Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-01-20
Land Clearing Demonstrations
Project No. 10.

Project No. 10.
Leader 49, John Swenehart, Land
Clearing Specialist. Co-operators-
Dan A. Shaffer, County Agent; Guy
Means, Dupont Co; H. R. Chapman,
Technical Assistant; Mason Smith,
Saxon; Henry Sturgul, Hurley; Alfred
Kaartinen, Defer; j. A. Becker, Hur-
ley; John Peterson, Saxon; John Nord-
berg, Saxon; Albert johnson, Quincy;
NJ. Mattson, Iron Belt; J. Johnson,
Epson; Oscar Saspa, VanBuskirk; j..
c. Wilmington, Mercer; E. A. Ware,
Powell; Andrew Nissila, Cary.
Object
The object Of the land clearing pro-
iect was to encourage the farmers to
clear more land, to use the proper
methods n land clearing work and to
clear their land in the cheapest posi-
bic way. A preliminary survey show
cd that the best way to clear land in
Iron county was by the use of explos-
ives. so our efforts were directed in
that line.
Method of Procedure
The second step taken was to as
sist the farmers in securing their dy-
Mantle at the lowest possible cost.
This was accomplished by encouraging
them to buy their powder through
their county agent. By so doing, their
orders could be grouped together and
the benefits of carload rates obtained.
We were able to distribute 10000 lbs.
Of powder by pooling our orders.
Two stump blasting demonstrations
were held in the early spring to teach
The farmers the proper use Of new
commercial powder known as Dunno
rite" The county agent was assisted
by Mr.. Guy Means a technical expert
Of the DUPONT company The attend
auce at these two demonstrations was
very good and intense interest was
shown.
Work on the picric acid distribu-
ton was started in mid summer in
anticipation Of the fall land clearing
work The first step taken was Ia
send out circular letter and a picric
acid order blank This was followed
M with several articles in the local
papers and by other circular letters
Eight meetings we're held in as many
community Centers to explain the use
and the nature of picric acid and the
need Of more cleared land to put the
county on a firm agricultural basis
The main difficulty was to finance the
car Of picric acid, so a personal ap
peal was made to the business mer
of the county by the county agent anC
fifteen men agreed to give their CHECK
for 800 to finance the carload. Tn,
car was ordered and $4,000 pound,
was unloaded on the fourth of Novem
Der. Approximately 10000 pound.
was disposed from the car and tn,
remainder was stored for future use
The meetings were followed up BY
series Of stump blasting demonstra
tons in every community center il
the county. At these demonstration,
the practical use of pieric acid wa.
shown and a goodly number of farm
ers learned the proper use Of explo
sives in stump blasting work. Thesr
demonstrations were very well At
tended and the people who were Their,
showed a great deal of interest an,
enthusiasm
Results
The results obtained il the Ian,
clearing work are several fold First
approximately $4,000 pounds of dyna
mite was distributed to the farmer.
to be used in land clearing work. Thi.
dynamite will clear at least 240 acre.
Of land and add at least $1,000 to thu
wealth of the county this year anC
will be 2 permanent asset instead of s
liability, The distribution of com
mereial powder was about 20 lbs pei
farmer and Of picric acid about 81
lbs. per farmer, During 1921 the dis
tribution of commercial powder was
very small and the distribution of wal
sslvaged explosives was about tive
pounds per farmer This shows very
clearly what united effort along defn-
lite lines and what definite program
will accomplish, The financial saving
cannot be forgotten and can best be
Illustrated in statement form.