Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-08-22

HE REPORTED FARM CONDITIONS
a We Arc Too Far Inland To Reach An
Eastern Market And Not Far Enough
West To Command A Home Market
Said Chaplin - Farmers Were Turn
ing To Livestoek-Grain Crops Good.
Special to Times-R Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines. Aug. %. = In making
some little investigation into the his
tory of fairs in Iowa the writer dis
covered in book published by the
authority of the legislature in ls5. the
story Of the first effort TO have coun-
ty fair in Marshall county. The Sec
retary of the state agricultural society
was instructed to secure reports OF all
county fairs and to include history
of all such fairs E. n. Chaplin wrote
the story of the Marshall county fair
for the book. 1t appears that the So
ciety was fully organized in the spring
of 1857. and officered as follows: Pres
ident, f. n. Chaplin: vice-president,
Stacy Nichols; secretary, DR.. Click
treasurer. William c. Smith. Subse-
quently DR. Click resigned and Welis
Rice. ESQ, was appointed III his stead.
Regarding this society the then presi-
dent wrote:
I'VE have an organization known ps
the name of the Marshall County Agri-
cultural Society, but as yet no sooa
results have emanated from it other
than a commencement In the scale oi
progress. Hard times, locai diiiicu'-
ties and jealousies, were more thah
match for the infantfle society, anu It's
birthday was suffered to so by the
hoard altho the infant couid nave
commanded ample means for cfeult-
able premium list, but such was the
feeling in regard to the location Of the
fair and show, that 1t was vlrtuauS
strangled by neglect. Yet II possesses
/ life and ere another year passes We are
sanguine that it will be In WORKING
order and able to make respectable
exhibit of it's work.
Secretary j. III. Wallace had sent OUT
to secure in addition to reports on the
fairs. reports on the farm products ana
farm progress MIR. Chaplin reported
something along this line. The pref
erence in wheat was shown for Rio
Grand and Canada Flint, which yield
ed on an average about 20 bushels to
the acre. Subsoil plowing or the drill
had not been used. Average yield OF
corn was about so bushels The home
market has hitherto taken our entire
surplus crop. and more too, Mr.. Cha-
pin adds. "at prices which would not
fail to satisfy an eastern farmer Inc
abundance of the present harvest. and
diminution Of emigration for the past
wear. has excited fears that our large
surplus would fail of market. Our
position Is somewhat peculiar--befng
too far inland to reach an eastern mar
ket and not far enough west to COM
mand home one; still we live IN
hopes. The known capacity OF an
Iowan's stomach will do much for US.
Mr.. Chaplin reported big oats crop,
but no rye or barley. Several or
chards planted and two or three nur-
series coming forward. Wild hay in
abundance. Hungarian grass has eX-
cited considerable attention. The sur
ghum cane had been tried and is gem
orally believed to be valuable ac-
quisition. Hedging had been tried with
poor results But few sheep had been
brought into the county and they hac
been harassed and killed by dogs and
wolves. No hogs slaughtered for
distant market; difficult to supply the
home consumption. II have not seen
any of the Improved breeds he adds.
but little attention is paid TO the I'M
proyement OF this valuable but trou-
blesome animal. Our boomer fences
fail to effect the modesty of his grunt-
ing majesty sufficiently TO prevent his
going underneath them. to the annoy
ance of the bloomer owner. The scar
city of timber. and substitute of shang-
hal or bloomer fences, has the ERECT
to cause the highest porker to be gem
erally detested Hence their scarcity.
In regard to cattle it was reported
that none were as yet driven to mar
ket the high price at home prevent
ing I'VE are not sufficiently stocked
as vet to have a surplus; not able to
give the probable number In the coun-
ty. Some attention is being paid to
the Improvement of cattle. Several
fine bulls of the shorthorn. Durham
school have been brought into the
county. A gentleman from Kentucky
by the name of Currens has brought
several fine animals to the county. In
a few wears at most will find Marshall
county driving eastward, some of the
finest droves of cattle raised in the
west"
In regard to horses he reported:
"HOrSeS are OF lne CotIliflou .''"ie'""s
breed. We have not seen fine car
,iage horse in the county. None of
the thorough hloods are known among
us.' There were mules raised and
they found a home market.
The common farm implements We're
i'm use Mannv's and McCormick's
eapers were those in pse. There was
= plow factory Mt Marshalltown. There
were five Touring mills in the county.
from fifteen to twenty SOW mills. and
one foundry at Marshalltown.
Mr.. Chapin In this report spoke OF
the soil of Marshall county Stating his
belief it Is certainly not inferior to
that of other counties In the state. and
adding this bit of sage advice;
"Much pight be done In the way OF