The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-03-08

1920 0OO.OOO; 1894, Sl9z OOU OUU; 1SJ0
1901 600 600; 1896 $3.50 600 600; total.
emitting all but general figures, 81,
9I7 600, 600 The product of Kansas
farms Tor 1897 was Sal. 600 600 more
than in 1896. and of this increase SIS,
600 600 was in corn, wheat and oats.
KANSAS PROSPERITY STORIES
The manager of n of the largest
coal companies in Kansas told me that
IN November last ne went into the
-four mill of an acquaintance in Larned,
Pawnee county, beyond the centre of
the State and almost on the border of
the ''short grass" country. He met q
farmer past middle age coming out of
the mill. The farmer was tucking a
little piece Of white paper into his
pocket. The man had been in such
straits of poverty that his trousers
were patched with burlsp His boots
were broken, and through the holes his
bare feet showed. The mans attire
was really that of a tramp.
"Did you see that farmer going out9'
said the miller to the coal man.
Yes" said the visitor.
Pow much money do you suppose
I just paid him in a check3"
"Oh, $500 or $500"
well, I gave him a check for
81. 600"
That 81, 900 represented only part of
the wheat raised on a $1,000 farm. The
farmer had 1000 more bushels to sell.
That man had owned his farm clear,
but had little working capital. He de
cIded that under no consideration
would he run in debt. His family
lived on the dairy products OF his farm,
and went without those things for
which cash must be paid usually. The
first thing he did with his money from
last years wheat was to fit out his
family in clothes, and then he went IA
for some luxurles. He bought two
carriages and a piano. Then, to show
his faith in Kansas farming despite
droughts, he put the rest of his money,
except the receipts from the 4 0OG bush
els of wheat held in reserve, into moro
land.
There is a farmer in a town near the
centre Of the Ssate-I am not at liberty
to give his name-Who had a section
OF land, $40 acres. It was worth prob
ably 1000. He had a mortgage on it
for $500, and Bank Commissioners
Breidenthal had been urging the bank
which held the mortgage to have the
Indebtedness reduced. He regarded
the mortgage as q rather shaky secur
ity. Early in October he received a
letter from the bank eff ;ials saying
that the farmer had raised sly 600
worth Of wheat On that land, had paid
off the IS 600 mortgage, and had bought
an adj HlnIng quarter-section of land
for 81 500. H had cleared, deducting
expenses. $14 500 on his wheat, and he
had 81 900 lett after making his pur
chases, with which to improve his farm
and to lay aside for a rainy day, which
IN Kansas means another drought.
Out in Thomas county, in the short
grass country, lives a former member
of the legislature H had a $50 acre
farm. Its value was not more than
81 90. The hard times sorely pressed
nun. He went to Topeka, the State
Capital, and hung around his former
associates, fairly begging them to give
him SOM kind of a job, oven if it was
worth only a few hundred dollars q
year. He failed to get a place, and
went home discouraged. He put in a
crop of wheat on his land-there YVES
nothing else for him to do-and, almost
hopeless, he sat down to watch it grow.
IG did grow, and when he had har
vested it he got 50, coo for it. That man
is no longer looking for a political job.
In Sheridan county, adjoiriug
Thomas, there is a man who had a half
section of land, 800 acrfs s. on which he
owed $500, He put 800 acres of his
farm into wheat. He raised 1000 bush
els, which he sold 1t IS cents a bushel.
bringing him in 81. $50. He paid eff
his $500 mortgage, paid 90 500 for a
whole section OF land adj 0ining his
farm, and had 81, $50 for improvements
and q reserve fund.