Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-07
IMPERIAL HOOSIER ESTATE
HOW THE SWAMP LANDS OF IN
DIANA ARE RECLAIMED.
A Thirty-Three-Thous Acre Farm,
With q Complete Railroad System
Value of the Crops.
From the indianapolis Press.

From the Indianapolis Press.
Nineteen miles direct line. riding the cow
catcher of a fast locomotive, whizZing at
the rate of twenty-five miles an hour on a
farmers own iron horse, and running
every foot of the nineteen miles on his
own railroad and over his own farm-you
only get that ride but one place in Indiana.
1t is on the Clifford swamp farm. in
this (Jasper) county.
The ordinary big farmer can hitch up
his old plug pillow horse and show his
guests his crops and His rather elaborate
acreage. but B. ]. Clifford who IS robbtng
the Kankakee and Iroquois rivers Of $4,000
acres of the best farm land in Indiana.
has to have his round house men fire up a
special iron horse, have his train dis
patcher clear his railroad track. and give
his engineer and fireman the sign to 'let
her 60 The Special was putting away
on the main track as an early breakfast
was being eaten. and the sun was just
beginning to dissipate the chill OF a night
on the kankakee swamps. when the eng1-
neer pulled the throttle and started the
special" down through 5000 acres of tas-
selling corn and $500 acres of golden oats.
The nineteen miles trip from the north to
the south end of the 53,0OOacre farm was
one great, glorious panorama. The world
that was inclosed by the blue sky sinking
into the green and gold of the fields mark
ed the confines of Clifford
AS general proposition such great
farms are detrimental to the best inter-
ests of a county, but in this case there
seems to be some extenuating circum-
stances. Ten years ago, when Mr. Clifford
began his operations in Indiana most of
this great tract was under water, varying
from a thin layer to a foot more. This
year over $1,000 acres of that former great
tract of buffalo grass and swamp vegeta-
ton IL under cultivation. Next year sew
eral thousand acres more will be added,
nd ut1 hp huf a
two great steam dredges will have en-
tfrely confined the water to deep channels.
and the $4,000 acres will be converted into
a garden. Besides placing on the Jasper
county tax duplicate thousands of acres
Of land that would not otherwise be re-
claimed for years. MI Clifford Is giving
Indiana a practical demonstration Of the
fact that the great kankakee swamps
can and will be drained and converted to
beneficial uses
Fortune In Yearly Crops.
1t IS early to estimate the Clifford farm
crops for this year. 1t Is thought the oats
will thresh out an average Of thirty-five
bushels which. at % cents. would run s45.-
0D. Corn, at sixty bushels an acre, mar
ksted at SO ,ents, would run s16O.OOO. In
addition to this Is the great onion crop
raised on the muck land, that last year
amounted to 125 car loads and gave the
Clifford railway the name of 1.-The Onion
route MANY acres are In meadow. pota-
toes. vegetables and cereals. Last year the
corn crop amounted to 25O.NO bushels the
oats TO 13oWs bushels, other kinds Of grain
25.Ho bushels. onions 10000 bushels and
potatoes $1,000 bushels
While Mr.. Clifford lives in Kankakee H.
and the manual labor of blowing, sowing
and harvesting on the farm Is done by the
occupants Of the 100 good, two-story ten
ement houses that cover the tillable portion
OF his farm, Clifford is the greatest farmer
In Indiana. He looks over the farm through
SIX pairs of eyes belonging to division fore
men, each of whom has 5000 to 5000 acres
TO oversee. He dictates to stenograph pliers
instructions when the crops shall be har-
vested. on what day the oats shall be cut
ana when the corn Is to be pct in shock
he has boOkkeepers who keep account of
every crop and account, and he can tell to
the acre now much corn is on one section
under the care of certain man. He appor-
tons his farm on basis of man and horse
equipment. Every acre has to be made to
return a revenue Clifford takes a third Of
the crop and III return furnishes land fuel.
houses and barns. The farmer furnishes a II
equipment, seed and labor The leases are
made for but one year. Mr. Clifford. through
ms foremen, inSpeCts all seed directs the
rotation or crops. indicates when the plow-
ing snail begin. the depth of the furroW and
the manner Of cultivation Nothing Is han
hazard. r
business Wan a Farmer
Though MIR. Clifford dresses in a neat
business suit and does his farming through
an office force, he is withal the best and
greatest farmer Of them ALL HtI long
handling OF muck and swamp lands has
giveE him an insight as to lust what crons
VIII DO the best year after year just how
the SOIL should be prepared and how tended
and fertilized. The result Is he ALWAYS ia .
big crops He manages his railroad in the
same manner and moves all his own crons
All crops are measured by weight and his
one-third Is set aside and put in his great
division barns. The farmers who feed
TIER stock from the growing crops must
deduct that grain from the CROP On tho
itnord farm 1892 cubic inches Is busheI
ana 100 ears of corn fill that bushel In
making the estimates for corn fed from
the field the computation Is on a basis
that horse or mule eats ten ears twice
a day. hogs and shoats eight ears a day
Toy each 100 pounds they weigh sucking
or spring colts three ears twice a day
yearling colts five ears twice day, two
year colts seven ears twice a day, milk
cows eight ears twice a day, beef cattle
fifteen ears twice a day.
The fairness of the contracts Is shown
In that Mr.. Clifford expects no extra la Dor
for nothing. He pays 81 an acre for all
new land that Is broken. besides making
the usual crop allowances. Two years ago,
when crops In one section of his farm were
ruined, he allowed the tenants the entire
crop. His tenement houses are comfort
placed in the little groves that mark the
islands in the old swamps. Eight graded
schools are provided for the children.
There are five towns and three post offices
on the farm. and stores are easy of access
He has realized the Importance of good
roads. and has constructed as good thor
oGghfares can be found in Jasper county
Windmills supply water to houses and
! farms.
System. of swamp Drainage.
Gifford's system of ditching Is complete