Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-04-18
Communicated.
TNAlL, OKLAlloMA TIER !,

TRAIL, OKLAHOMA Ter,
April eth, 1901.
EDITOR Mo. VALLEY TlMEs:-By
request of many Iowa friends will
try to write brief letter for the col
umns of your paper, as by this medi-
UNI will be able to reach them all.
We are located in Dewey county,
about eighty miles west of Kinglisher,
about the center of the territory north
and south. Our farm is about three
miles of the South Canadian river, the
said river resembles the old Missouri
in many respects, especially sandy and
muddy water. We have a good soil,
lomy and productive, and resembles
the bench lands on the Missouri river
bottom. The yield of corn here last
year was from % to 6o bushels per acre,
so the people here tell me, and as the
people here are largely from Iowa. l
must believe them.
The prospect for wheat is good, and
small gram generally is in good condi
ton and a good yield is promising.
Now, Boz, you know came South
in search of q milder climate, but some
one is responsible for giving Oklahoma
q genuine surprise on "all fools day.
by sending blizzard. The last day of
March was very warm, the thermome-
ter registered IS in the shade, but low
and behold the dawn of another day.
A regular Kansas blizzard had visited
us, and mother earth WAS covered with
a three inch snow. The Iowa people
here say it was God who sent it, but
our Texas neighbor over the way says
Carrie Nation sent it. 1t looked strange
to see the flowers in bloom and the
peach blossoms on the trees and the
ground covered with snow.
We have neighbors from nearly every
State in the Union, and we have one
who says he came from straight up.
They are, with very few exceptions,
good, hospitable neighbors, ever ready
to help those who deserve aid In re-
gard to the resources of this county,
think the prospect is very bright, but
would advise any of my Iowa friends
who are contemplating a move to take
no reports but come and see for your.
selves and be your own Judge.
| All or nearly all the homestead land
in this county has been taken up, or j:
undesirable. Good farms are selling
from $500 to $500 for 100 acres; 81
you see the price OF land is rapidly ad
vancing in price.
In regard to stock grazing here find
grass very good. Wehave what is call
ed the Texas Musquiett grass. Bott
cattle and horses do we'll on it. Som,
have tried raising Alfalfa, and the re
suit has been very satisfactory.
Cattle are in good condition; horses
that have run on the range during thu
whole winter look we'll; hogs are fai
quality but are somewhat mixed will
the "Arkansaw hazel splitters" Their,
is, however, some fine bred hogs of al
varieties. Farmers who have live(
here for fifteen years tell me that the,
j have never had swine plague in thei
hog pens. We have disadvantages a
we'll as advantages here. and to be hon
est and tell the truth as | see it, mus
u give notice of the Inconvenience, tt
be found here; in the first place tn
water is not so good as in Iowa, bu
the people are building clsterns, SO j
is not so serious after all; second, W
are about go miles from railroad tow
but this same railroad company ar
selling town lots in town sight 2S n
completed, SO we will not always be 81
far from market. The g. i Il II. r. i
} Co, are making survey through thi
!county, so it won't surprise us If W
hear the whistle of the engine in GU
own homes very soon.
We have good market for corn a
our door, as the range men need all tn
corn they can get to fatten cattle fo
!, the market. Intact there may be 9th
er faults not mentioned. If ! raise
good crop you may hear from me agai1
If not it's uncertain.
Health is very good, except colds,
few cases of smallpox about 40 mile
east of us, (as the Indianian said abou
the milk sickness,) but none in thi
county.
, We received TIE TIMES and it seen
ed like an old friends letter and
makes US feel glad once week, bu
4 makes us sad to read the list Of so man
old friends and neighbors in Iowa d!
ing, but such Is the common lot of al
and ever will be until time shall be n
more.
will now stop my scribling for th
time, and if the printer manages to il
. terpet this, and give it space in the p'
per, may try it again.
i. LEE JONES.