Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-26
ONE LOCALITY IN FRANKLIN
COUNTY IN WHICH FARMERS
ARE COMMENTED.
TURTLE HUNTERS BUSY
IN VICINITY OF CHAPLIN
Soup Material Shipped to PARKWAY
Philadelphia at Good Protit-Road
Making Problem Bothers Township
Trustee. e. Wilson'S Rural OBJ
servations.

Chapln, Oct. 26.-Ihere is no en-
travagance in the statement that this
locality contains some of the very best
farms in north central Iowa and that
almost without exception they are
operated by men who understand their
business. Not a word of complaint in
regard to the crop yield was heard and
the great ears of corn that are as yet
attached to the big rank stalks that are
everywhere apparent bear evidence that
the principal staple Of this locality is
fully as good both as regards quality
and quantity as in other years Of
abundant harvests. The owners of these
fine farms are fully aware of their
value too. Many of them could not he
bought for $3.50 per acre at the present
time. Not many farms here are chang
ing hands as is the case in so many
other places simply because they are
not on the market.
Mr.. w. A. Riddle has on his farm
near here four evergreen trees of the
variety known as Colorado silver
spruce. 1t is said that there is only
one other of the kind in Franklin coun-
ty. Aside from their unusual beauty
they are peculiar in that the branches
grow from the trunk in every direc-
ton and at intervals of about eighteen
inches forming shelves of stiff heavy
foliage from near the ground almost to
the top of the tree Tourists in Colo
RADIO are said to gather the needles for
pillows because of the scent and in
the belief that certain medical proper
ties are contained within them.
A couple OF professional turtle hunt
ers had their tent pitched in this vi
entity last week and were pursuing
their vocation with vigor and success.
They use rod about five feet long
with a handle at one extremity and a
hook at the other, select rocky
streams and wading into the water
probe for the famous soup material.
When seen at 2 o'clock p. m. they had
that day caught and barreled about 900
pounds which at present prices in New
York City and Philadelphia to which
points they are shipping, will net the
hunters about $45. Pretty good returns
for one short days work. The men
stated that the turtle hunting season
opened about a month ago and will
continue until spring. They are packed
into common light barrels and shipped
alive. Under such conditions they re-
tain life for about week from the
time they are so unfortunate as to pe
captured. Last year these same men
operated in this locality and succeeded
in nofo cts ,ole,
"snappers" OR an aggregate shipment
of about 5000 pounds.
A few weeks ago a township trustee
received a letter from the postoffice
department at Washington stating that
certain highways in his township must
be improved and maintained or that the
rural mail route passing thru 1t might
be discontinued. The trustee is a consci-
entious sort of man doing the best he
can and he is inclined to bit back at
those who entered the complaint. Said
he: II have S240 and the revenue from
'twenty-one polls to maintain and i'm
prove my road territory. With this /
am expected to buy high priced mater
ial and higher priced labor. So far as
the income from the polls is concerned,
every time there is a let-up in farm
work due to rains and other like causes,
am besieged with requests to work
out some road tax and when consent
to the deal the farmer sends his boy
with a team and King drag and in a
mighty short space of time that poll
tax is worked. 1t is just as unreason-
able to expect something for nothing
in the matter of roadmaking as in any
thing else. 1T might help US out some If
the department along with it's letter
Of warming would mail us some inform
alton on How to Build and Maintain
Roads Regardless of the Means at
Hand
The regular conductor on a passenger
run took ia vacation last week and a
substitute consequently had charge of
the trains. At one station a very re-
spectacle appearing old man apparent
ly 70 years of age entered a car and
meeting the. conductor few feet from
the door inquired for the smoker. Gear
in front" growled the man in author
ity and then demanded, Gimme your
ticket" 1T was a chilly morning and
the passenger was dressed accordingly
but he obediently set his grip down,
stood his cane against q seat, unbot-
toned his coats and produced his tick
ct. BY the time he was ready to go
on the train was started Another
obstacle to progress now presented IT.
self. Ut was necessary to coal up" and
for some time the bulky form of the
strong-voiced brakeman barred furth-
OF forward movement es he wen. time;
Doafnoce Cannot Ro C,..od