Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-08-03

buildings erected and his working out
lit secured, he generally has little mon
ey left. Living expenses must be met.
hay and grain must be bought at a
high price for the team, other expenses
occur and too often before the time
when any returns from his farm can
be expected the settler is Obliged to
suspend work on his own place and
find employment usually at work in
which he is unsklled and which con-
sequently is not very remunerative.
Such men would do far better to defer
their land clearing u year or two be-
fore leaving a country where profitable
employment may be had.
All over these regions thru the
agency of birds. winds and former log
gng operations, grass seeds OF var
ious kinds have been scattered and
have maintained Il luXuriant growth,
From twenty to thirty different va
rieties of young trees spring up after
the frequent fires which sweep over
these lands. and the leaves of brush
and trees. together with the scattered
punches of grass. afford the finest kind
of pasture for horses and cattle from
the very beginning. All that is need
ed is a fence. Each year sees more
grass and less brush and within a
short period the land so treated as
sumes the appearance of wooded
pasture and when desired may be
cleared up and plowed with only a
small fraction of the labor that would
have been necessary had not the stock
been placed upon it. This is the plan
that the most successful settlers are
following and that many others would
adopt had they the means.
The rural dwellers OF these regions
arc composed of two distinct classes:
old settlers and new, and there Is no
danger of becoming confused in dis
tinguishing them. The original set
tier is woodsman rather than far
mer, and a woodsman he will remain
to the end of his days. His education
is very limited: his farming imple-
ments are usually of the kind that are
operated by means of one horse or
pair of strong arms. He markets an
nually a few pigs. calf or two. pota-
toes. vegetables and hay. hunts ana
fishes a good deal during the summer
season and works in the woods In WIN
ter. During berry season" he be-
takes Hl11lSel Will Ills Chilly w
uncleared lands where those fruits
flourish and they all pick berries FOR
the market. In this manner he spends
S25 worth of time for about W worth
of returns. He is not given 10 any
expressions of enthusiasm in regard TO
the future of his nelghborhood IN the
presence of possible immigrants, for
in the narrowness of his views he sees
in the new conner competitor In the
berry market and the destruction OF
his hunting resorts. Like the lumber
companies In whose employ he has
spent large part Of his life, he does
not desire the coming Of the settler
and the higher tax levy which always
accompanies him. Occasional except
tons are found but the great majority
of the original settlers II left alone
would hardly succeed in distinguish
ing themselves as successful farmers
when compared with other portions ot
the country.
One OF the most flourishing institu-
lions found in a particular region
which has been selected as typical of
all is the brewery, one Of the most I'M
portant personages the saloon Keeper.
He is an expert on credits and his ad-
vice and assistance is sought by mar
His place of business Is found At
country crossroads as we'll as in town
.How far is 1t to Harris SwitchT' ask
ed the driver, one warm day, of Babe
the 275 pound proprietor of one or
these rural resorts. six miles" was
the prompt answer Two miles far
Their on we reached the place in ques-
ton. lone Of their favorite tricks re-
marked the driver. "he thought we
wouldn't undertake so long journey
without a supply of goods
Such are the cut-over lands and tho
people occupying them. Those VINO
locate there expecting a SNAP are
generally discontinued and DESTROYS or
leaving the country; others are salts
fled and prosperous. The same thing
was perhaps true of all parts of the
country, while in process of settle
ment and will also apply to those TO
be occupied hereafter.
C.. r. WILSON.