Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-12-12
BIG SAVING TO FARMERS
Villas County's Saving on Ex-
plosives Total $6,416.25 to
the Farmers.

the Farmers.
An inexpensive war salvaged ex-
plosive has given new life to land
clearing activities in this state
during the last three months.
Villas county has been one of the
slxty-eight in the state to avail
itself of this cheap explosive.
Taking advantage of the low
rates offered on this material by
the college of agriculture, Villas
county has imported $500 pounds
of sodatol already this fall. When
the new explosive was thrown
open to the farmers about three
months ago it was predicted that
two million pounds would find it's
way into farmers hands before
the first snow furries appeared.
These predictions have been more
than realized.
Mans most vulnerable spot is
his pocketbook. Sodatols popular
ity may be partially attributed to
its low price and the resultant
saving. Villas county's share in
this saving was S6,416.25. This rep
resents the difference in price be-
tween commercial explosives and
the price that farmers were called
upon to pay for this war salvaged
material.
To prevent spectators from ex-
acting exhorbitant profits on sod
atol, individuals have not been al
lowed to order more than thou
sand pounds. Of the sixty-eight
counties placing orders, thirty-one
pooled their orders and had car
load lots shipped to them.
Counties which ordinarily are
considered we'll developed have
been placing orders for explosives
this fall. Of these southern coun-
ties Grant county heads the list
with total of $4,000 pounds of
sodatol ordered. Portage county
stands next in line with $4,000
pounds, Walworth follows with
$4,000, while Manitowoc with 20
900 pounds completes the list of
counties in the southern half of
the state whose orders have run
into five figures.
All in all the forty-seven county
agents lead the list in the amount
of new explosives distributed.
Thirty-one of the counties employ
ing county agents have saved
more than enough on this one
Item alone to pay the entire cost
of county agricultural work in
that county.
With winter at hand many
farmers are concerned over the
storage qualities of sodatol. John
Swenehart, of the Wisconsin Col
lege of Agriculture, who is one
of the leaders in sodatol introduce
ton and distribution, says: Mum
erous inquiries are reaching me
daily about the storage qualities
and methods of storing this ex-
plosive. 1t may be kept over win
ter without losing any of its
strength but it must be kept dry.
Freezing has no injurious effects
on sodatol.'
Swenehart warned against keep
ing the caps in the same place
with the explosives. He believes
that the caps should be kept iso-
lated in another building. 'In
case of fire on the farm, the
amount of this explosive which is
found on most farms in this state
will not explode or burn" he said.
The plant at Barksdale in Bay
filed county is working to capac-
ity In turning out sodatol for
clearing land in the state. Wis
consin is a pioneer in putting this
explosive into the farmers hands
at reasonable cost. Other states
are falling in line but to the Bad
ger state once again goes the hon
or of being first.