Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1909-09-23

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Is, 900 bushels. Henry Schroeder's
home is about one mile northeast and
is q splendid country homestead-the
buildings alone valued at 10000. I
saw the record Of three farms that
were sold In the past six months, one
80 acre farm was sold for $50, one 80
acre farm for $62.50, and one 160 acre
farm for $62.50 per acre, all cash sales
and bought by old residents who had
made their money raising potatoes.
About 4:30 p. m. j. J. Hill very kindly
had passenger train arrive at Sabin,
and by paying IL cents I was allowed
to ride to Moorhead and, after walk
ing over to Fargo registered at the
Hotel Gardner, where had arranged
by phone to meet Mr. Schroeder. Mr..
Schroeder arrived about 6 o'clock and
after hearty handshake was invit-
ed to dine as his guest and afterward
l asked many questions. To all in
quiries he gave intelligently and free
ly all the information possible. When
asked about the beginning Of his potato
raising. Mr.. Schroeder gave me this
information. II began raising pota-
toes by planting two acres. I ped
died them out in Moorhead and Fargo
and made good money, then I planted
three or four acres and sold them
with the same result. then tried II
or Is acres, then IS and As, and man
came up from Minneapolis and paid
me $4,000 for this As acre crop. I can
tell you felt pretty good over this
$4,000. It was the beginning of q new
life for me and my family. We
thought the question out along this
line, if there was money in potatoes,
where three or four acres were raised,
also money in IL to 16 acres, and still
more money in IS to As acres. why
not money in 100 to 200 acres, and
we have planted $50 to 800 acres
every year since. This season we ex-
pect to plant 400 acres, and will have
to enlarge the warehouses according
ly."
When asked if there had been one
year in the 16 that he had raised po-
tatoes that he had not made good, he
very quickly said no, not one, and
when pressed to know the profits for
the past season, Mr.. S. hesitated and
he said he did not like to make
statement for the newspapers, but
told me confidentially, and l can tell
you the balance was on the right side
of the ledger so much so that he
could have drawn a check that would
have represented the value of the
best 24O acre farm around Parkers
Prairie and have money left. When
asked if there was any danger of over
loading the potato raising, he said no,
we will have to raise enough to feeo
the people of the United States be-
fore we can overstock the market.
There are thousands Of bushels of po-
tatoes landed in New York every
week from Europe and can not fur
nish one-fourth of the potatoes am
asked to furnish. I am sold out now
and requests come in every day.
left Mr.. Schroeder at 9:45 p. M
with the feeling that had been talk
ing with man who stands as a coun-
try benefactor among the first of the
nation. He spoke of the time when
he clerked in Mr.. Asslin's store in an
early day and inquired about the well
fare of many of the old timers He is
man once met will never be for
gotten.
Now, Mr.. Editor and Brother Farm
ers, think it about time to draw this
potato talk to a close but l wish to
leave one or two thoughts with you.
One is to take hold of this enterprise
and plant at least five acres this
spring; 10 or II would be better I
will set the example by planting 20
acres. The other thought is, that in
all the potato raising sections, farm
ers are well off and contented with
their lot. You may ask people who
live around Anoka or Princeton, where
they raise potatoes, they will tell you
the same story.
Now if have benefited anyone by
this letter am well repaid for my
time and effort, or If I have only a.
unused some to think that a common
farmer should write for a newspaper
why that is good pay also. l certain
II have been benefited: 1t has led
me to new thoughts and has been the
means of my looking deeper into the
potato question than otherwise
would, and also caused me to visit
the potato section about Sabin, which
visit will remember for many day.