Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-20

many friends here who will be glad to
learn that he is entirely satisfied with
his new home and its possibilities. He
writes an interesting letter, from
which much of value concerning Okla.
homa can be learned. His letter fol-
lows:
Hunter, o. IT,; June IA, 1901.
Editor Courier: Dear Sir-At the request
of number of friends and acquuintances
In ottumwa l will give partial descrip-
tlon of this part of the country and my
impression of 1t at this time. If you will
look on a late map you will find Hunter
pretty well to the northeastern part of Ok
town of 6,OOV twenty miles southwest;
Pond Creek (of about 1900 fifteen miles
northwest, and Billings (of about 700, hf-
country and it is generally speaking mo.
notonous.y level though in the vicinity of
Hunter there Is just enough undulation to
break the m9notony The h small boy would
en- with plenty of snow. The soil is black
and somewhat sand. except along creeks,
which all sSh red red soil G nn9
| worthy the nam snasmuch as they serve
mostly to mar .e beautiful landscape.
Where the creeks do not occur to form
land is tillable. There are no rocky lands
here, billy or wet to prevent the beginning
at one side Of farm and blowing to the
c.
principally toward wheat raising at present
but this Is because it is easy to raise and
harvest, and the crop now being harvested
Is the fifth successful one in succession.
There is no reason whatever why diyersi-
fed farming cannot be made very pEofta-
Bile and stock raising also really believe
| a wheat crop failure would be benefit to
the country in the end for it would turn
| the attention of farmers to surer lines. l
notice In. two or three wells, that are be-
avg in at the eont TINE tae
mains black to the depth Of six or seven
feet where, 1T gradually changes to red rec,
In 1t with spade. This soil is very easily
fortified, as is shown where straw STAG
has been burned, ETC., but no one has
, yet and most Of the farms have not been
4 titled below three inches yet. l must say
; that l consider their returns remarkable
, for such "slp-shod" work. | believe the
possibilities of country with good tor
Soil, extending to a depth Of two feet, are
: almost unlimited. Almost perfect farms
S S1e ' here foF ssooS to $500 cash
quarter from people who want to move OF
and many very desirable and industrious
people are settling here and building vi
Although this country is comparativel!
new 1t is not like Iowa and Nebraska wer
: lied and large strips of herd lands do no
l keep the wolf from the door here. When
farmer comes to town he comes In to-
} carriage In style and comfort unless he ha
: a load to bring There Is fine bicycling a
over the country and wheels and carriage
D are more plentiful than In any part Of IL
;. wa of which ! know today. Telephon
lines run everywhere and one can telephon
: direct to almost any town he wishes Thi
r Is not a first class corn country SO la
It partly because 1t Is not worked right an
), partly because there Is not rain enough a.
> ter harvest Twenty to twenty-five bushe
l. to the acre is very satisfactory. crop br
O the farmers say that Is better here tina
r. thirty Ave or forty further north for the
~ do not have to feed so much to keep stoc
l. in good condition over winter. The, mo-
o disagreeable feature I have. experience
h. here yet is the dirt storms. The soil In tt
roads and streets pulverizes into an e
tremely fine houry dust and when the WIZ
w raises the dust flies In clouds.
"a People are complaining here now abo
70 midday heat hut have not thought 1t ba
le The sun shines very hot but the shade
always cool FOR there is nearly always
20 breeze stirring and the nights are deligh
- ~ fully cool Though there are drawbacl
8 here the same as there are anywhere,
le must say that ] am well satisfied thus +
In and have no desire to return to low
~ y. There is an excellent opening in Hunter
OF present for about $4,000 or $4,000 sto
% Of clothing and furnishing goods. A wo
IT, TO the wise is sufficient. ! would be plet
~ ed to answer inquiries. Very truly,
OF Geo. S. Bliss