River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-03
FROM CALIFORNIA

Editor River Falls Journal:-I
have been so much interested in the
communications F m D w n
East" and especially those concern
ing run down farms and also the
one concerning health. In my long
journeyings in the boundaries of
the West Wisconsin Conference,
covering the west half of your great
state, l have been much in contact
with the people and have known
great numbers who came to Wis
consin for their health, especially
in early times, and found up in your
portion of the state much relief
from bronchial troubles. When, in
1887, we became searcherS for
health, our two youngest daughters,
afflicted with spasmodic asthma,
began study of locality IN relation
to that and kindred diseases.
There may have been now and then
a case of tuberculosis developed
among the children born in the new
locality of the family but there were
compensations seemingly equival.
ent. Travelling as | did for ten
years in the Black Hills, including
six years in Crook county, Wyom-
ing, and Custer county, Montana, |
SO often listened to the wonderful
things wrought by climate that even
now l think that any asthmatic who
makes the region named his home
has pretty nearly found paradise
with little prospect of its develop
ing into anything more serious.
When five years ago we came to
southern California we were seven
miles from the ocean IN Orange
county. l looked after the people
more or less in about sixteen square
miles of territory. My first sur
prise was when | heard that
sturdy young man had pneumonia.
l expected everybody to be anxious
as were the people of Wisconsin or
the Black Hills, but no, there was
no apprehension, it was not treated
any more seriously than any other
bad cold. And there was no ex-
pectancy of fatality and in these
five years | have not known of
single fatal case Of pneumonia. |
have buried several consumptives,
but in every instance it was import
ed and in most cases of both old
and young it was of those who re-
turned to the East thinking that
they were as able to live there as
here, but soon learning their mis-
take returned, but too late for eli
mate to be their restorer. l am not
infatuated with this country by any
means but it is the freest of the ills
from which for SO years | was in the
habit of laying people at rest, that
am convinced that there is more in
the climate and locality than has
ever yet been conceded. used
often to ask, How can we so long
survive living in furnace heated
houses at an average of 70 degrees
above zero and go out of doors and
breathe it occasionally 80 below and
still retain health?" These are
some of the things l thought as |
carefully considered the articles. l
never knew before what it meant for
cold to have no teeth" but it is a
wholesome sensation.
l think also that Comrade Reed
is touching another subject that all
the East would do wise to consider.
why should farms run DOWN."
That can only be answered when in
small cities like River Falls we find
gardens growing to weeds instead
of furnishing abundant vegetables.
1 often hear people say, "Oh it is
cheaper to buy your vegetables than
10 take the trouble to raise them"
Perhaps that may be correct, but
gardening Us Intensive Farming"
and intensive farming does not
wear out land nor improve it either.
1t is extensive" farming that
wears out the soil and makes the
farms run down.
When, as / know, one 6l0 acre
farm can clear up $4,000 in one
year because a score of men are
kept constantly at work, some of
them at modest little salaries from
$4,000 down, more than half as
much can be accomplished in the
vicinity of River Falls when land
will be worked and worked and
fortified and worked and then
worked some more, until the weed
is thing unknown and the man OF
/ the hoe and cultivator has come
to his own. There are many things
| that the market demands and some
unusual things happen to some
men. l am foolish enough to be.