Hermanner Volksblatt. [volume] (Hermann, Mo.) 1875-1928, 1910-05-27
OUR OKLAHOMA Letter.

was taken sick with pneumonia. On
the ninth day he became very bad
and the folks ~telegraphed for me. In
to this telegram Mrs. Seba
and myself took the night train from
Bland to Kansas City, arriving in
Leedey, Oklahoma Friday night. On
Saturday night, or just twenty four
hours later Fred L, Seba our son
also arrived and we almost had a
family reunion. We were all very
glad and thankful that the young
doctor had passed the crisis and was
much improved and was practically
out of danger. Thus relieved Of a
great anxiety your correspondent will
start back to Bland, Mo-, early Tues
day morning, the rest of the folks
will stay for a weeks visit.
Possibilities of Oklahoma.
As we were passing over the plain
of Kansas we had nothing else to do
but to do some thinking. We gener-
ally are doing some thinking when
we are not otherwise employed, and
some times even when doing other
things our thinking apparatus is
not entirely thrown out of gear. But
or this trip we had nothing else to
do but to think and we certainly
thought some. We thought of some
of the falacies that are buggled into
our ears by the calamity bowler. We
very often read long columns in the
agriculture papers about the destruc-
tons of our natural forest. To read
these stories would almost make one
believe that in a mans life time all
the timber of the world would be
gone and not enough seed left to
start a new grove. Yet if the truth
is known you will find that there is
more timber now then there vas a
few years ago. Not many years ago,
Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahom
were almost timberless, but now near
ly every section has from two to four
groves on it. These groves range in
size from one to ten acres, When
we take into consideration the vast
territory that these states cover we
can imagine the vast amount of tim
Der this will aggregate. These limb
erd groves have all been planted and
may properly be considered as scien-
tific forestery, as against the wild
growth of brush and scrubbery. Thes
prophecies like the prophecies of the
HALEY Comet destroying this world
have their origin either in a disea-
sed brain, or a perverted mind that
has ~degenerated into a regular calam
ity bowler. These groves besides
providing protection against winds
furnish shade during the summer for
the domestic barnyard, fowls, also
furnish fence post by the thousand.
Conservative farmers who have farm.
ed in these countries for ten years OF
more will tell you that they have all
the timber that they need, and really
do not want any more. The west
has been blessed with coupious show,
ers. The fruit crop has not been
hurt and there will be an abundance
of apples and peaches and other fruit
Corn has all been planted and is
from four to six inches high. We
noticed on our trip that many farm,
ers were already cutting their al
falfa. Alfalfa is considered one OF
the best paying crops In Oklahoma
| will tell you the reason why. One
quarter section in alfalfa will pasture
raise feed and almost fatten two
thousand hogs per year. Ten dollars
per hog is an extremity low estimate
at the present prices. Even at this
figure this would make twenty thou
sand dollars per year for the alfalfa
farmer who has one hundred and six
ty acres in alfalfa and has hog,
enough on it to eekp it pasture(
down. The cotton is also a very val
liable crop paying the tenant a higl
return for his labor. Then there i
the broom corn crop which is a yer,
valuable crop and can be sold at hig,
prices. Broom corr is rated on tn,
market at about one hundred an,
fifty dollars per ton. Five acres will
raise a ton of broom corn. When
farmer can make one hundred an,
fifty dollars of five acres, he is max
ing some money. l do not blame Go
ernor Hadley for leaving the Execu
tive mansion and moving onto a farr
There are farmers and stockmen Ii
Kansas and Oklahoma, who are max
ing ore then five thousand dollar
per year. / will bet my reputation
that you will find more rich farmer
In the western states then you Wi
governors. In fact when a farme
gets rich by farming he runs for go,
ernor and after he has spent all tn
money he made by farming in pol
tics and by being governor he goe
back to farming.
~ EHaH H"nYH ri. !. Z g-.At-I rH.Hr