Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1914 — Page 7

Big Piano Sate for Two Weeks Only per cent. mO Discount The largest money-saving proposition that has ever been offered the people in the state of Indiana.. All pianos will be sold at the regular retail price, less the above discount. For instance, a $275 piano will go in this sale for $212. This discount is only for cash or bankable notes. We sell the Schiller, Jesse French, Lagonda and other high grades. Come and See Them at Collins 1 Shoe Store Tuning and Repairing—32 Years Practical Experience H. R. LANGE & SON Rensselaer, Ind. I jj Let It Be Something jj jj Practical and Useful j: || || j! This store is full of useful articles |j jj suitable for the holiday trade. And !; i| a useful present is always most || || appreciated by the recipient. jj || Silverware, Carving Sets j; jj Percolators, Knives, Forks j! j| Spoons, Aluminum Ware || Sleds, Skates, Wagons \\ jj are among a few of the many things jj I found here. jj E. D. Rhoades & Son ij Rensselaer, Indiana

“Rings on Her Fingers If she lacks the ring why not get it for her today? We can offer you a selection from some of the most exquisite designs and best values we havoever carried in medium priced rings. These are a special holiday showing, and an early inspection will * pay you handsomely. P< W. CLARKE, The Jeweler Rensselaer, Indiana

GREETINGS FROM FORMER RESIDENTS

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here. Barley is usually a good crop if put in well. Millet will mgke two tons per acre most any year. Potatoes will make 100 to 300 bushels per acre any ordinary year most any place you put them on the farm. Owing to distance from market toes are an uncertain money crop. Many hogs were raised here this year, but farmers - jre discouraged about the prices. Early in the fall they were worth $7.25, now only $6. Good young cattle are worth about 6c; good average cows S6O and up. Horses any price up to $175 for a topnotcher. Produce in Minot: Eggs, 35c; butter, 35c; potatoes, 40c (market full now); turkeys, 15c, dressed; chickens, 10c; veal, 12c. Recent prices of grain: Wheat, northern, $1.04; Duram, $1.14; rye, 92c; barley, 50c; oats, 38c. We pay now for sugar $5.60 per 100 pounds; coal oil, 1114 c gallon in 50-gallon lot. We paid $1,25 for fancy box apples, 40 pounds. Usually pay $1.65 to $2.25. Farm machinery, etc.: Deering 8-foot binder $160; corn binder, $140; Deering Giant mower, SSO; John Deere extra heavy gang plow, $65 without hitch 4 lays; wagons, from $75 to $9 0, owing to kind. Farm hands cost S4O per month for season. Harvest hands cost $2.50 per day; threshing hands, $3. Fuel comes pretty high. It costs me S6O per year, but it seems easy and worth it—no labor. Our lignite is nice and clean, and hard coal, so easy to care for the fire, costs $11.50. We use 2% tons per winter.

North Dakota school laws and standards are very much like those of Indiana, but owing to scarcity of competent teachers school officers often have to hire inferior teachers for small schools. Our township has consolidated schools and good teachers. Expensive but perhaps best in the end. The weather for 1914 has been the best since I have been here except it was a little too hot during July. Last winter was a fine one and this one is starting in just like it. Nearly everybody got done plowing this fall. That means a big acreage of early wheat next year. I had a man plowing about 40 days and he got 275 acres plowed. Have over 300 acres ready for crop. Having exceeded the word limit, I will close, wishing old friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New

Year.

Peter H. Zea Writes Interesting Letter From “Jersey.”

Atlantic Highlands, N. J. Dear Editor: On learning that The Democrat would publish a homecoming edition for Christmas, it struck me at once that it surely would be a fine thing, from the fact that many of its readers, now scattered far and near, would be much interested in hearing from many of their old associates and friends, as to their whereabouts, and how they were getting along. We live in old New Jersey, about 20 miles south of New York City, close to the jumping off place, or, in other words, near the west edge of the ‘‘big pond,’ that separates us from the strife that is raging on the other side. It makes one feel much safer when they remember that there are three thousand miles between them and the “75-S’ that are in action. And this conflict is with the nations that for forty years have been preparing for war, that peace might be secure. Had one-hundreth part of the effort been put forth in teaching the people peace, that has been done for war, there would be no war now going on amongst them. We have a class, also, in this country, who are very desirous for peace along the very lines that brings war. Let us study peace, and practice it, which is the best antidote for war known to man.

