The Ward County independent., 1909-11-11
editor Of the Independent:

In my last letter to you, said
would come again. Well. here l am
with a few more facts as to the Ker-
man tract in California. taken from
my own observations. and from let
sers from friends there. It was not
80 long ago, that cattle grazed over
the herman tract. then followed
wheat 6elds Of vast acreage and
yield. No one at that time, guessed
at the real possibilities Of the soil
plus water. The light colored sandy
looking soil deceives today the Wis
itor, used to heavier soil, even
when he sees the vigorous crops
growing, on every hand. Probably
good soil, said some of those who
went with me last May, but it does
not look 1t, as they lifted hand
full. Why it isn't heavy enough to
grow anything but those popies, and
such flowers, as you have seen.
Later on, they came back, and got
some of the poppy soil. was out
over the tract from and Z a. M.
to 9 p. m. with shovel over my
shoulder, to work, with every day. l
have never been in a country. where
the opportunities seem to be lying
around waiting for someone to claim
them, and they are so many of them.
tx11oy fS 1nt rNf ',,,.a
The Dakota people, to make them
selves rich. The old Californians as
rule are slow, easy going lot of
people. I went over quite lot of
land, that would cost from $50 to
$50 per acre, to level and about $500
for a pumping plant, for 20 acres,
and anywhere from $40 to $50 to
blast the hard pan, before you could
set out your trees, besides it had no
drainage. And after awhile, the
roots become sour from sub-irriga-,
ton.
Where the wheat baron rode all
day across his golden acres of may
nap four sections or more, you will
nnd home on a ten or twenty acre
tract. Some have tents and tempor
ary shacks, and lawn set palms sur
rounded rose emboWered bungalow
of the older and consequently richer
settlers. Here is d church s;eeple
there a scholo house for the goth
century methods OF intense farming,
bring benefits OF civilization closer
to the farmer, mail service, electric
lights, and telephones, all follow
the small farmer, only in acreage.
OF the beauties OF the country, l
need say no more, than what have
said before. talked with many
reliable landmen, who are competit-
ors Of the herman tract, and not one
of them hesitated in saying that the
herman tract north of town is the
most nearly perfect land to be
found in the country. And you can
safely say to your readers, that If
there is anything better, Ii has not
been dug up. herman Is practically
the center OF California.
The city itself is on the main line
OF the Southern Pacific railroad, at
the junction Of the main line and
me Hanford branch. All,trains stop.
lf you. wish. can get onto, the motor
:aE, several times a. day; and In q
tews minutssS you are sina Fresno City,
pfa35 ,OOO;. ftteens miles, from; Kerr
man. Almost a &maj0rsty Of the land
holders. are those,, who aEes coming
but. west stopped short of California
and BFested a living from a less
generous soil, under gloomier, cold
sr skies, AT the expense Of strength,
comfort and health, and who now
iring Of the rigor anu restrictions Of
climate, are going to Herman, bag
aad baggage, the land of blue skies,
golden sunshine and green fields,
farming ten or twenty acres and sit
ing beneath their own vine and fig
rec, all the year round, far from
winter and rough weather, taking
.:,eir ease, regrstting that they had
act found This land Of milk and non
ey before. And at the departure of
rheumatism and colds, and over
shoes, ice in the pump, instead of
IN the water pitcher. These are the
people who have heiped to achieve,
kerman's sudden success. Farmers
they, Of hard experience, who no
Longer having to be weather wise:
and Independent on that most uncer-
| tain craft for their crops, who find
ling a soil easy to cultivate, quick OF
generation, apply the practice of
| their craft with prompt and vigor-
GUS results. Whole families have
come, tempted by letters from
friends, have banded together, fol-
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