The Detroit times., 1911-11-04

back-breaking years for a decent
crop!
Do you wonder that two-thirds or
the claim winners are back at work
in the city in two years?
All through Trip county, where
1l7.o00 persons registered from
about 5000 claims, are empty, de-
serted shacks. asked everybody
why.
They ran out of money" That
was about the most popular answer
The work broke their hearts," is
also popular. The fleas bothered
them too much, is another explana-
ton. And here while on the subject
OF fieas. ! might add that fees are
one big problem 10 the homesteaders.
Especially are they bothersome-to
the limit of endurance-to the
dwellers in sod houses. Mosquitoes
help make life during the summer a
constant worry.
Does II get cold during the winter?
Yes. IL gets quite cold ut was %
below one day last winter and three
Indians froze over on the creek" said
one woman.
Fuel is a problem, for there are no
trees, except slight fringe on the
Creeks, and the Indians have reserved
practically all that. You couldn't
pick up enough wood OH a square
mile OF land out here to start fire.
Coal must be freighted by wagons.
THAT is why ! have only one
room, said homestead widow near
McNeeley with but one room. | can
keep fairly warm on three tons Of
soft coal year, that costs $40 a ton. ."
/ found few-very few-successfuI
demonstrating women. One woman, a
bohemian. down near MIillboro, is a
practical farmer. She broke 3j acres
herself last spring, and she grew
some corn as fine as any OF her men
neighbors. But she knew how to
farm when she came mere, and she
has seven children to help her.
Mrs. Sarah Mullen, three miles
east OF Carter. has succeeded in maxi
ing her claim pay, but she quits it
every fall to go back to Oak Park.
Ill. so the children can 90 to
school, she explained.
Mrs. Carrie Phillips, also an Illinois
woman, has a homestead story worth
telling. She and her husband and
nine children came out in 1908. Out
on the prairie her husband froze to
arath. Mrs. Phillips and her nine lit
.e ones lived In a tent throughout
the winter, and finally succeeded in
selling a REIMBURSEMENT for 81 400.
! believe I am conservative when
say that so per cent OF those who
registered in Trip and Gregory coun-
ties and again this year. did 80 for
the same reason gambler puts his
money on the ponies or on the cards
They have no idea OF farming, except
possibly during the time they must
remain on the land They register
hoping to relinquish their claims for
price
In Gregory county such relinaulsh-
ments sold for as high as $4,000: in
Trip few reached $4,000. The selling
oi a rellnquIshment Is clearly against
the law, but IL is done just the same.
The resi- OF these homestead specu.
latOrs go out on their claims, throw
up a one-room shack. often a sod
house, for lumber Is high and every
bit OF freight Is hauled from 10 to 80
miles by wagon. They hire a farmer
10 break n few acres and some corn
Is put In. Then they sit down and
wait. When the ~ months have rolled
by. the full amount due the govern
meht is paid, and this kind OF home.
steader silently bundles mp his
clothes and hikes back 10 civilization
And another section is listed with a
real estate agent az Winner. Dallas or
Gregory.
Real estate az 'nts. bankers and
loan agents are making money. There
Is no doubt about that \ farmer
with giltedged security can borrow
for nine pets cent: from that the in.
tcrcst runs all the way to IL per cent