The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-14

sell me the farm for $4,000 and the SIX
hundred chickens he has for $500. Then
I go ahead and buy four hundred more,
and it's all clear sailing. That's the
plan What do you think of itt2
You read your paper for a few min
utes and let me do some figuring she
replied.
But what figuring Is. there to do?''
You will see. OF course, there are
always two sides to a plan"
There can't be to this. It's the
pIainest proposition ever stated. How
ever. go ahead and figure You may
make the income cut $4,000 higher than
I do e
Mrs. Bowser worked away for ten
minutes, and then said.
You will pay $1,000. for the farm,
$500 for the chickens on hand and $500
for enough additional to make up your
thousand. The new coOps and runways
viii cost, say s20o; our removal, 500
and the taxes at least SIS per year. A
horse and wagon viii cost you $500,
your help at least $500. and the feed for
a thousand hens cannot be less than
$1,000. Our household expenses, with
two men to board. cannot be less than
$1,000. Here is an outgo of almost $13,-
coo for the first year, and you must fig
ure interest on over 81, 600 of it. We
will add $3.50 for that -
Heavens, but has the woman gone
crazy" gasped Mr.. Bowser, as he
If you get $50 eggs per day the year
through from 1000 hens you Will be in
luck" she continued. IF we place the
price at 20 cents a dozen, which is
high you will receive about 81 500 As
for the sale of chickens you can't fig
ure on over about 200. This number
at an average Of 30 cents each, will
give you S160. You Will be sure to lose
from, 20 to 100 Of your hens per year,
and have to renew. but We'll say moth
ing about that. You have an outgo
the first year of about $4,000 and an
income of about $1,000. The second
year you have
Il have nothing" shouted Mr. Bow
ser, with his face the color of red paint.
Woman, / knew how it would be! BY
the living lingo, but why can't 1 keep
from making fool of myself
The second year your income will
4 be about a third of your expenses. You
may, by sitting on the veranda and
smoking Partegas, and tanning your
/ self with palm-leaf, finally get it
! down to One-half, but you cannot ex-
pect to do better. In other words
Stop I Will hear no more,'
But you want to know. don't YOU
No, sir, I don't. Ass that I was for
! telling you anything about it, l might
have known how you would juggIe
things around. Never say chickens to
me again. Never say eggs. Never say
farm
But you don't want to sit on the
[
! three or four thousand dollars a year.
! do your" she protested.
Never you mind what I want I
am now going out. You needn't sit up
for me. If any one calls tell them
that l may not be home for a week.
/ When I do come ] shall have facts
! and figures to shriveI you up like an
old ca bbage."
Mr.. Bowser put on his overcoat and
hat and started out. He wanted evil
dencp to convict Mrs ROwSar of false
statistics, and he wanted sympathy.
and he happeend to remember that
the family cobbler used to run a
chicken ranch in the country. He went
around to the shop, and after a few
remarks about the mild wiRter, he
said:
Jake, would you advise me to take
| a chicken farm 80
''Vhas you thinking of it," was
! asked.
Very strongly
Den let me advise something's bet
ter. Take a jackass farm