Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-05

from Ceres, where she was visiting,
that their opportunity was in the new
irrigation district, and for him to think
il over.
Soon afterward she returned to Iowa,
where she told her story to her hus-
ba nd again, and to her kindred in three
counties and to the neighbors, gem
orally Mr.. Simon was willing to make
the change and some of their kindred
also thought well of it, and so she re-
turned to California commissioned to
buy $50 cares of land This was more
land than she, herself, wanted, and
more than she had money to pay for;
but she had sufficient for the margin,
and so she contracted to buy ESQ acres
for $3.50 per acre, confident that the
rise of value would take care of the
deferred payments if her husband
should be compelled TO carry IL all.
However. the surplus was all taken and
a great deal more besides.
Neishbors Followed Her.
So the beginning of the Iowa col
ony,' which now numbers something
like sixty men. women and children,
was made. She reported to Mr. Simon
and the others of the syndicate what
follow her. Mr.. Simon came at once,
and the others somewhat later, taking
advantage of the Santa Fe's spring and
fall excursions for colonists. In the
m eantime Mrs. Simon, by her contract,
was mana ing the $50 acres and re-
ceiving what profits were derived from
II. rent free In the course of two
years, the other colonists had come on
and taken over their respective shares,
until now Mr.. and Mrs Simon have
only the farm, and sixty more, which
they control. However, the story fol-
lowing of their success is only of their
own sixty acres:
On their home place. they have TWEEN
acres Of nursery stock: six of april
cots and figs, in alternate rows; six of
peaches and figs, in alternate rows;
twelve of grapes: six of alfalfa; two Of
eucalyptus trees; two of garden; one
OF poultry yard; three Of barn lot, and
two OF dooryard. The dooryard is
planted with grass, flowers, lemons,
oranges, pomegranates. olives, figs, and
ora nInental shrnhhery, and in their
midst sits a home of beautiful archi-
lecture and modern comforts. The
house, windmill, and tank cost $4,000
Altogether, the land and improvements
have cost s1o.420 and the owners are
holding it for $4,000. Their income
from the place in 1909, was Sc, 900 in
round numbers. The nursery, especiI-
y, was profitable, but every acre of the
farm, except the dooryard, made
money. Four years ago, the ground
was bare. and some of it has been
planted only three years.
Becomes Farmer.
J. C.. Evans. who owns sixty-two
acres, was a general merchant at St
Anthony. Marshall County. Iowa. four
years ago, and was doing a good bus
mess and well satisfied, until Mrs.
Simon pointed the way to California.
Immediately, he began to close out his
business, and in the spring of 1907 he
arrived in the Turlock district He was
not farm broke" but it is easy to
farm in the San Joaquin Valley, and
Mr.. Evans soon picked up from the
'neighbors. He planted twenty-one and
one-haf acres of alfalfa, fifteen of
peaches and sixteen of grapes, and put
the rest of the land in one thing and
another. In three years he has taken
profit of $4,000 off the place. over and
: above a living for his family, and
from now on he expects to make big
money every year. He has been water
ing his alfalfa once year, but here
after he will water it two or three
I, times a year. He cut it five times a
year, besides pasturing it, and the yield
has been eight tons per acre. yearly.
TT will do better than that this year
and hereafter. Besides field. orchard
! vineyard, meadow, and garden crops,
IAfr. Evans has cows, pigs, and poultry
| lie has a good house and barn, which
have cost 81 500. The land house and
barn have cost about $4,000, and his
] first payment was $500. He holds the
] place for $4,000, or 1926 per acre
Land in it's native state close by is
/ held for s1I5 to $3.50 per acre. South
-%a-d FIVE six miles. surrounding
! Bal1iop, a station on the Santa Fe Rail-
way, and Delhi, on the Southern Pacific
exactly the same quality of soil is held
| for 800 per acre. These stations are
/ in MERGED County. but within the Tur-
| lock irrigation district. In this district
purchase of land includes the right to
the water forever.
| Mrs. Simon's Brother Joins.
| o. J. Abbott, a brother OF Mrs. Simon
| owns twenty acres, for which he paid
$50 per acre three years ago. Before
| that he lived at st. Anthony, Marshall
4
| half acres of eucalyptus trees; five OF
| plu1ns, six of tokay grapes. and three
of alfalfa The remainder he plants
yearly in melons. He would sell FOL
I $3.50 per acre. and start again on new
land, but he is not seeking a buyer
His land has made a living for his fam
lily, yearly, and from now on he ex-
poets to put money in bank and make
improvements besides.
G. r. Price came from st. Anthony
Marshall County, Iowa Originally, he
was a boy at Gearing, Story County
where ne was born. He bought twenty
acres in the Turlock district tire,
years ago, paying $3.50 per acre. HI
puiIt house and made other Improve
ments and planted the land, and nov
he is holding the place for $500 pei
acre. In the three years, the land ha.
paid for itself, and some TO spare. II,
has four and half acres of alfalfa
five of wine grapes, four and a half o
4 tttd,sszzsJ sz<s four and half o