As we live about twenty miles from New York City, we have opportunity to see, coming and going, every kind of craft known, which comes from all parts of the world, with\heir merchandise, to the greatest port on earth. These vessels have to pass several forts before they arrive at their destination; but in times of peace these machines of destruction are as harmless as doves, but it aroused from their silent condition, woe be to anything that gets within ten miles of their hungry mouths, and the “boys” that do the work are well skilled in their profession. All along this coast is great for summer resorts. They come here from the cities, in fact from all parts of the world, to spend the hot weather and get a change of living. There are many fine hotels, casinoes and other places of amusement to entertain and care for the throngs that come and go from May till October. All kinds of country produce brings a good price in season, as there is much demand for it. Many are engaged in trucking and small fruit, as it is in ready demand at good prices, especially so with butter, eggs ana poultry; the demand is always much greater than the supply, and finds a ready sale at a good profit. I took a position with the government soon after coming here, which I still hold. As there are some who will read this might like to know of my family, as they knew them when we were in the west, will say: Our son Paul is married, living in Brooklyn, New York, doing business for himself. Jennie (Mrs. Shepherd) lives in the same town near us. Her husband works for the government, being chief clerk in the department. Helen, our youngest daughter, is a successful teacher, is principal in the same school where she commenced to teach six years ago. James, our youngest son, is in the civil service workjng for the government at a good salary and with good prospects for the future. Mrs. Zea is well and is very well contented here. We have been favored with short visits irom sdVeral of the western people since coming here, and will say if. any of The Democrat’s readers chance to come this way, remember the latch-string hangs on the out-

A. L. BOUK.

side, a gentle pull, and walk you in, will be very muoh appreciated. We have many -remembrances of friends and acquaintances that are near to us whom* we left behind, and ih reading The Democrat we sometimes see sketches from some of them as to their whereabouts and how they are getting along, which Ts very interesting to us. But I must close, with kindest regards to all the old-line acquaintance, and may long live The Democrat and may it enjoy all the good things to Avhich it is entitled, I remain,

Yours very . respectfully,

W. C. Huston Tells of His New Home in New Mexico.

Grande, N. Mex., Dec. 7, 1914. Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Ind. As the Christmas time is drawing near and our minds naturally turn to old friends and old times, we thought this an opportunity to drop a few lines to friends through your paper in regard to our welfare here. When Ave left Miami county, Indiana, the 28th of May, iD1S, to find a location suitable for our health, we came to Kansas City, via the L. E. & W., and from thence to Dalhart, Texas-, on the Rock Island. We passed through Illinois in the night and through Kansas in the day time. The weather was A'ery hot and dry, but all crops looked well In Kansas, especially the wheat and alialfa. All through the portion of Texas through which we traveled was very dry and no signs of vegetation was to be seen; all cattle were removed from those vast prairies to save them from perishing from hunger and thirst. At Dalhart we spent Decoration day and were glad to leave it behind. Not a blade of grass could be seen, and piles of dry sand Avas everywhere. We came from there to Grande, N. Mexico, via the Colorado & Southern, and the morning of the 31st of May, we started out to walk a mile to where our son, Ray, livds. “Homesick for Indiana” wouldn’t hardly express our feelings. One thing we noticed, that while the pastures were dry as stubble, the stock looked Avell. Ray had three horses, and all the feed he needed for them through the previous Avinter had been two bales of straw and a sack of oats, and that only because of. a big snow on the ground. We spent the winter In Rock Springs, Wyo., where two of our children live. The climate is surely grand, and, although cold, one doesn't notice it, as it is so very dry. We have also spent some time in Colorado, where we have another son, and found the climate similar in the three states, but give our preference to New Mexico. My health was bad and for several months previous .to leaving Indiana I was under the doctor’s care. After coming to this high altitude I Avas worse for a time, but when the change came it Avas a rapid gain, and now r walk a mile and work most of the time, and our little girl has no asthma here. The snow fall last winter Avas heavy, and this year everything did well that Avas put in the ground. We can truly say that we are no longer homesick for Indiana, when Ave see our labors rewarded and our family happy and well. This is undoubtedly the “coming country” for stock and small grain. Wheat was good and a good yield, also oats, mircT maize and millet. We have a fine stock farm and also a grain farm, but expect to make our business principally stock raising, with just enough farming to insure something for stormy weather. Cattle here on the range all winter come out fat and sleek in the spring. This has been an ideal year, thus far, very little wind to speak of, the air so pure and bracing and cool nights all through the summer months. The winter thus far has been grand, not a single bad day in November. It is snowing today and a three-inch snow came in October, but these are the salvation of the wheat crop. While our minds go back to the old Hoosier state and the many dear friends there, we feel that this is our home; for what is better after all than good health. I will close this, wishing all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Clyde Reeve's Writes About His New Home in “York State."

