The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-18
UoyDERrun NEBRASKA crops
Not Enough Railroad CRra-Made Rich IN
Spite of Himself-Ncw Prodigal Sons.

spite of Himself-Now Prodigal Sons.
LINCOLN. Neb., Sept. 17.-Western railroad
managers are wrestling once moro with tho
old problem OF getting enough cars to move
the big corn crops and the cattle from the
Western ranges. All the granger roads hoheu
largely To their equipment during the summer
in anticipation OF the demand. but there Is
big scarcity Just now. For instance. the BUR
lnQton has from 1000 to 1900 cars OF stock
from the Northwest contracted for. but mas
It i'm possible to fulfll tho contract on time.
The corn crop has been damaged recently
because OF too warm weather and aconseouent
forcing OF the rlpening process. Nevertheless
II is going to be immense. and the old estimate
OF 300. 900, 600 bushels 10 shaded only little.
Although the wheat yield In Nebraska was
lessen cd this year. II and all other crops were
good. and the farmers have more money than
ever to spend Lately the fall army worm mas
made It's appearance in southeastern Nebras-
ka. and has caused some uneasinesa. This
species OF army worm breeds twice year. ana
is a serious menace to alfalfa. clover ana
garden products. but does not attack corn.
Some odd and interesting stories float In OF
farmers who have made money in spite OF
themselves. During the hard times several
years ago farmer living few miles north OF
Miller. Buffalo county. became discouraged by
repeated crop failures and a hand-to- m outh
existence. He had 800 mortgage on his
farm, and although the mortgage was willing
to extend It, the farmer grew weary OF trying
to keep the interest from mounting up. He
had brother In Missouri. and thinking to
better himself he abandoned the farm and
moved away. The last straw that broke down
his courage was the apparent failure OF an
eighty-aor stand OF wheat. After his depart
ure there was better growing weather and the
wheat began to head out The crop was light
one and none OF his few neighboTs thought it
worth harvesting. The seed fell to the ground
and when the fall rains camo took root and
sprang up. The next spring an honest neigh
Dor OF his wrote to him that he had better come
up and harvest his wheat. He wrote back to
ask what the man meant. The neighbor re-
piled BY telling him just what had occurred.
The farmer came back In post haste. harvested
his crop. and after marketing it. had money
enough to pay of his mortgage and good
surplus: He is now back on the old farm and
swears he will stay there
Up near Anselmo in Custer county. an old
ia rmer and his two sons had acquired an en-
farming netted them money. hut they were
unable e, to pay on their MORTGAGES o! about
the drought came on: The crop failure Of one
year and partial failures OF two other seasons
for the land Of the big red 'G APPLE '" as krkSn
man held on. although he came very near be.
ing compelled to leave. The mortgages did
not want the land and did not push fore
closure when their debt fell due. In 1897 the
old man changed of from corn to wheat. and
got bumper crop. with which he paid of the
mortgages Last year was another good year
with him. and with the aid OF some money bor-
rowed OF local bankers as working capital. he
cleared up several thousand dollars on his
year s work, Meanwhile he boys had been
having hard luck. and hearing Of good times in
Nebraska, wrote to the old man last spring IL
he would hire them rs farm hands IL they
came. He hnde them come and they are now
back: The old man has now retired. the boys
are doing all the work. and he Is living on his
income OF four farms. all paid for.
During the hard times the farmers had to
deny themselves everything even approaching
Injuries. Fillmore county farmer had n
mortgage OF $4,000 on his place During tho
big wheat year he cleaned up $4,000 On his
wheat. He Immediately went down to a bank.
pulled out his $1,000 roll and told the banker
he wanted to borrow 5000 from him 80 that he
who was the loan company's agent. told him
he need not mind. he would extend the loan.
and advised him to invest It in cattle. feed his
corn crop to 1t. and thus get the maximum
value out OF his product
NO Stree" said the farmer. Il want to pay
that note now. and when l market my corn
crop I'll take up that 5000 note. Then do you
know what am going to dor I am going to
buy buggy"
Implement and carriage dealers say that in
the last two years their sales OF buggies to
farmers has been'en ormous. One Omaha firm,
a big iohhing house. in the six months ending
Aug. i. 100 carloads OF buggies and carriages.
averaging twenty-five to a car. This Is the
record. but others report immense sales.