Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-01-25
Franklin, County
Land Good Investment
When Bought Right
special to Times- Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Sheffield, Jan. 25.--About forty years
ago Mr.. G. ]. Van Dusen came to this
town and bought a farm near the
then little village, that consisted Of a
railway station, postoffice, store and
four or five houses. He paid $40 per
acre for his improved timber sheltered
place, altho at the time there was
plenty Of prairie land not far away
that could be had for one fourth the
price he paid. Next spring new"
man will occupy the 200-acre farm and
the old owner retires to the Illinois
town from which he came to- Iowa,
there to spend his remaining earthly
days. Meanwhile the farm under con-
sideration has risen in value. Two
hundred acres at $40 would make the
farm cost $4,000. The company that
purchased it recently paid $4,000 for
lit or at the rate of $195 an acre. That
ought to be raise" enough to satisfy
almost anybody OF course there were
improvements but they doubtless paid
for themselves perhaps several times
over. Using this as an Illustration It
would appear that Franklin county
farm land bought right" forty years
ago was a rather profitable investment.
49,
An interesting feature Of human
nature is observable in connection
with this transaction. Mr.. Van Dusen
chooses to return to the home scenes
of early days as the best place for the
afternoonxof life and at the same time
his Iowa daily goes along with him
because it tells the news from the
state where he has lived so many
years. Same thing as with the German
or Englishman who admits his SYM
pathy with the native country but at
the same time insists he's a good
American.
The August frost last fall ended the
corn crop hopes in this section OF the
country. Until the fatal 29th there
were good prospects here but scarcely
anything susceptible to frost escaped
destruction at that time. A land COM
pany of Franklin county had acquired
possession of a farm for which it paid
$3.50 per acre and on which there was
a sixty acre field of corn, half Of it the
share of the owner. The tenant offered
so cents an acre for it but the owner
refused to sell and later failed to get
even that price for their ruined crop.
This real estate concern reports the
local land movement at standstill,
the quietest in years yet there Is no
thought of receding prices. few ten
ant farmers have been put out of bust
ness by what has occurred but in those
cases where the renter agrees to re-
main on the farm another year he is
generally being carried" by those who
are financially able to do so. Not the
best kind of a prospect, however, this
thing Of working year or two simply
to be able to start in once more on
even terms with creditors. r.
How do you find things in the
asked business man who
continued with. did you ever stop to
think how the farmers problem in
such times as these is only half what
the business man has to deal with
The farmer finds ready market for
whatever he has to sell even II times,
are hard. The business man not only
has troubles in the matter Of buying
but dull periods seriously affect the
other part of his occupation, the
end of the business as WELL"
Mrs. Dan Edgington has an inter-
esting relic in the form Of an old
It is copy Of an Oska-
loosa publication dated Dec. IS, 1861.
1t contains an article by one Wesley
reproducing "Washingtons
which portrays some Of the
principal historical events in United
States history including that Nof the
great civil war and it's successful
as viewed from a union"
It's publication at the time
was doubtless inspired by desire to
instill hope and confidence in the
minds Of the people living in the
northern states or sympathizing with
the union cause.
Some Of the serious problems Of
mature life have had their counter
parts on a small and possibly trivial
scale in earlier years. Professional
tell US that childhood play
should and does bring out those situa-
lions that call for exercise Of courage.
tact and other traits that make for the
of mind necessary in days
to follow. Rain had frozen all day on
frozen ground and next morning a
thin coat of ice lay on several inches
Of water in the level streets Of the
town. A little girl and a boy held the
end Of a long rope attached to sled
on which another boy was sitting on
his knees. The sled was in the middle
Of a miniature pond and the team"
was refusing to pull. The boy on the
sled commanded threatened begged
and finally lost his temper completely.
Reaching into the water he seized
piece after piece Of ice and hurled
them savagely at the playmates who 4
only retired few steps and stood
lodging the missiles as they came.
Then the marooned lad tried differ
emit plan. cav, Winifred," he ex-
claimed ITO the girl. you know I
hurt you but why did you do
that?' The passer-by looked back
from the corner Of the block to see how
the new campaign was progressing but
up to that moment little Winifred was
still holding out against whatever>in \
fluences were being exerted, Sitho she
had advanced to point very near the \
end of the rope.
c. E. WILSON.
ROWAN SHORT COURSE.
County Agent ToibIaa Arrangss Pro-
4 gram For, This Weeks asesian. d !
Clarion, Jan. &c ouhkyS Agent e.
NJ Toihlaa anno1lncoa fhee .fn,lIoxvinc 4