Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-08-19
WHEN NE IS 40 Vars OLD"

EA-Secret2fy wilson Is 10 contfip-
ute to the welfare Of the state by a
report to the governor Of Iowa Of his
observations and conclusions abroad
where he has been studying agricul-
tural methods and affairs. He will treat
especially on the leasing question and
the folly Of short time leases.
It will be a valuable and welcome
contribution. but on the matter Of
short time leases it viii say little that
every landlord in Iowa does not know
as we'll now as he will after reading
the report. They all know that short
lease IS mainly permission granted to
skin a farm for one year or two or
three as the lease may read. Such
leases are granted in order to get the
last dollar OF high rent. They are tax
en- with the purpose o: getting the last
cents worth out Of the land in the
time allotted and letting the landlord
and the succeeding tenant take what
is left after the lease has run its
course.
On the way into Chicago on stock
train the other night was Norwegian
farmer from Worth county. He was
shipping hogs fine ones He had come
from Norway at the age Of L. had
worked on a farm for S. a month While
learning the language and in order 10
pay prom pity the money his father had
borrowed with which 10 pay the sons
on thru the common graduations from
farm hand TO renter and from renter
TO struggling owner anu from that TO
prosperous farmer. He owns three big
farms. Next year he will finish paying
the last dollar he owes on the last
farm. And wnen that Is done he is 60
ing TO lease his farms and take things
easier. Here's his plan evolved from
his hard head and his experience:
"Av don't want to sell dem farms,
he said. "Ay am going - rent dem"
Dropping from his ve-nacular this is
what he is going to co. He is going 10
rent one farm to his son with the I'M
dersta niing that he snau have that
farm some day. The others he is to
rent to selected young farmers on a
partnership basis. The landlord is to
furnish the money needed TO conduct
the best kind Of farming operations,
TO buy cattle and the ike. The articles
o: agreement must call for zen years
partnership. II is TO be an even oi-
vision Of profits. The shrewd Morse
I landlord will thus have an iron Of ad-
vice and judgment in al his fires. He
, figures he can make more money and
that his partner can make more mon
ey this way. And he viii have better
farms when the lease runs out than ht
had when it was written.
lay don't sell dem farms now. Ter
year from now dem farms will BIZ
worth $3.50 an acre Ay bet. Den a,
Will be 70 years old. Dat son will bs
yust about fl and ready to have {
big farm oe his own, he is 10 now
Maybe den I sell and gtf him and m:
laws, If dey are any good. a bi,
start. Don't you see dat il dat iant
goes up lax it ought 10 dat Ay maxi
$3.50 esery acre efery year and get n!
share off dem TOO? And when Ay an
ready to sell Ay will have three farm
to sell dat are finest and most fertil'
anywhere
"Tama jim" can not beat that re
port from the Norsenan who came OF
borrowed money in a steerage an
modestly confesses to be worth fifty
sixty tousand il Ay will sell of ev
erything." There Isn't landlord Ii
Iowa or elsewhere who couldn't hav
picked UP information worth big mon
ey sitting with him. drawing out
him his half ashamed confession Of nj
struggles and success and his plans 70
the future. And the meat and purpos
OF his talk was the longtime leas'
good farming, soil conservation. II
hadn't the terms but he mad the ides
When he is 30 years old he sha
have his justification and confirmation