Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-20
FARM ERs EMsARRAssE0 ~ IN
ABILITY TO MARKET HOGS
AND cArTLE.
FEED BECOMING SHORT,
PROFITS GO eLIMMERlNo
Diluted Market and Slump in Prices
Predicted When Stock Begins to
Move Tenants Kept on Move by Ere.
quent Farm saIss-WiIson's Rural
Observations.
special to Times-Republican.


condition has prevailed for six weeks
or more in different parts Of the state
as result Of the inability of the rail-
road companies to move their trains as
ing up all their grain and hay and are
wondering where additional supplies
are to be obtained for the stock they
expected to ship TO local dealers more
than a month ago. At the town OF
Swaledale just one lone car of stock
was shipped out between Jan. and
Feb. II. Efforts to obtain cars for
other stock shipments were unavailing.
At many other stations conditions are
almost as bad. Such a state of affairs
at this time of the year is particularly
embarrassing to the farmer who has
planned to meet financial obligations
with the proceeds of stock shipments,
to those who must move from one
farm to another and to those who are
running short of feed. At a public sale
near Belmond few days ago some
hay is said to have sold at $28 per ton
and almost any little strawstack IS
worth $50 at this time. Feeders COM
plain everywhere that stock made very
little II any gain during the many
weeks IF cold. stormy weather this
winter, and there is much speculation
as to what will happen to prices when
the cars finally can be furnished as
fast as wanted. The statement fire.
quently heard is in effect that with re-
ceipts in the market centcrs what they
are with the present car shortage sit
uation they will be so large later on
that buyers will take advantage OF
the inevitable congestion and put
prices to a point where profit to the
feeder is out of the question.
A free movement in the matter OF
land sales has its disadvantages even
tho the deals are made at an ever In
creasing price. Il have been moving
around all over this part Of the coun-
try" said a man the other day, "and
all because the farms I rent are sold
the first year I occupy them. The
clause in the lease which provides that
sale Of the farm limits the life of the
instrument to the following March l
is becoming one of the terrors of the
tenant farmer. It will be a good thing
for us renters when farms cease chang
ing hands so often as they are doing
these days..
| 80
There are few finer or larger barns
in this part Of the state than that on
the farm of ]. D. Baker. northwest of
Belmond. It is 60xsO feet in size.
There is room within its walls for
nearly 200 tons of hay and straw and
100 head Of cattle and horses. Parti-
tons at the lower part keep the Diff
1,S~ i~n0x ~ a
thus overcoming one of the objections
to the big barn. Mr.. Baker threshes
his straw into his barn and with a
rope and pulley contrivance bucks"
the straw to the remote corners Of the
NOW, using horse on the ground be-
low for power to run the plank on the
floor above There is big silo at one
end Of the barn, which was erected two
years ago and cost about $4,000.
Some months ago man in northern
Iowa bought 2O0-acre farm. Thought
he might keep it for a short time and
sell at an advance. He paid 800 down
on the place, did lot Of fall blowing,
marked up the selling price few
notches, and waited for the coming of
a purchaser, who for some reason did
not come. AS the time for further
payments drew near the owner lost
faith in the wisdom of the deal and
forfeited the 500, also the blowing. He
is probably finding consolation in the
fact that he made only an insignificant
payment and will be able to operate
the smaller farm which he has rented
for the coming year.
There is farmer living near this
town who deserves credit for at least
one original idea. He became tired OF
running around to the north side of his
house every time he wanted to glance
at his thermometer, so he fastened
small piece Of wood few inches from
his north window. To this he nailed
the instrument that measured the tenn
perature and when he wished to know
how cold it was, he simply walked to
the window and looked out.
Here is an illustration of possibilities
in q business way where both parties
to transaction are handicapped by
defective hearing: A somewhat deaf
farmer entered an implement store IN
a town of central Iowa one day and
|HzEzzEzEZzk7
3 Fun strength III