New-York tribune., 1917-07-25
The Sinews of War
Tractors Hauling NneFurrow Poughs Turn Thousands o
Acres Of Northern Nebraska's Virgin Lands Into
Potato Fields-Yied Is Bushels an Acre
Bv THEODORE M. KNAPPEN

LLIANCE, Neb, July 24-At precisely o'clock in the
n morning the anor OF the Burlington station hauled
the flag the top OF the staff The still slept in the
silence OF the great spaces meadow lark caroed sweety IN
the distance The long wide trim but gues OF paving
itself from the station base straight out into the
seemingly lmitess prairie The scattered iarmhouses seemed
very away The cool and tonic aatude 1000 feetthe
sweep OF the view inspired OF being on the root OF
the worda very great potential world Instnctivey one felt
that he was in new country.
1t new country-ths Northwestern Nebraskanew to the
plough and all forms OF agriculture Forgetting the old rule that
OF the 10st meridian agriculture without irrigation Is pre-
thousands OF farmers years have turned the
sod hundreds OF thousands OF reserved tor the cat
eman and horseman. The West loves sporting proposition
The andhungy read scientific demonstration that agr
culture hopeless without twenty inches OF rainfall year
and go and win fifteen seventeen stray settler or
takes the risk The OF the range look at him puy
gets big crop Come the land spectators and this
settler decoy Carloads OF rich farmers from the $500
further East brought in to view the land In
xcated by the lure the praries begued by the ready tongue
49,, ~ i n.ad -. H. To-, or;coss +be, h,,, Ifav
ing boughthaving made their in the great gambehey
decide to come in They send their boys or sell the old farm
for fortune and plunge the mans task OF building new
home in country So, happens that in short time the
noccuped prares through which railways have operated for
decades become popuous and hummng with the
activity Of the rapid conquest OF new country with modern
methods
Daily colossal tractors bright with paint pant ponder
ouy down the of the villages and towns out to the rapid
" recedng front OF the battle for farms Follow them
ploughs through the tough sod nine burrows at time
In ths-Box Buttecouny there are to-day i? OF these
powerful which have been driven to the limit OF Their
capacity all the spring win for crops thousands upon thousands
that have hitherto known other usage than the tread
OF hoofs OF grazing and cattle Here everywhere
throughout the world to-day Mars mperously drives 1t be-
cause Of him that thousands OF being turned before their
time Responding the call hungry world for food and to the
rnp Of patrotism the soldiers the agricultural frontier toll
now with vigor and spirit hitherto unknown
Chiefly the potato battle that is being fought here
something the story Of lands The virgin soil needs
no fertilizer the land cheap and evolves the bonanza potato
farm crop OF flax wheat be rsked the break
ing but the next year spuds Fields OF 200 to 500 acres
OF potatoes are Yields he quality
sperne To-day the prospects rated at UO per cent
That 100 to Us bushels to the acre. go
What will the farmer get for them? What will you pay for
Them In the ordinary there will be than hundred
BUYERS all the here in September and October
urging the sell his potatoes fast he digs them II
the same old story repeated he may get fair price or
nous price in suddenly gted market but certain you
will pay an price But it to be the DID, old story this
YEAR VIII the his eageness to sell for quick
money and market his product gradually will the government
as war to it that producer and consumer get
square deal? .,, ~
The councils OF defence the county agricultural agents
RAILWAYS the government the merchantsa are urging the
farmer to store his potatoes and sell only right prices The
chances are he will yield to this persuasion But what about
vou Mr. Consumer-wnat about right prices Tor you;
leave it Herbert Hoover