Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-21
IOWA 5 1|AAB|E AREA
CuItivatable Land Being III
creased to Considerable EX-
tent in Various Ways
c. E. WILSON'S RURAL LETTER
He Says Many Farmer Owners No
Longer Hail Increased Land Values
As Good Thing-Chances Here
Claimed to Buy Farm, AS Good AS
Anywhere Else.


Anywhere Else.
Special to Times Republican.
Laurel, May 21.--One of the reasons
given by those contending that al!
farming lands must steadily increase
in value Is that while the population is
constantly growing more and more
dense there can be no corresponding
increase In the supply OF land Any
observer giving the subject Il little at
tention readily sees that the statement
Is true only In part. Here in Iowa tao
tilable area of land capable of culti-
walton is being constantly enlarged.
Small irregular tracts along railways
and meandering streams that formerly
were allowed to grow up to weeds are
now being cultivated the same as the
rectangular fields, the low flat lands OF
the north part of the state and the
sloughs of the rolling portions are be-
ing drained. tlocks of goats and sheep
covered hills in other parts, converting
them in a surprisingly short period OF
time from partial wastes into excellent
pastures and meadows. In these and
many other ways the cultivable area
Of the country is being increased to a
considerable extent.
1t seems rather queer to hear a man
express the wish that his land We're
not so valuable at it is, yet many
farmers in this section talk that way.
Heretofore anything that promised In
creased land values was hailed by the
owners as a good thing, but judging
from their remarks on the subject
many farm owners would view another
jump In land values with regret rather
than satisfaction. Are these all your
tDys?" / asked man one day as six
lads walked up to where we were
standing. Yes said he, land what
am l going to do with them? l have
only quarter section OF land and
there will soon be surplus of help
here. l believe I'll have to sell out and
so where can buy a section. Land is
too high here anyway
The statement so often made that a
young man beginning now without
financial aid can not hope to ever own
a farm here, is refuted by the example
of several young men l have met dur
ing the last three weeks who began
with very little except the ability to
work and plan, who have recently
bought farms OF from so to 100 acres
and are paying for them too. Some Of
them declare that they are doing it
just as easily as their fathers paid for
farms that did not cost a fourth as
much as theirs On a place near a
small town in this county there is a
young man who worked for some time
as day laborer in one of the cities of
Iowa, earning just about enough to
maintain his family. He decided to try
farm life, rented the farm he now oc-
cupies and In only two or three years
has bought and paid for an outfit of
machinery, has some good horses, half
a dozen cows, good start in hogs, and
il his present degree of prosperity is
continued 1t will probably be but a
short time until he will be making pay
ments on a farm of his own and one
Of high priced land, too, as he insists
there is just as good a chance to buy
a farm here as there is anywhere else.
Almost any man whose boyhood
days were spent on farm can recall
seeing his father trudging back and
forth across a field after the old-fash-
oned straight toothed harrow. II there
was any growth Of the preceding year
left on the ground he could be seen ev-
often after several unsuc-
cessful attempts to get hold Of it with
cut stopping the team, in order to free
It from some obstruction which caused
It to ride Followed up all day that
was indeed hard work. The modern
way of performing that kind Of labor
was well Illustrated one morning last
week by a man sitting on comfort
lhle seat behind his more up to-date |
smoother" driving four good horses
md apparently getting all kinds Of
comfort from a cigar he was smoking |
He declared that he didn't often in
lulge in that habit in the field, that |
he cigar had been given to him BY a |
riend, etc, but there was nothing in |
he way he went about it to suggest |
hat it was anything unusual.
Everywhere in this part of the coun- |
ry there is evidence of unusual care |
md preparation for the work Of grow
ng the corn crop Of the present sea-
ION. To an observer it looks as if each |
armer had determined to raise a bet
er crop of corn this year than ever
before. A great deal of the land to be |
devoted to corn this season is the pas
ure or meadow land of preceding |
,ears. Extra care in preparatory Gull
ivation in testing seed and in plant |
n,s is noticeable. Many who might |
rave had their corn planted some time
inle ago, are hardly done yet They |
we're all ready earlier in the season.
,ut preferred to wait a few days rath- !
II than assume the risk of getting only |
partial stand because of cold wealth |
~ One man who was disking ground |
hat had been ploWed only few days |
before, said, "My father used to raise |
zig corn on this farm without going to |
his trouble. am a little behind with |
ny work, but I can't afford to plant |
Until my ground is in first class con-
lition. C. E. WILSON.