Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-21
DVA' 5 GARDEN SPOT
Section OF Marshall County
Where Fertility and Prosper
ity Always Prevail
FARMS ARE NOT NEGLECTED
Tenanted Farms Near Green Mountain
Not Distinguished From Those oc-
cupied by Owners = An Objection to
Macadamized Roads = c. e. Will
sons Rural Observations

Special to Times Republican,.
Green Mountain, April 21.-This 10
cality enjoys the reputation of being
one of the very best farming commun,
tiles in central Iowa. AS the traveller
drives thru the country he passes miles
of farms just undulating enough to
afford perfect natural drainage, the APP
pearance of the soil indicates unsur-
passed fertility, the improvements are
well abreast Of the times, the people
are prosperous, and it would be diff
ficult to find region better adapted
to farming and stock raising than this.
Twenty years ago these farms were to
dollars per acre. They are selling now
at an advance of a hundred dollars
above those figures when they are sold
at all, landlords here appearing to pos
sess the faculty of realizing the worth
of their farms and Withholding them
generally from the market. In common
with other parts of the county and IN
sharp contrast with some portions OF
the state it is impossible to distinguish
by appearances the farms which are
rented from those operated by the
owners themselves. This is possibly
accounted for by the fact that the VAL
ue Of the land and the high rent that II
commands renders it Improbable to
either owner or tenant to neglect any
thing either in the way of field cultl-
walton or care and maintenance OF i'm
provements.
One of the influential and public
spirited farmers of the community ex-
pressed his views of road Improvement
the other day, in substance as follows:
Sooner or later this county will try
the experiment of matchmaking the
public highways. The plan will never
be success here because of the cost
of material. If a road could be built
that would need no further attention
after completion, the idea might be
feasible but repairs would be neces-
sary the same as in the case of the
present-day road. If the grades were
all put in first class condition, then
smoothed and kept smooth with the
drag, there would be little complaint
heard of dirt roads. Divide the dis
tricts into smaller parts and pay men
to keep them in the condition at all
times of the year, that will result from
a persistent and intelligent use of the
road drag and stone roads will be I'M
necessary.
The drilling of deep wells over the
country frequently bring to light evil
dences of startling and sudden changes
that took place in some remote period
of time. Mr.. I. Erickson. a farmer on
a Gilman mail route had a we'll sunk
recently and at depth of about so
feet pieces of decayed wood were
brought to the surface, very similar in
appearance to half rotted branches of
trees to be found lying on the ground
in any grove. 1t is told on good au-
thority that several years ago a man
near the town of Belle Plaine while
digging a we'll found far below the sur
face enclosed in a sort of covering a
number of wild crab-apples in a per-
feet state of preservation even retain
ing their color and taste. How long
they had remained there and the oc-
currence that resulted in their being
left there can only be imagined.
Mr.. w. G. Keen owner of one Of
the fine farm homes in this locality.
has in his possession a rare relic Of