Does it prove that the farmer
is growing poorer from day to day or
does it prove that he is (notwithstand-
ing the bowling of the croaker and the
crazy ranting of the demegogue) enjoy
ing reasonable degree of heatly pros
perity? Now brother farmers, you
have this much of the evidence, take it,
consider it and decide for yourselves
whether you are growing poorer or
whether you are slowly but surely gain
ing in material wealth.
L. A. SHINGLEDECKER.