Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-02-20
THE DRoUTH.
W. 8. Hathaway Talks to the Ledger
About Its Effect on Audrain
County.

Speaking OF the drouth Of last year
Nj. Hathaway, OF the Hathaway
Keath Seed and Produce Co, Of this
city, says;
"Audrain county suffered to as great
an extent from short crops and lack OF
water as any section OF the drouth dis
trict, which comprised a large part OF
several states. Our location is greatly to
our advantage, situated in practically
the center Of the triangle formed by the
three great markets OF the West,name-
y, Chicago, st. Louis and Kansas
City.
"We have q great advantage in the
way OF cheap transportation, this con-
dition materially reduces the cost OF
farm products we import from sur
rounding states. Mexico is the bust
ness center Of Audraln county, and
our fortunate location at the ~intersec-
tion Of two Of the great railroad lines
the Chicago 6 Alton and wabash
secures for US a large share of the trade
of the surrounding counties-Monroe,
Montgomery, Galloway and Boone.
not being Handicapped by excessive To-
cal freight charges, to which some
points are subjected.
"Our farmers receive the highest
possible price for their surplus and are
enabled TO buy at the lowest price con
sistent with general market condi-
tions. When we stop TO consider that
we buy our farm products from twelve
different states the freight charge is
an important factor.
"The drouth may not prove so great
a calamity In the long run as 1t now
appears. Owing to the fact that our
farmers win be compelled to buy prac-
tically all their field and garden seeds
will insure q change Of seed, which Is
considered advantageous. This With
other conditions favorable we may
reasonably expect a large crop the
coming season.
ITO further substantiate the above
conclusions let me name the states
from which the Hathaway : Keath
Seed & Produce Co. have received
farm products during the past sixty
days. Potatoes come principally from
Minnesota and Wisconsin. The mar
ket has not Justified shipping from
Colorado, Utah and the Dakotas. In
some sections Of Michigan and New
York there was some complaint Of
dry rot last fall, hence we have not
bought potatoes from these states.
Tennessee furnishes us with COW peas.
Our sorghum seed and kafir corn
comes from Kansas, oats from Nebras-
ka and Iowa, blue grass from Ken
lucky. Missouri usually produces a
susplus clover seed, but this year we
buy it in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.
Very little timothy seed was saved in
Missouri last year. The principal supply
NohiC3 fAthu lOnd huO AAiiuOlos LnC
arred9te s furnish us our corn. Mill
w comes from Minnesota and Kan
Colorado, Kansas, Indian Terri
tory, Nebraska and Iowa supply us
prairie, alfalfa, clover and timothy hay.
Illinois and the wheat-growing coun-
ties Of this State furnish the straw,
which ordinarially Audrain county
has more than she knows how to use.
New York, Ohio and Wisconsin sup
ply us with onions, onion sets and cab
bage. Michigan with peas, beans, etc.
"The Audrain county farmer will
draw farm products from the twelve
states to supply the shortage caused
by the drouth last year.
IF there is any virtue in the change
OF seeds we certainly ought to have an
enormous crop the coming season."