Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-05-17
IOWA LETTER. <'t '=''', a
-..>-r~-S
Wapello, Ia.
March z, 1916.
Commercial Geo. Class,
Rart0O Vermont


Commercial Geo. Class.
Barton. Vermont.
Dear Students:
In answer to your letter [ will try to
give the most important industries of
this town and county. The canning
factory is one of the most important,
owned by Baxter Brothers of Portland,
Me-, and located here about sixteen
years ago, because of the soil being
particularly adapted for the raising of
sweet corn, tomatoes and all forms of
vegetables. The soil is sandy loan
and ex cept in low places needs little
tilling and drainage. The canning
factory requires from 1000 to 1000
acres to produce an output of one
season. 1t employs about two hundred
people for three months, and about ten
during the entire year. The output is
The corn is of very rich quality and
flavor and sought after by the eastern
market, much of the corn being export
ed. The seed corn is furnished by the
factory but charged to the producer at
harvest time. The price paid to the
farmer at the present time for produc-
ton of this corn is six to eight dollars
per ton, hauled to the factory with the
huskS on. The corn is husked by ma
chine, formerly by hand.
StOck-raising is one of the chief in
dustrles- Stock raising, corn produc-
ton, wheat and oats are the principal
crops. This is about the center of the
great corn belt The average crop of
corn is about fifty bushels per acre.
The thrifty farmers convert this corn
into pork and beef, and little corn is
exported from the county The wheat
crop is source of considerable reve-
nue., yielding from 81 to So per acre.
The oats crop is largely fed by the
local consumers. The cattle production
together with the hogs may be said to
be the chief industry of our people.
Not only does the industry include the
rearing and fattening of cattle, but
there are many herds of pure-bred cat
tie found in this county, and southeast
ern Iowa The principal breed and one
found to be the most profitable is the
Shorthorn. In this locality is located
perhaps one Of the most noted herds of
Shorthorn cattle in the United States.
The farm is of 1000 acres, living almost
adjacent to the town of Wapello, the
farm lying along the Iowa river On
this farm, which is managed by John
Garden, a Scotchman by birth, lives
one of the most noted Sborthorn breed
ing bulls. His name is Imported Viii
lager There are over two hundred
head of these cattle on this farm. 1t
is beautifuEs sight to see them grazing
in the wooded pasture. coated over with
blue grass. The color of these cattle
are reds, roans and whites. They are
sold to all parts of the United States,
the prices depending upon the quality,
breeding and merit of the individual.
The Shorthorn cattle are not only beef
producers but milk and butter as we'll.
A few miles east and north of this
place has another herd of cattle known
as the Pull Durhams, owned by Will
Jams q Son. These cattle are the
Shorthorn cattle, deprived of the horns,
and are sought after by the stockmer
because they are hornless. Many fine
types of the breed are found on these
farms. There are many other herds n1
Shorthorn cattle as we'll as black cattle
or Pold Angus, as we'll as Herefords
This locality is also noted for the pro
duction Of hogs. The Duroc Jersey is
perhaps the hog that is most promi
nen:- Every farmer has more or less
hogs, and with the right kind of care
are produced with profit as we'll az
pleasure The Poland China are alst
raised here. They are a black hos
! while the Duroc Jersey is a red hog
but very equal in merit and profit.
This is perhaps one of the creates
markets for horses in the West The!
are shipped from here in carloads t,
the eastern markets. Horse-buvers ar,
here constantly and will ship horses O
bad as we'll as good qualities. Tn,
Percheron horse is perhaps the on
, most prominent. however, the Shyer i
sought after and bred with great dea
of profit. The stock of horses are KEEP
up by the importation Of stations com
ing from France and England. A goo
7 horse is worth from 5000 to $500 on tn
= market So
). Hoping that this will give you som
: idea of our part of the country,
Respectfully yours,
L Ii