The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-03-13
NEW HOPE

hem.
Will give the readers an interesting
story of goose ranch out in Arizona.
While this is styled as q story, it
is real fact, the truth. Afford Fisk,
4 banker of Miracopa county, Ari-
zona has made heaps of money out
If geese. Mr.. Fisk's farm is located
a few miles from Tempe and not far
from Miracopa. His place is some
times called Goose City. At that time
there were two thousand -geeze graz
ing around the Fisk farmhouse, and
he is generally called the "goose
king" In this flock were a few bad
actors. They would get into argu-
ments with their neighbors and if
their keepers are not on the job
some rough neck starts trouble. And
invariably some members of the gam
der gang gets hurt. But trouble
makers among the goose colony are
handled just as if they were men.
A calaboosS has been erected on the
farm, and every bad-acting gander is
| locked up just as soon as his char
acter has become known. The Gala
boose is divided into cells in order
to prevent the prisoners from at
tacking one another. Ganders on this
farm must conduct themselves just as
any gentleman would do on polite So
ciety. gander caught misbehaving
is given few days in the calaboose.
While he is in prison he gets all he
can eat and drink, and when he has
served his time he is so fat that he
can hardly waddle, but instead of be-
| ing allowed to associate with self
respecting geese again he is hustled
off to market. When a goose gets
leg or wing broken or meets with
some other misfortune, it is rushed
off to the gooses' hospital, which is
one of the most impressive buildings
on the farm. Every attention is Civ
en- the patient. If the case needs
surgical attention it gets that, but
the large percentage of inmates OF
this institution suffer from diseases
which requires treatment with medi-
cine. Mr.. Fisk admits that he is the
goose king and is proud of the dis
tinction. 81 can make more money
out of my geese in few weeks than
| can out of my bank in a year." said
Mr. Fisk.
While his bank of Tempe is a thriv-
ing little institution, everything Mr..
Fisk interests himself in must thrive,
for that matter, it would take but
try, while the goose farm is the larg-
est in that part of the country. 1t
was through marked success in deal
ing in geese that the bank was made
possible, and it takes more than goose
sense to make cents enough out of
geese to start a bank, even little
country bank. But Mr.. Fisk has
other interests aside from the thriv-
ing little bank and his many geese
that fatten his yearly income by get
ting fat fast. He is one of the larg-
est landowners in that section, having
acquired more than a thousand acres
of the land, not an acre of which is
valued at less than $50. Mr. Fisk's
operations in geese have to do only
with fattening the birds. Few are
Matched on his large estate. Hatch
in ggeese is a slow process for a
man who wants to make large profits
out of geese Young and gaunt, they
are received by the car load from the
South, principally Tennessee and Ken
tucky. Round and fat they are
shipped short time later to the
eastern markets. But in that time
such change is effected that car
which holds $500 upon their arrival
at the Fisk. farm will scarcely hold
100 when they are hurried off to
the market. An average goose upon
its arrival at the Fisk farm is worth
about roc, the same bird brings about
$l.7O when it starts for the market.
The change cost about SOC while the
transportation charges both to and
from the farm will not exceed 2Cc,
leaving the feeder an average of soc
profit on each bird handled. Two
4 thnnSonI
work is fair returns even for bank
er. But the investment and the risk
the risk is comparatively small.
Geese are remarkably hardy and free
from diseases that infest other pour-
try, and their habits are such that
they require little attention. AS NY
letter is growing too long will stop
this story until next time.
Today is spring-like. The farmers
are wanting to see some sunshine, so
they can begin preparing for their
many crops. We trust to see a few
weeks of sunshine and air.
Uncle MoXy solved the problem.
Did you have some help?
The hens are making it sound like
spring by their singing and cackling.
The trees are beginning to put forth
buds.
Misses Allie Whitlock and Ailene
Bishop spent the weekend with Miss
Sallie Whitlock. Miss Allie is going
to be trained nurse.
Henrietta Gossett had the misfor-
tune to get one of her arms broken
while playing last week.
Mrs. Ida Belue visited her daugh-
ter~ Mrs. John Whitlock, Sunday.
Smike.