Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-27
SHORTAGE OF MACHINES IN
NORTHERN IOWA PROVING
GREAT HANDICAP.
OPERATIONS WILL CONTINUE
UNTIL COLD WEATHER
Machine Nsishborhood Companies
Formed and New Machines Pur.
ehased-c. E. Wilson Discovers
Ancient Castle Of EnsIishman Who
Settled in Palo Alto County.
Special to Times-Republican.

special to TimeS-Republican.
Cylinder, Aug. 27.-There is a very
evident shortage Of threshing ma
chimes in the big level oats and wheat
fields of Palo Alto county A threat
ened future car shortage is bad enough
to contemplate, the lack of labor ham,
pers field operations greatly, but
scarcity of machines when all the 9TH
er difficulties have been met and over
come Is certainly matter for aggra-
walton when a great crop is in the
shock and susceptible to damage by
the unusually numerous showers that
have been falling over the northern
part of Iowa for two or three weeks
past. One thresher in this locality en-
deavored to settle the trouble by prom
Using half dozen farmers that each
would be next" All went well until
the big job he was on was about fin
ished. when the actual state of affairs
was revealed. When last seen that
thresher was standing ON top of his
separator talking in the loudest kind Of
tones first in one direction, then in an
other to the irate individuals who in
sisted they had been deceived. Pitch
fork tines We're flashing in the air and
the road looked to be far safer place
to be in than the farm yard. A mile
or two away half dozen men were
working with a little gasoline propelled
machine and as we drove in a man
strobe out with set jaw and stern
eye inquiring: "Are you the expert
that promised to come out and fix this
machine two weeks ago." The visitor
was not an expert" and for once was
mighty glad he wasn't. Last week
two companies were formed, in the
same neighborhood almost, who
bought machines for mutual use. At
the close Of the week hardly one-third
Of the grain had been threshed and
machines will be running in this vicin-
ity for several weeks to come before
shock threshing, which will comprise
80 per cent or more Of the whole. wiz
be finished. Should think you would
stack your, grain and wait till your
turn comes" was suggested to one
farmer who pointed to field contain
ing thousands Of shocks saying: 1T
would take all summer to stack that
field"
There is a quaint old house standing
on half section farm few miles
north Of this town. It's cornices are six
feet wide and it has twenty-four foot
corners posts. 1t is said that rods run
down these extending to the very bot
tom of the twelve foot stone walled
basement, that is under the entire
It was built by William
an eccentric Englishman,
who came here twenty-eight years ago.
and lived in his Cyclone house" for
some time. He had for an only relative
a brother, who had married a widow
with two daughters. According to re-
port these daughters when their step
father died, concluded that Uncle
farm would be fine thing
TO own so they succeeded in having
him taken to an insane asylum, where
who are said to live in Davenport, still
own the farm. 1t is told that MIR.
bought the farm and
erected the house with the proceeds of
4 lucky board Of trade venture and that
later on there were some unlucky deals
in the same line that balanced the early
gains and unbalanced the operators
mind. He was a dog-lover. and his
close companions were Bismarck,
Lady" and Bruno" thoroughbred
pointers Of great value. One Of the
dogs died while some work was being
done on the place and the old man not
only insisted on a holiday being taken,
but he paid one of the men 81 for de-
ivering funeral address over the
deceased CANNES body, allowing two
hours for the preparation Of the ser
non."
Many farms in this section Of the
state have been sold in recent months
% men from localities where land is
higher in price. Those who have lived
1ere for some time have hardly recov-
cred from their Amusement over the
act that their farms so recently valued
It around $40 to $50 per acre. are now
worth more than twice that price.
When the holdings are divided further
10 that fewer men will be farming half
sections and more will be found on
quarters and eighties this will be one
II the best agricultural sections in
northern Iowa.
One man here has worked out new
dea in water tank construction. His
ank is made Of cement Is bowl-shaped
With flaring bottom and fire place
,elow with q pipe in the middle in
tead Of a tank heater. Faulty con-
is given as the reason for a
couple Of cracks that appeared when a
Ire was made but it warmed the water
md the builder is certain that the idea
s all right and an improvement over
he old way.
C. e. WILSON.