Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1906-04-11


that they seldom recover, but still the,
ranchman generally gets through with
enough to insure a good profit and as
that is the object in view there don't
seem to be much sympathy manifested
in the care of the dumb brutes. |
haven't seen n good pair of horse blank
cts since l left Michigan. They are
used here but little. l have seen but
one fur robe and can hardly see why
the horses are not ruined, the way they
are driven and then allowed to stand all
sweaty for hours at the different trad
ing points with nothing on them in those
cold, bleak winds which sweep for miles
and miles across the prairie. 1t seemed
queer to me at first TO see the people
grab up bed quilt and wrap up in it
while making trip to town or other
wise but soon found it was the gen.
eral custom and so now 1t is an old story
to me. The old settlers say it has only
been within the last five years that
overcoats, mittens and overshoes have
been required in the winter time so they
think the seasons are changing all the
time. My experience during last winter
and this so far is that this country is
subject to very sudden changes either
way but the severe cold spells don't last
more than one week. Farmers have
been ploughing and disking preparatory
for spring crops, more or less thus far,
in this month of February.
"To give some idea of the land boom
we are having out here l will mention
one instance that L know to be true. A
man came from Missouri here in 1902
bought five quarter sections for &, 500
and went in debt for nearly the whole
thing. He sold three quarters to get out
of debt little later, which left two
quarters which he improved consider
able by breaking and buildings, chief of
which was a frame barn which cost
about 500 and just recently he sold his
place or 800 acres for $1,000. Shortly
after his arrival here, owing to his large
family he received assistance from The
county or public but now he is a mer-
chant in the village of Healy, his former
trading point. Large real estate sales
are being made at enormous profits TO
those who were fortunate enough to get
their land before the present rise in
value. Another recent sale YVES three
quarters or $50 acres within half mile
of town or railroad for s., 900 which was
bought about five years ago at 5000. 1
guess this will suffice on this subject
1.-THE following prices prevail in the
grocery line: flour, $40 per hundred,
sugar, IS pounds for 81 90, potatoes, 81 90
per bu., beans &C per pound, rice, 3 lbs
for % cents, corn meal, 35c per % lbs,
graham flour 35c per % lbs. oranges,
4Oc per doz., bananas, SOC per doz.,
fruits canned, yellow Crawford peaches,
10 and zoe per at. can, pears. zoe, plums,
loo, apricots, zoe, tomatoes, choice quail
ity. canslfor 25c, corn, 8 cans for 25c,
honey, SOC per qt., eggs, l0c per doz,
chickens, SC per ID, turkeys, 12c and
geese, loo. Grains. wheat, zoe, oats,
45c, corn, 800, barley, 45c, rye, Coo, cane
seed, 65c per 100 lbs, Kaffir corn, SOC per
bu.
well as my vocabulary is about ex-
hausted, / will conclude with the follow
ing from the Kansas City Star. There
is more money in Kansas now than in
any other period Of the states history
said John w. Breidenthal, former State
Bs.nk commissioner and now president
OF the Banking Trust Company of Kan
sas City, Kansas. The last statement
of the Kansas banks in November
showed that the deposits were about
$l2O, 900, 900. The people Of Kansas
have reached the point where they don't
have to worry about anything. Two
years ago they had to sell all their
wheat right from the machine, now
they are holding for better prices. Mr..
Breidenthal says in nine years the
States Bank deposits have increased
from S20, 900, 900 to $500, 000, 900 Novemb-
tI lttSb uS SIdlh has Dctu
marketed since then it will Low doubt
less exceed those figures considerable.
This is large and prosperous state and
we have ample room for multitudes to
till our rich black soil. 1t is no uncom-
mon sight TO see large piles of wheat
md other grains dumped out on the
prairie grass awaiting shipment in time
of a car famine. In my next article
perhaps L may have something of more
interest. With best regards to all my
old friends and acquaintances of Alma
and vicinity remain
Sincerely Yours
o. Il. Robertson
Healy, Lane County, Kansas
a 1;pniI Gold cttra Coz child 80, tt,ot =,