The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-09-23
WRITES FROM
GOLDEN WEST
FORMER PLYMOUTH BOY
SAYS OPPORTUNITY is
UNLIMITED IN COLO.
Frank Janke Tells of Life on
Farm Near 1imon, Colo.-
Future Bright.
To our Many Friends:


welfare and the country in gen.
eral, take this method of an
swering them and delight in stat
ing the facts as to conditions as
they exist, during our stay here
OF almost two years, we now feel
a. though we have made a step
in the right direction already,
over the hardships of frontier life
OF new and undeveloped coun-
try. We can note a wonderful
change in many conditions. The
people now located on the plains
are here to stay and not of the
speculative nature. We are break
ing up the sod as. fast as possible
This is really the third year from
the first settler, and you can see
broad acres under cultivation,
fences are being constructed on
section lines and this thing OF
cutting across the country will
soon be a thing OF the past. We
note that the nights this summer
have been so much warmer than
those of last summer, due, no
doubt, to the fact that more culti-
vation is being done, which is the
making of good corn country.
We are not pestered to death
with coyotes and hawks killing
and carrying off pigs and chick
ems, as was the situation last
year. and the country in general
is becoming one of the greatest
in the west. We are proud of the
good crops that we raised this
year, and which cannot be ex-
celled anywhere. Winter wheat
went from II to % bushels to the
acre and tested 65 pounds, spring
wheat averages 20 bushels as
well as rye, barley, speltz, and
while we do not claim it to be a
corn country, it will 90 80 BUSH
els to the acre. We have 9 acres.
Potatoes (spuds) do well here
and are noted for their fine quail
| ity.
We have under cultivation this
year and into crops, thirty acres,
and must say that all the differ
ent varieties are just as good as
could be made. The rainfall this
season seemed to come at the
right time, and to see the vast
amount OF waving grain, reminds
one of old Indiana. with the ex-
ception of the timber and the
fruit, but it will not be many
years till we will be blessed with
all these, as every homesteader
has some planted, which show
rapid growth, and which will, in
a few years, add wonderfully to
our already beautiful country.
Our soil is dark sandy loan,
from one to four feet deep, under
laid with clay, just rolling
enough to afford self drainage.
Good, pure soft water can be had
from 10 to 100 feet deep, our we'll
is 80 feet and the water is as cold
as ice.
All forage crops do well here,
in fact we raise a greater variety
than we do in the east. Prairie
hay of the finest quality, grows
wild and everyone is we'll sup
piled for the winter.
AS to a healfthful climate, Col
orado has world wide reputa-
ton. winters are mild with very
few exceptions. Will say that
while | have been doing inside
work for almost year, | am en-
loying better health than ever be.
fore, as we'll as my family, and as
far as going back east for health
and wealth. we have no desire
whatever; as we have the health,
we stand possible chance of get
ting the wealth. SO all in all, we
feel as though we will be well
paid for the so-called hardships
OF new country.
Under the new homestead law
passed last February, we were
fortunate enough to secure an ad-
ditional 100 acres, making our
claim 320 acres in one body,
which we are required to live up
on and cultivate 40 acres addi-
tional each year for five years
from the time we filed upon the
first. SO at the end of our five
years, we are required TO have
under cultivation 200 acres. No
committing is allowed, so under
this act, we cannot obtain a pat
ent for our land until the fall of
1912, but as our time is almost
half gone. we feel as though the
other half will pass as quickly,
and if the country continues in its
wonderful Improvement, we
know we will be well paid for the
time spent, the hard work and the
So-called hardships encountered.
My family is practically holding
down the claim, my brother do
ing the farm act. SO they are the
ones that are entitled to the cred
it, while / am holding my posi-
ton as bookkeeper for a $15, 900
general merchandise store in