Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-06-20
RURAL ROUTE LETTER
Some Remarks of Interest to
Iowa Readers, Made by
George F. Thayer
A. L. AMEs, EVERGREEN GROVE
Notable Relic of the Period in Which
the State of Iowa Did Not Tax Tim
Der Lands-How the Orly Round
Barn in Tanra County is Constructed
News of the State.
special to Times-Repub,;.al

while one of the new towns on the c..
& n. w. extension from Belle Plane
north is located in one of the Oldest
settlements in central Iowa In 1856
j. f Ames came here from New Eng
land and took up this land and I'M
proved it. At The old home place lives
his son, A. L. Ames, a large stock rails
er and president of the Corn Belt Meat
Producers Association. On this farm
is one OF the largest evergreen groves
In Iowa. over 60 acres. AT the tiine
J. +. Ames took this land the state Oh
Iowa did not tax timber lands. The
niece was clay soil, so was set out TO
day a beautiful sight and a subject or
comment OF tile passengers on every
passing train. In many other respects
this farm is lit,e dozens OF others, large
houses, big red barns and everything
which indicates that crops are raised
every year.
or the many things which attract
the eye around this part of Tama
county, perhaps the greatest is round
barn. After three years of continuous
driving over the central part of Iowa
this is the first OF it's kind have found.
Its appearance as 1t sits at the foot OF
a small hill, was SO striking that
took the pains to go over 1t. 1t is nine
ty-two feet in diameter and sixty three
feet to the top Mckay Bros proprie-
tors, are fancy cattle raisers and breed
nothing but thoroughbred Holstein. and
this barn was built largely as dairy
barn. 1t is divided into three stories
the first floor is given over TO the cat
tie entirely. Sixty-six stanchions
form complete circle around the out
side OF the inside. all cattle facing to-
ward the center Of the barn; the floor
is OF cement and also the feed trough
of the same. Over the TOP of each
stanchion In large letters appears the
name of each animal
This part was explained TO me as
follows: Each cows milk was kept
separate and ii test has been made ut
Ames, so thai, complete record or
each animal can be given, not only
pedigree but also the value as milk
producer. In the center of the barn is
a silo twenty feet In diameter reaching
TO the roof and one appreciates the
size when you find that 1t takes forty
acres of corn fodder to fill 1t. Be
tween the silo and the large cattle is
a medium size ring in which the calves
are allowed to run. AS the cattle stand
in the stanchons it leaves plenty OF
room to do the milking without the
crowding which comes in ordinary
barns.
The second floor is given over to
horses and machinery, also large car
penter shop. Everything goes in. even
the farm wagons, and while this is the
second floor yet it is ground floor
on account of the hill With all this
it would seem as tho the barn was
full, yet there is left a loft with a ca
pacity of 200 ions of hay.
They have their own creamery, also
you find fine system of water works.
and lust what is to be expected on
modern farm.
After having carefully gone thru
with Mr.. Mckay. asked him If he
were to build the barn over agar
would he build it round. He said No.
While it is handy as it is and for
dairy could not be beat. yet for gen
eral purposes / would prefer a barn
the old fashioned way-NVith four
Sides"
one of the things which see occa-
sionally is small tread power, for use
in churning, running the washing ma
chine and other light work. Why
there is not more of them in general
use is strange. A good Shepherd dog
will not only bring up the cows but
make the butter ALSO AS l started up
the walk to the house few days ago
a good sized dog ran out with the in
tention of biting me, when woman's
voice called out, Here Shep." The dog
turned and ram away, this being so un-
usual | inquired why he did so. We'll,
YOU see" she said. he does the churn-
ing and when 4 call him he thinks want
to put him on the power. hence his de-
sire to get away. When we wish to
feed him one of the children has to
call him as he will not come for either
NV husband pr myself" Some dogs
however, take to the work kindly. One
saw the other day was working away
without anyone in sight. while with
most of them they have learned that
by leaning against the side OF the
frame they can stop and rest
AS most farmers have one or more
dogs. / make this suggestion so that
there will be some good excuse for hav-
ing dogs.
GEORGE F. TfIAYER.