Masonville, N. Y., Dec. 11, ’l4. Dear Editor and Friend : I am very glad to accept your invitation to write a few lines for your Christmas edition, and am pleased indeed to thus reach SO many of my friends in one letter. We are located on a small farm in the Deleware valley. If you eare to look pu the New York state map, close to the Pennsylvania line and near the central part of the state, you will find the town of Deposit, which is on the Erie railroad, almost half-way between New York City and Buffalo. 'Phis is one of our close towns, or rather cities. Almost equally distant from us lies the cities of Unadilla, Walton and Sidney, while we have several small towns only a few miles away. The scenery here is very fine and it surely appeals to the city folks, as all the towns and much df the country near them is occupied during the summer time by city boarders. I am not artist enough to describe this, but you should see it to apreciate it. But I hear my practical western friend say, “Scenery will not feed and clothe a man.” So I want to touch on our reason for coming here, some of the resources of this section and some of its needs. + We had been in touch with eastern farm literature for several years before we caihe' last summer to look over a part of this country. ■You all know that it is nearly impossible for a poor man to get a start” on high-priced land of your vicinity. It would take as much or more money to start to farm on a rented piece of grouifH than to make one’s first payment and begin to own their land here. For instance, Homer Babb of Remington, Ind., bought the

PETER H. ZEA.

W. C. HUSTON.

farm just north of mine, consisting of 100 acres, for the consideration of $3,000. The house and barn alone are easily worth $2,500. Another farm just south of where I live consists of about 176 acres, tAvo = houses, four barns, a fine bunch of cows and heifers, horses, farm tools, wagons, sleds, etc., can be bought today for $5,000; $2,000 cash and owner don’t care when you pay the rest if you only keep up the 5 per cent interest. This farm has been in the same family for over 100 years, and a year ago the present OAvner, his father and grandfather all lived in the same home. This example is only one of many, for Ave see more old people up here and they seem to take a more active interest in life, than at home. It seems to prove it a very healthful climate. There are many such farms here that are for sale and it Is usually some old man that Avants to sell. You can get the farms and the stock all on them, as in this second instance, Avith scarcely enough paid down to pay for stock. ■ ' Mr. Wilson, the late Secretary of Agriculture, said that if a young of limited means should come to his department Avith the inquiry as to the best location for farming, he would send him neither to the Avest or south but Avould advise him to look Avell into the resources of the state of New York. A man from Pennsylvania bought here the other day and he says that the land here lies almost the same in every Avay that it does in Pennsylvania, and that if anything, our ground is richer of the tAvo and our woodland has larger and better timber; yet land that he left was worth SIOO an acre, Avliile the farms here are bought from one-fourth to onehalf as much. It Avould surely seem from this that land must increase In price before very long. Delaware county itself is noted for its dairy products. Its spring watered fields and rich grass lands make it an ideal country for this purpose. You may get some idea of its importance when I tell you that we rank second in the state in number of cows, having nearly 80,000 head, and first in yearly value of dairy products, about five million dollars. While dairying ranks first, yet there are great opportunities for diversified farming, potatoes, poultry amt stock farming. Good apple orchards on every farm. 1 have not lived here long enough to speak for a certainty but 1 think this country first of all needs what we call some “western push.” One can see this applied on some of the farms and where you see it so farmed the mart is wonderfully successful. They are in a sort of rut here and go from year to year with pasture and hay, and buy their grain. But when you see the hay and grass you do not wonder after all, for this is above all things a great grass country. Everyone says that from two to three tons to the acre is not unusual.

