Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-12-20
FEEDING THE FARMS
successFul AGRicuLruRlsrs
TREAT LANDS As THEY DO
LIVESTOCK.
HOW ONE FARM INCREASED
FROM Sos TO 3175 IN VALUE
Thirty Dollars Worth Of Fertilizer on
the Land, Repairs to Buildings and
Trimming Of Groves Turned the
rriek-WiIsen Discovers . Model
Barn on q Powsshiek County Farm.
Special to rimes-Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
Montezuma, Dec. 20.-In the office
of livery barn in central Iowa
town are three enormous ears of corn
tied together. by a string fastened to
nail in the wall. The proprietors of
the barn explained how they happened
to be there. About three years ago an
elderly man came in and looked over
a quarter section of land OH the edge
of the town. He bought the place.
paying $105 per acre for it. 1t was not
priced very high because the land
was badly run down" and the fences
and buildings needed some attention.
The grove was in bad shape too, and
a good deal of work would be required
to restore the farm to its former con-
ditlon. The new owner knew how to
do this, however, even as skillfui
stock breeder knows how. to tit an an
imal for the show ring, and he started
in on the job. Among other things he
did he contracted with Mr.. Liveryman
for all the refuse from his barn at 20
cents a load. After the lapse OF Few
months the farmer received bill Tor
$40. the sender of 1t fully expecting
a kick on the price and cancellation
of the agreement The farmer came
in. in day or two. with the money, al
so with the three ears of corn. He SAID
it was the best $50 he ever invested.
He told, too, how the restoration OF the
fertility of the land together with the
building Of a $4,000 barn, trimming up
the grove and clearing out the bur-
docks had raised the value of that
farm from $105 to SITS per acre,
nrice he can take whenever he wishes
to do so. This man has certainly
proved that farms like farm animals
are most profitable when put and kept
in first class condition.
IF a picture Of the twelve finest farm
harms in the state Of Iowa were to be
placed on exhibition it is probable that
the one Just now being completed on
the big farm of Charles Wolcott. north
east of Grinnell, would be represented
In the group. For months past LOADS
of sand, cement. lumber and barn
equipment have been hauled almost
daily to the site Of the large building
that has attracted attention all ocer
that part of the country. 1t is 6SxSO
feet and fifty feet high to the gables.
Sixty tons Of cement were required FOR
the floors, foundation walls, walks, etc.
Eighty thousand shingles were required
for the roof Besides the big grain
bins, engine room, tank room. hay NOV
and garage there Is space for twenty
four horses and twice that number OF
cattle The capacity Of the hay NOV
Is 200 tons. In one corner is 2oO
barrel tank from which complete sys-
tenn Of waterworks spreads like net
work all over the barn. From 1t also
water can be forced to the topmosf
part Of the family residence. 1t took
eight men ten days to raise the rafters
that support the roof. The equipment
is almost as complc-l as that of big
factory. Litter and feed carriers run
back and forth on tracks, complicated
machinery elevates grain and changes
it from one bin to another, watering
devices are so arranged that the ce-
ment pans in the stalls can be filled
at will and the sewerage arrangements
are as complete as those OF modern
house. One of the big doors is set with
double beaded panels placed diagonally
and contains a row Of half a dozen sep
arate windows. There are no large
wherever strength and weight are
needed the desired result is obtained by
doubling and trebling so that the
strongest wind seems to have no effect
on the big structure. White and yellow
pine form the principal wood materials
three carloads Of which were obtained
from somewhere in the state OF Texas
for the barn. OF course I wanted to
know how much money 1t required to
build such a barn and Wolcott said II
haven't figured it all up yet but 1t cost
about-well it cost enough"
One of the many civil war survivors
who have their homes in the town of
Montezuma, is Mr.. Alvin Jones who, if
he lives few months longer. will be IS
years old. He can tell war stories too.
Was a member of the Third Vermont
infantry and was in the bloody strug-
giles that occurred in the vicinity Of
Spottsylvania Court House. He says
that there is now in some building Of
the war department at Washington a
white oak stump that was part OF a
tree sixteen inches in diameter that
was cut in two by mimic balls fired
from the muskets of the opposing sides
in that memorable campaign. Jones
relates an incident that is here told
about in his own words: "In the latter
days of the war a man enlisted in our
company as substitute. He got $500
bounty for doing 1t. He was an all
round mean cuss and in the very first
fight he took part in the darned fool
managed purposely to shoot the end of
his finger off and turned round intend
ing to get into the rear: but the ser
geant saw the performance and inn