Morris tribune., 1915-12-31
FIREBAUGH MAKES
MAT PREDICTIONS
Morris Farmer Thinks Stecher is
Coming Champion when
Gotch Becomes too Old


Sam Anderson farm two miles north
east of Morris and who comes from
Humboldt, Ia, is deeply interested
in wrestling along with corn and live
stock and Stevens county farming.
He knowsFrank Gotch, worlds cham
pion wrestler, in whom he has an
abiding faith but Firebaugh thinks he
sees a new champion just beyond the
horizon. The new grappler is Joe
Stecher who halls from Nebraksa.
Mr.. Firebaugh came to Morris two
years ago and bought the Anderson
farm which he is converting into a
stock farm. 81 came just in time to
get hooked on the bad years but l
could hardly expect anything else con-
sidering the condition of the farm, -
said Mr.. Firebaugh to the Tribune
yesterday. ''But this is good country
and good soil and l think l shall come
on top of the heap in time. This
country has no business sticking to
wheat. Wheat kills the soil and
makes the farmer poor. Once in so
many years a wheat crop is all right,
but give me corn and live stock. That
is what has made the lands in Iowa
where came from worth $3.50 to
$500 per acre. 1t has showed land
rentals to $40 per acre and tenant
can hardly afford to lease land at that
figure. Stevens county is just as
good as Iowa soil but it needs differ
ent methods of farming. I am in fav-
or of the county agent. He is useful
in more ways than one. A live coun-
ty agent can help the farmers to a
surprising degree. Every farmer
learns by experience but all of them
haven't time to read or 60 searching
for the experiences of others. That
is the business of the county agent.
He searches for information, studies
situations and conditions and in many
ways can be of more service to COM
munity than the public suspects. The
salary of a county agent is small
matter when compared to the benefits
obtained. I am glad to see there
are so many here in favor of the
county agent. -
Firebaugh is we'll read man and
able to talk on most any subject OF
interest to the farmer. He believes
farming is the most important bust
ness in the northwest. According tt
his views there are three kinds Of
farmers--t who farm with theil
heads and those who farm with the
muscles, and the third kind are those
who farm with the head and hands
He says he can remember the days
when the farmers in Iowa routed the
hired man at four o'clock in the morn
ing-to sneak up on the days work
as it were-and all hands were in the
fields till late at night. That illus
trates the muscle farmer. Today tn
head farmer sleeps in proportion t.
health requirements, gets advice from
competent sources, has more comfort
in living and usually larger banl
account. The days farmer i
doing more thinking. He has discov
cred that there is more profit in rails
ing ham at 4Oc per pound than Their
is in raising bread at nickle loaf
Mr.. Firebaugh has known Fran
Gotch almost all his life. He regard
Gotch as the unbeatable champion VIII
has been on the square in every mate
of his life. He has disposed of ever
heavy that has appeared. He is quic
and strong and clever. Stechel
whom Mr.. Firebaugh sees as the CON
ing champion, has been before tn
public a long time. He is undergoin
a slow process of development but b
has the speed and cleverness that
champion requires. According to Nj
Firebaugh Gotch also believes Stecht
will wear the laurels when it come
time for Gotch to retire.