Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-26
Unusual Weather Conditions
Have Not Been Suited to All
Farm Purposes
STOCK FEEDERS ARE PLEASED
The Farmer With Corn to Sell Has
Not Benefited by the Mild Weather
and Opportunity to Dispose of His
Grain Has Been curtaiIed-Why
Iowa is Losing.
Special to rImes-Republ,can.

Belmond Feb 26. - Four-horse
foot deep flocks of wild ducks head
ed northward, blackbirds sitting in the
last years growth of reeds in iceless
ponds on the edges Of which muskrats
sit in the sunshine and wash their
faces with their paws like cats yaror
rising from the earth everywhere, in
dicating the escape of frost from be-
meath the surface of the ground. all of
which were to be observed last week
on every hand, in this vicinity, are
sights not usually seen here during the
second month of the year.
The truth OF the old saying that
mems opinions vary with their inter-
ests" is attested by their comments on
the character of the winter which Is
now so nearly past. Cattle feeders say
they never obtained better results
from given amount of feed than they
have this season, and all kinds of live
stock is in remarkably good condition.
On the other hand those whose chief
dependence has been placed in raising
corn for the market would much rather
the temperature had averaged ten or
fifteen degrees colder than it has so
as to afford them an opportunity to
she'll their grain and dispose of 1t,
something which many have not yet
been able to do. Circular cribs r1ade of
wire and pickets such as are in COM
mon use where temporary enclosure
is desired, some covered with grass and
some without covering of any kind
filled with corn. indicate the dwelling
places of those who wish it would be
winter at least three months of the
year.
A week Of driving over rural mail
routes during the closing days of the
present month affords a fine opportun-
ity to observe the character of some
of the changes that take place in the
country each spring.
There are four routes from Bel
mond which cover about eighty square
miles Of territory. This is something
less than ene-three- hundredth part OF
the entire surface of the northern half
of the state. From three of these
lOdlSS, lHC lOul III oHc pSl.lS SCll!eu
almost wholly by Germans who are
with very few exceptions--on the
same farms they occupied year ago,
at least nineteen men. the majority Of
them heads of families, are this spring
moving to Minnesota North or South
Dakota, Wisconsin or Nebraska-per-
haps fifty souls in all. Their places are
being taken by the children of their
neighbors, just beginning for them
selves or by those coming in from other
neighborhoods, usually not many miles
away. But two cases have come W.
der my notice of immigrants from
other states taking the places of thok
leaving. If this movement is as gen.
eral in all the northern half Of Iowa
as it is in this particular section, it
will account for a loss in population
of about 10000 for the year. as COM
pared with what it would be had there
been neither emigration nor immigra-
ton during the year. The reason CIV
en- for leaving is always the same:
Land here costs too much and rent
is too high" A real estate man who
seemed to be we'll posted on the stu
alton was heard to predict the other
day that this movement will be still
more extensive next year, if good
crop is raised this season, many in
tending to leave as soon as they can
accumulate means with which to buy
farms, where land is cheaper
One day last week 1 stopped at
farm house and asked for the privilege
of feeding team and sharing the
midday meal with the family. The old
farmer assured me that / was well
come to such as they had-which was
certainly plenty-saying he had been
out some himself and fully appreciate
ed the situation. While assisting in
unhitching the team he told Of an ex-
perience that tended to influence him
in his treatment of hungry travellers
when they sought entertainment at his
place. One day, many years ago, he
stopped at house, after several pre-
yious fruitless efforts and asked for