Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-12
Owners Who Retired, Supposed
ly Permanently, Compelled to
Occupy Old Homes
TENANTS CAN NOT BE SECURED
Renters Have Become Land Owners
or Have Sought Newer Country =
Prosperity Sometimes Drives Men
to Change of Location.-Hieh Prices
Cause Permanent improvements.
,ecial to Times-R Republican.

IS 4 2 $
Special to Times Republican.
Clear Lake. March 12--Several men
In this locality who for years have been
residents OF this town, considering
themselves in the class commonly des-
ignated retired farmers" are this
spring moving back to the places which
they left, permanently a; they thought
in other hands. The unexpected change
on the part OF these people is due
solely to the fact that f.hey have been
unable to rent their farms as they did
in past years. 1t would naturally be
expected that there wo.tld be no dill
Guilty in finding tenants for farms the
year following season so generally
prosperous as last year proved to be,
but the reverse is true here as 1t is in
other portions of northern Iowa. But
a few days ago there were three farms
aggregating 500 acres situated in
fairly good farming di'itrict in> Cerro
Gordo county, at that time unrehted,
altho they could be Leased on reason
able terms. One man here was hearo
begging farmer to take some unfented
pasture land, saying hi had SUCCEEDED
in disposing of a part III his farm 10
neighbor who owned land sadjoinlng
him. The question. why are so many
leaving farms on which they are doing
well and emigrating to other parts OF
the countryo" confronts one everywhere
l.. >jr1,b In. Mere
was visited by swine plague, every
man except one losin., nearly all ms
hogs. This man, a renter. whose suf-
cess and good fortune was the subject
Of universal comment this spring, helo
a public sale, and inve sted proceeds IN
a farm in North Dakota, where he IS
at present located. Every one of his
neighbors are still wondering why ne
wasn't satisfied on The Iowa farm
where he was doing so we'll. 1t seems
strange that prosperity should drive
men from their homes, but the frequent
example of cases like this would Ger
tainly make it appear that such Is OF
ten the case.
One farmer in. Wright county, who
has been renting for many years. and
whose children with two exceptions
have reached the age of maturity, and
are "doing for themselves" has dis
posed of his stock ana farming outHt'
bought a comfortable house and five
lots in his home town, and will work
for those in need of his services. MY
older children have often expressed the
wish that they had secured better ed
ucation. and the two little boys ] have
left shall have chance, said he. Il
have always divided every dollar
earned with my landlord, and hereafter
all that receive for my work will be
mine" Those who see the struggle
of men situated as this man was, IN
their efforts to manage a rented farm,
depending largely on hired help, can
understand to some extent the appar-
ent relief he feels in consequence OF
the change. Small farms favorably
situated are In greater demand In this
part of the country than they have ever
been before. some of them lately
changing hands at figures that would
have been considered quite unreason-
able but a short time ago One 40
acre place near here, close to an cleo
trio line of railway, and with only fair
improvements, was sold the other day
for $500 per acre.
Despite the steadily advancing price
of lumber there is evidently no sub
stitute the use of which would cheaper
building operations. Occasionally a
farmer experiments with brick. stone
or cement. always with the same re-
sult-his building costs more than 1t
would if lumber had been used in
stead. One thing to be observed these
days is that the houses. barns and
granaries which are being erected are
built well, regardless of expense, the
increased cost of materials making per-
manency necessary.
One morning recently a little boy
was noticed sitting near the edge of a
frozen pond and adjusting his skates.
At his side was a large dog with a
string fastened around his neck. When
all was ready the boy grasped the
cord, the dog started straight across
the pond as fast as he could go, the
skater following without an effort and
enjoying the ride of his life. When
they reached the other side the dog
stopped, pricked up his ears. looked
intently at his companion, who gave
the word to return and back they
came as they went out. This was re-
peated several times to the evident de-
light of both the parties concerned.
Youthful impressions are tenacious
and those of us who fail to understand
why some men will persist in keeping
worthless dog on the place might
find a partial explanation in such in
cidents as this. 1t is a safe guess that
the little fellow here mentioned, if he
reaches the age of manhood, will be
the owner at that time of a dog, pos
sibly Of two or even three.
c.. E. WILSON.