Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-01-07
FARMERS MAY BE SORRY
THEY ABANDONED EoUINES
Prediction Made That Demand VIII.
Revive Despite Enlarged Use OF
.Traeters-several Ways to Retire
From Farm Work-Ali Not Success.
fuI-c. &. Wilson's Observations.
Special to Times Republican.

prices said: With the single eNcep-
ton OF horses all kinds Of property sold
8, public sales is bringing heretofore
unheard. %. prices. Horses, especially
those who have seen their best years
are almost being given away and am
certain in my own mind that the horse
raising industry is TO go thru the same
kind o. period that il did from the
early 9c's TO about five years ago.
Temporary low prices Will discourage
the raising OF colts and then when
most of US have gone out of the 6us.-
ness We will have cause to be telling
each other that We missed il in not
eping on. Good horses Will always De
needed in farm work and in great
mum bers regardless of the develop
ment OF the tractor and truck or any
other industry.
some years ago certain Iowa far
mer and his wife, finding themselves
we'll along in years and physically un-
fit Cor further strenuous farm work de-
CideG TO retire and leave the old home
in charge. OF newly former firm Of
which a son was the head. This far
ner was a deliberate sort of man, took
plenty Of time to plan important
matters in life. considered retirement
one OF these and canvassed the sub
iect thoroughly. HIS farm journals
frequently contained editorials in this
line and neighbons were willing TO
donate opinion regarding proper pro-
ceedu-e. Needless 10 tell, they nearly
all advised the building Of a comfort
able little home near the farmhouse
and a retirement to this new home.
The familiar reasons for this method
Of dropping the oars" were given
the difficulty Of transplantiag mature
trees: the new and strange environ
ment Of town life; the consequences OF
rusting out caused by lack Of occupa-
ton. etc, etc.
When the first OF March arrived the
parties OF the first part" moved 10
town. into a modern home in one OF
the best locations in the little city,
bought a Ford and settled down to the
new life.
They didn't have room on the lot
for cows, pigs, chickens, not even FOR
much OF a garden They spent con-
siderable time with the little car visit
ing their children. not all OF whom live
in this state, and occasionally, not
often they helped little on the farm.
That farm is not a large one as COM
pared with average Iowa farms but
industry and good management have
done the business and all concerned
have made a living and more. II ap-
pea RANGES are at all dependable that
retired farmer and his wife have no
reason al all 10 regret the manner IN
whioh thy retired.
And now the reason why they did
not follow the advice Of the farm life
writer's and we'll meaning friends
and neighbors and remain on the farm
to which they came as a young couple
in the days when most OF the land ad-
joining had hardly been touched by
the plow. where the children were born
and reared and all that sort Of fact
and fiction made use Of by advocates
Of theory that so often fails when
put 10 test. Another Illustration IN
an adjoining neighborhood explains
the thing completely.
4 young man and his wife last
spring moved 10 a farm which they
han leased The wife explained the
situation. Her father owns farm IN
another part Of the state and the
daughter and son-in-law had been
partners with him in its management
Father meant well for Us there" she
SAID, but ne is getting along in years
and we simply couldn't agree on
matters relating to farm management.
He wouldn't take any chances at al!
that could be avoided. 1t must DO
sure thing or 1t didn't receive his
sanction. Things new don't appeal to
him. He wants it all as Il always has
| been. We couldn't see any possibilities
in that kind Of farming and we are
here by ourselves where We can plan
ahead, take chances and play the game
in our own way. We Ike to look for
ward as far as we can and father, was
| always looking backward"
/ There are notable exceptions to
cases like this. Some very successful
farm firms consist of active old fathers
and still more active young sons work
| ing in accord and successful financially
| and otherwise but extensive observa-
| ton points to the conclusion that the
! old farmer mentioned at the beginning
! who decided to risk rusting out, be-
coming lonesome and dissatisfied il
geenral in order to give a younger
| generation a free hand, took the safer
and more desirable course by moving
to town than by attempting to retire
in his sons back yard.
o:',- 80 %Hrri. ,
! Everybody who has had occasion to
travel the country in late months has
said at least once .:Why Is 1t that men
persist in building grades in the fall
season when they know what a heavy
rain will, do to them in fall and again
the next spring. Better that the work
be done not at all than In this season
OF the year" A road supervisor said
the other day: II know the practice OF
late grading is all wrong. did the
same thing myself. might have COM
| PEELED men in my district to get out
| and work earlier in the season sbpt II
| must choose between the Ill will OF
the travelling public large portion OF
| which do not even know who an.
and that Of my,neighbors among whom
] live, and work, I'm soths t. 5taks the
former asa matter 81 s&f- preServa-
ton II for 10 Other reason The late
built grade appears to date to be q
necessary evil
4 a. Arys