Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-21
LONGTIME REsipENrs on
FARMS FIND If DIFFICULT
TO RETIRE.
As GREAT A PROBLEM
As ACQUIRING LANDS
G. e. Wilson Answsrs Criticism Of
Wright County "crop Export" Who
Jumped at conolusions-Aos cheI.
era Situation Given Exactly as
Farmers Stated IL
Special to Times-Republican.

SpeClaA 20 1lmeS.NepuDuc9n.
Dows. Oct GA well known Wright
county farmer and his estimable wife
are preparing to leave the farm and
go to town to live. They have reached
tho time of life which marks the end
Of vigorous activity such as is neces-
sary in the operation Of q modern
farm and home. Every year this same
thing is occurring in every rural neigh
borhood and there is something Of the
pathetic In the event. Elderly people
who have lived a long time on farms
developed in a period Astounding in
hardship and denial seem to possess
a feeling Of attachment for the old
homes that younger folks and those
who occupy their farms but a short
time, comparatively, never realize. In
theory the young man and woman
| Starting with limited means on farm,
| live and work for the time when the
place will be paid for and comfort
awaits them. In fact, it is generally
at about this anticipated time that the
problem Of retirement appears for So
luton. Some months ago a Franklin
| county forty" was sold at public
! auction. The tract which is unim-
proved, was bought by a man who for
| many years has operated q large farm
| as a tenant farmer. After awhile the
boys will be gone and he will be left
alone. The forty is being held against
that time to be improved when that
| day comes, retirement from a large
farm to a small one.
The wife of retired farmer living
In BOWS Is the daughter Of an early
settler, who lived for many years in
q house made from black walnut logs
and the castings and baseboards Of q
new home in town are the most highly
priced portions Of the house because
they were made from those logs that
formed part of the old pioneer farm
house.
In many cases it may be said truth
fully that Of the two problems. the at
tainment Of farm ownership and salts
factory retirement from active farm
life the latter is by far the more per-
picking.
In this. the east part Of Wright and
west portion Of Franklin counties.
! something like half the hogs on the
farms have thus far escaped disease.
Some time ago one man, the owner OF
a large herd, noticed that one Of his
hogs was "off Its feed" He Immediate
II hauled all the rest to market. accept
ing for them price said to have been
ridiculously low. A day or two later
| the sole occupant Of the hog yard be-
gan to eat as usual and showed no
further signs Of disease. There is an
evident disposition on the part OF those
whose hogs have not 40 yet become af-
dicted to hold to them should any show
signs Of disease because Of the certain
high spring prices for any that can
be saved. The old theory that feeding
new corn too freely causes the trouble
Is still held by some. one farmer nam
ing several large herds that have es-
capped thus far and which have not
been given any of the 1913 corn.
A young man at Clarion who is con-
nected with the agricultural extension
department Of Wright county. has
written to the newspapers criticising
my Ignorance" as to hog cholera con-
ditions in the western part Of the coun-
ty. What said about hog cholera
was what the great majority Of the ex-
about Goldfeld told me. and my bust
WIN
most every farm. It is hardly legiti-
mate controversy to quote hog sta
tistics in the vicinity Of Clarion to dis
prove what majority Of the farmers
near Goldfeld told me as to their own
herds. In a whole days drive thru
that part Of the county near the Hum
boldt line continual inquiry disclosed
but three healthy herds. Two of these
had not been vaccinated and the other.
that Of MT. Marlin, had apparently
been CURED thru vaccination, special
paragraph of my letter having been
devoted to the statement Of that fact.
Vaccination for hog cholera is recog-
nized by the real experts to be in an
experimental stage as yet, so much so
that the Ames department will not al
low an ounce Of serum to leave it's
laboratory without being tested on sick
hogs and the bureau of animal industry
at Washington is sending out lecturers
to teach the farmers that not all hog
disease is cholera. I have no desire to
discredt the local experts" and when
ever the owner Of herd tells me that
he thinks his hogs were saved by vac
cination believe 1t, but when a great
many such owners tell me that their