The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-09-02
ALONG RURAL ROUTES
Herald Representative Tells of What
He Sees and Hears.

&
Did you ever get the Oklahoma,
Texas or Mexico fever? If you have
had desire to go south. a good way
to work off such an inclination is to-
just stay in Mahaska county. You
need go no farther About ten miles
south from Oskaloosa, just a small
distance from the town of Eddyville
lies section of country which Is
claimed by those who have been IN
the southern states, is on the same
order. The place is known as SAND
ridge and a better name could not
have been chosen. The writer had
the privilege of travelling for three
miles on Mahaska's desert on one oil
those hot days during the summer
months, and it was certainly one thatI
will not soon be forgotten. The land
is nothing but sand and, judging by
the looks of the crops, the farmers
| there will not suffer any great incon-
veniences in caring for the harvest.
An effort had been made to raise corn,
three feet nigh and some were only
knee high. What little corn was toI
be seen was burned up and looked just
like the stock does after it has been
cut and laid in a shock for some
time Most of the farmers who live
ON this ridge indulge in truck farm
ing" and find it rather profitable. nj
was stated by one of the farmers that
raspberries, blackberries and other
fruits and water melons turn out yeryi
good crops After travelling for one
half day on the sand an oasis was
found and our thirst satisfied. About
three miles of the mail route from
Givin passes over this section and
when the carrier tried to drive his
automobile, special make, through
the sand, he found that the machine
would fail to go in six inches of sand.
On this particular day, when the trip
was made, it was hot as blaZes and
there was just enough breeze to blow
the hot sand into our eyes and throat
Should you get that kind of feeling
which says go south" just drive down
to the sand ridge and make similar
trip, and ii is possible that you will
have desire to stay in Mahaska
county, where one may ind anything
that is found in other places.
The worst part of the farmers
work is now over and he now has a
little time to rest or go visiting. A
number are attending the State Fair.
John Brewer has repaired his barn
and intends to paint the buildings
this fall.
Jacob veenstra has purchased the
Fred Richardson farm and will move
onto the same.
W. NJ Veldhuizen has built new
barn 34x40 feet Minard Stony did
the work. Cement walks were also
put in.
Henry Butler has remodeled the old
barn and shingled barn and granary.
]. n. Butler has remodeled the
summer kitchen and the house. The
improvement makes things more con-
venient.
John DePrenger is planning on
building a large new cattle shed on
his place this fall.
G. H. Gosseling has added a new
corn crib to the buildings of the farm.
Mrs. T. Van Heukelon put in two
car loads of tile on her place. The
work was done by Chas. Fiske OF
Pella. "a
E. Dykstra has built a new yard
| fenco and intends to remodel the
barn this fall A number of the sheds
on the side OF the barn will be re-
moved.
John Rempe has improved the APP
pearance of his house with a coat of
paint.
Geo. Graham, of Oskaloosa, put in
one hundred and fifty rods OF tile on
| the A. NJ. DeReus farm.
! Albert Englehoven is making prepa-
rations to put over seven thousand
tile on his place this fall.
| Henry Van Rocket is adding new
combined corn crib and granary to his
outbuildings.
Mrs. ]. D. Fleck will paint the
house on her farm this fall.
| H. Overbergen is painting his house
and other buildings. Tom Weldyk is
the workman.
Eighty rods of tile have been put in
by s. S. DeKock.
A new coat of coloring has been put
on the house owned by ]. C. DeBruin.
II. Mappelink built an addition to
| fhn no hA 90 nv NJ