Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-20
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
IN IOWA
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Primghar, Sept. 19.-The prevailing
subject of conversation this week mas
been what Jack Frost has done to the
Iowa corn crop. The observations Oh
the writer talks with farmers, grain
dealers and others would seem to be
that in this part of the state there will
be 10 per cent of merchantable corn and
20 per cent of soft corn that will be all
most of equal value for feeding pur-
poses. One thing about this immature,
planted corn is this: While the
leaves are dead and drying up the ear
was not frozen and the stalks are alive
yet. Some claim such corn with fa-
vorable weather for two weeks will
make sound corn. Others say 1t is
bound to be soft l. e., chubby and loose
on the cob. There was hardly any corn
"cut up in this part of the state previ-
Gus to the two big frosts of last week
but now the machines are running from
daylight to dark. And many claim this
cut up" corn will make marketable
grain. There will be an extraordinary
yield per acre, for never before in the
history of corn growing in Iowa have so
many stalks had two good, big ears on
them. The writer is told Of many stalks
of corn Setting with three ond four
ears. but of course only two or rarely
three ears will mature. One man tells
of counting eight ears of corn on one
stalk, that Is, nature made an attempt
to grow eight ears on one stalk, but
contented herself with finally finishing
two big, sound ears. Another strange
thing this year is where corn was
drilled in, the farmer only expecting
to raise fodder, he finds himself with
big ears all over the field. The writer
hears of ten acres of drilled-in corn,
where a fair ESTIMATE is eighty bushels
OF corn to the acre. This is a big story,
but never before in Iowa has corn had
a chance to grow equally to this year.
Up to the time of the first frost, last
week, in this part of the state the stalks
and leaves in the first week in Septem-
her had all OF the appearance of a luxu-
RANT corn field in Iowa on July 1. An
other encouraging sign of the times
is the farmer coming to town claiming
his corn is all right, but feeling so sor-
ry for his neghbor, who Wanted late
and got caught with the frost.
Towns, like individuals, have their
ups and downs" A year or so ago
the writer wase in a new two-year-old
Iowa town. Everything was a-boom-
in" Two big lumber yards, two big
elevators, a new big depot, big gem
eral store, two grocery stores, three
restaurants, two blacksmith shops, a
good hotel and big livery stable.
u, win 1o, 41oe
the sheriff has possession of one gro
Gerry, one has closed, the general stock
store is closing out, the hotel Is closed,
the only remaining restaurant closes on
Oct. 1, the liveryman is moving to
Blanktown, and twenty small resi-
dences are for sale at less than the lum-
Der cost "Will throw in the lot If you
want the house." What's the matter
The writer was told the right kind of
business men did not settle there. The
real reason is, there are too many
towns in a radius of ten miles. The
farmers around there can not support
any more storekeepers in 1902 than in
1899. And as these business men In the
ill-fated town could not steal enough
trade from the surrounding towns, 1t
was a clear case of "the longest pole
knocking the persimmons.' And where
these new towns that thrive and pros
per are located near the old towns, here
Is a noticeable change, sitting process
going on. In the nearby older town are
several stores to rent. And these "fo1
rent" stores are generally of the small,
er class. What we call shops.y Places
where $500 was all that was invested
in stock and fixtures. In these older
towns the big stores seem to be pros
porous and holding their own.
| Here's a Atown-Primghar- once
upon a time had too many stores. Il
was ahead of the country, but now the
country has Caught up" New blocks
have been built of brick till Primghar
begins to look quite citified. It's fact
| that during the past year this town has
built or laid five miles of cement side
walk. And if any town, large or SMALL
[