The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-07
ECONOMY CREATED GREATEST
AMERICAN FARM.

The state of Missouri has the distinc-
ton of having within her borders as a,
citizen the most extensive individual
farmer in the United States, if not in the
civilized world He is David Rankin, of
Tarkio, Mo, the owner Of fourteen
reanches, including more than twenty-five
thousanu acres of as fine black soil as
the sun ever shone on.
Mr. Rankin is the largest stock feeder
in the world. He buys more corn than
any other farmer in the United States,
and most of it is fed TO stock on his
farms. Besides the extensive farming
operations Mr.. Rankin is interested in
many ither enterprises. In appearance he
IS a typical farmer. He is six feet two
inches tall and weighs one hundred and
eighty pounds. Each day he rides over
his farms and gives orders TO his fore
man He frequently stops on the way
to assist in pulling a steer out of mud
hole or to build shed to protect fat
porker from the rays of the hot sun. He
is as familiar with the men employed on
his farms as q housewife is with her
domestic duties.
To the person who has never visited the
Rankin farms the problem of carrying on
the work seems to be a great task, but
the system is so thorough and complete
that the management is easy.
Mr. Rankin owns about $4,000 acres of
land; besides this he leases considerable
land adjoining him. 1t takes about 700
teams and 30 men to do his work during
the busy months of summer while the
crops are being put in, cultivated and har-
vested Each ranch has a foreman who
has full charge of the work on the one
ranch under his supervision; he is re-
quired to make out a monthly report. NIL
ing out a printed blank, giving in detail
the amount expended and taken in dur
ing the month. This report is submitted
TO Mr. Rankin on the 9Th Of each month
The examination of the final statements
of the year 1902 showed that a total Of
1883 mead of cattle had been sold. They
brought the sum of S172.520. The number
of hogs sold was S,249. for which the sum
OF Sl1I. S46.14 was received.
The total clearance of his operations
during 1900 was more than 10000 This
was his most prosperous year. During
the month of July the teams and men
cultivate an average OF a thousand acres
Of corn a day They use the double row
riding cultlkalOl Inns pipusU - d tiSh
corcern. so arranged as to plough the
ground on boz sides OF a row Of corn.
one man can plough from twenty TO
Twenty-Five acres a day with one Of them.
They are easy on both man and beast.
Mr.. Rankin gave as a donation $4,000
to the United Presbyterian college at
Tarlxio. This is one Of the leading colleges
Of the state He is believer in higher
education of the masses and that churches
and schools are the two potent factors
which have brought the American people
up to the high standard which they have
attained.
The following tabulated statement Of his
operations during the last year shows
some astonishing figures;
Number Of acres farmed ....-..- 2,190
Expense per acre ..-.-....--.-...-.. AZ
Amount corn bought in bus. .... $sS.749
Amount paid for corn .-....------S1l5. $3.50
Il costs = 90 a year 20 keep the ranches
in chain harness. The home barn Of Dir
Rankin is four stories high and u oc-
taconal shape The Rankin home j. an
attractive place and is handsomely FUR
nished throughout. To question Of how
he made his start ne said: When I was
married was so poor my wife and I
could not even huy a bread board. We
managed and saved what we could. Pros
perity has smiled on Us Having worked
hard a good portion OF my life ! have
also saved where other would have spent
~ \ Herald