Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-10-09
A Letter From Iowa.
Grand Mound, Iowa,

september Il, 1919.
Editor Register-Last year when was
in Shepherdstown many of the readers
of the Register expressed their spprecia-
tion of the articles concerning my exper-
fences in the middle western States which
had contributed to the Register the year
previous, and inquired why had not
written more of them. In those issues
mentioned some of my experiences in
the States of Nebraska, South Dakota,
Minnesota, Indiana and Illinois.
This year il has been my fortune and
pleasure to view and study some OF the
natural phenomena and artificial con-
structions iE one Of the greatest agricul-
tural States OF the Union, a State which
doubtless contains much land richer than
the land of any garden spot in the world.
The State OF Iowa can well be called the
"King Corn Belt" of America and one OF
the greatest oats producing States in the
world. Out of her black, rich, loamy
soil the young sprouted corn plant ere il
has been cultivated begins to flap its
green leaves in defiant salute to IFS earlier
rival, oats, which, nearing its harvest
goal, is soon by the grim reaper to be
separated from its earthly stalk and placed
in lonely bin to await and undergo
commercial consumption.
Iowa is also a great live stock producer
Some of the finest horses, cattle and hogs
which visit the markets of the United
States are raised in Iowa. The price oi
land in Iowa has in recent years advanced
very rapidly. The price now ranges
from $10Oto $500 per acre. have walked
through many farms this summer which
had been purchased for $3.50 per acre.
II was great pleasure TO view in person
samples of the best tarm land in the
United States, and see the rich crops pro-
duced thereon. Twas good place and
opportunity to study agriculture.
Most of the farmers in those sections
are Germans, direct from Deutschland,
who when they are together enjoy pratt
fling in their ancient Gespracht. They
are usually good farmers and take pride
in having plenty OF land, with lots oi
nice, fat, sleek stock thereon. There are
few Norwegian farmers here also, who
seem 10 be surprising even the Germans
in up-to-date methods OF farming. ES-
pecially are the Norwegian people more
courteous TO strangers. was quite al
home when | met the Norwegians. They
seemed delighted when they learned that
was from West Virginia, and asked il
did not get lonesome, being so far from
home. told them had been weaned
and that wherever stopped was home
to me. Many OF the Iowa farmers ex-
tended their praise in behalf Of the West
Virginian boys who had worked for them.
They said these boys were the best
horSemen and the most industrious and
faithful workers they had ever hired in
the State OF Iowa. They kept trying to
hire me, until one day, unable TO endure
longer, threw off my collar rolled up
my sleeves and joined the harvest fields,
where was comfortably entertained for
two long weeks. The farm work is moi
drudgery here, as there are no rocks ir
the fields TO annoy one. These farmers
offered me good pay if would return
this fall and pick corn for them, but
guess shall steer clear OF corn picking,
especially when the frost hangs so near
The fields are clothed in luxuriani
grass and herbage, in which quail and
other game fowls harbor and feed. The
game laws are very strict and scrupu-
Iously enforced. | have killed quite a
few snakes, gophers and ground hogs
this summer. did not like their bark
ing and Kissing, and TO their surprise
would hurl club or stone on their heads
while they were daring me to their dens.
Doubtless many friends and acquaint-
ances of Jefferson and vicinity have
wondered what | am doing these days.
Like Washington, Napoleon, Webster,
Clay, Longfellow and other illustrious
men who in their youth were anxious to
secure start in LIES battles, | entered
the book canvassing business, so have
been engaged this summer selling books
to the farmers in Iowa. have found il
a rather healthful and PROSPEROUS busi-
ness. The people informed me that il !
could sell books to the farmers | could
sell most anything. Since June have
sold over two hundred and fifty books
which profit me about & per book.
/ have walked all summer, through sun
shine and dust, singing "sell books !
must" Twas the hottest and dryest
summer in Iowa since the year 1902.
There will be only three-fourths OF an
average crop here, owing 10 drought and
late spring frost.
have not only studied the agricultural
feats Of the people here, but also the
change in their habits. Once little did
imagine that the fat-stomached Dutch
man, proud of his beer paunch, should
ever cast vote barring him Of his glut-
tonous swill. But at the last election in
Cedar county, Iowa, the greatest majority
of the previous booze holsters gotta clean
and clear conscience and once for all
voted out the saloon They went even
further, and prohibited the drugstores
from selling whiskey Tor medical pur-
poses. King alcohol seems to have lost
influence here. have not heard of an
arrest in any dry town around here this
summer. The town lights yet burn and
the improvement wheels still turn. Hur-
rah for Temperance. The Deutscher has
declared "Raus nit EN-"
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