Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 208, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1918 — AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT [ARTICLE]

AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT

PRODUCTIVENESS OF JASPER COUNTY FARM LANDS SURPRISINGLY INCREASED. ’ In the fall of 1897 the writer began to travel over Jasper county and Iris work called him into every neighborhood of the county. He repeated these visits into every nook and corner of the county for ten years. At that time there were few gravel roads in the county. The main highways of Marion and Carpenter townships had been graveled, but very little stoe or gravel had been placed upon the other roads of the county. It was before the time of the automo-’ bile, and they would have been almost useless if they had been obtainable. The development of the roads of the county, has been marvelous, but we do not think that they.have kept pace with the productiveness of Jasper county soil, due to drainage and better farming.

Tuesday the writer rode out with Attorney George A. Williams to his two hundred acre farm just across the northern dine of Barkley township, in Walker township. Mr. Williams has a splendid reputation for truth and veracity, but had he truthfully described his farm, telling of the present crop, it would have been impossible to believe him. He had out a large acreage of oats that yielded over forty bushels to the acre. Much of his farm is in corn, a large part of which will yield in quantity and quality equal to the best land on Wall street. He has out two patches of buckwheat that if Jack Frost will remain north a few more days will make a splendid yield. He las matured and ready for the harvest a crop of beans that will make him and his tenant a mighty neat sum of money. Near the house on the farm w'as a large pickle patch that has been a money-maker, and the good housewife has a garden still loaded down with cabbage, beets, and other vegetables that will furnish the large family much of their winter supply of food. It really impresses one with the idea that the hand of the Almighty has so abundantly blessed the harvest here and elsewhere in Jasper county for a double purpose, to reward the faithful, hard tiller of the soil, and to assure uA all that He is truly on the side of the entente allies. His biess'ing in giving us a bounteous harvest assures us that He will also give victory to our arms. The land in Mr. Williams’ neighborhood and including his could have been bought in 1897 for $15.00 or less. Now from the standpoint of productiveness it is worth at the very least figure $150.00 per acre. With added improvements and better equipment for his tenant this farm will be the equal of any farm anywhere.

Mr. Williams is not the only one who has greatly profited by getting possession of some of the best real estate facing heaven. In the neighborhood Chamberlain and Marlatt have almost two sections of land that is very productive and,, of a value equal to that owned by the Renssel&ei* lawyer. » We believe that the possiblity wrapped up in the soil of Jasper county makes it the most promising real estate investment to be found anywhere. If the improvements in the future are to in any way compare with the development of the past few years, Jasper county, which in area is the second largest in the state, will take rank as the first agricultural county in the good old Hoosier state.