I expect 1 have wearied your patience and I know I have more than taken my allotted space, so will close, wishing all my friends the merriest Christmas and the happiest New Year that has ever fallen to their lot. if any of the readers care to learn more of this country I will be glad to answer any questions they care to ask or any letters they care to write. I believe there are opportunities here for the poor man and the man wilh limited means that he can not find at our old home.

Thanking you for this opportunity, I a *n Your friend.

U. M. Baughman Writes From Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City, Okla., Dec. 17, 1914. To Our Jasper County Friends: After seven years absence from the Old home state, I am not sure that 1 am competent to write a “Hoosier” letter, but will recount to, you some of our experiences and observations during that time. While prospecting during the summer of 1907 we traveled over quite a large part of this western country, and as far west as Denver, enjoyed the invigorating atmosphere of that health-inspiring and, to us, very interesting state of 'Colorado, but found that all lines of business there was much over done. We stopped at Colorado Springs, wihere the Modern Woodmen sanatorium is now located, and it is a pleasure to know that the committee was so wisely guided in their selection of a place where, besides the curative atmospheric conditions, nature has formed so many unusual and interesting curiosities. One never tires of the mountain scenery, changed as it is so often by the action of the sun’s rays that it never looks twice alike. Returning from Colorado to this city, we found it a busy place of about 95,000 people, made up of nearly all the nations of the earth and of nearly all the states of the union. A happy, 'hustling, energetic bunch of people, all anxious to make one welcome and ready to* do all in their power to make you believe that you would, never be satisfied any place else after living here as much as two weeks. ' Well, we located here in August, 1907, and had hardly landed until the panic of 1907 came on. Banks gave their help a holiday and business was temporarily paralyzed. But within a few months the city took on its usual progressive spirit and within the next three years ihad doubled in population. Then the two big packing plants (Sulzburger & Sons and Morris & Co.) located here and are now.doing a splendid business. This is a state of. many natural resources that are only partially developed. We need capital and energy to permanently place title state where it belongs in the financial world. Most all of the Jasper county folks who settled here are still here and for the most part happy and prosperous, Oklahoma City counts among her most prominent and popular citizenty sucth families as that of J F. Warren, M. L. Spitler, William

C. W. REEVE.

... , - Norman, Worth Farmer, Frank W, Hardy, L. H. Patton and John G. York, formerly of Monon, now the chief credit manager for one of our big packing plants. e, Oklahoma City has to her credit the second best high school building in the United States, and has sous of the largest and finest churches Avest of the Mississippi. Our daughter, Iris, completed the high school course here two years ago and is now taking the second year’s work in the state university at Norman, about 20 miles south of this city, reached by both steam and electric roads. The loav price of cotton has hurt business this fall, and there will be a much less acreage planted next year, but our. l farmers are learning what those of the older states have learned, that diversified farming Is the only keynote to success. Our winters are very mild and short, although we sometimes have zero Aveather for a few uays at a time, and the crop season is long, thereby permitting a great many kinds of crops to be grown. The winds are not as bad as they were a few years ago, but Ave yet have sand-storms nearly every spring, and in the summer sometimes hot winds, but these are trifles when one has become accustomed to them. We never have any inclination to deny our nativity, and the number of Hoosiers one meets in this new cosmopolitan city attests their ability to make good Avlierever they go. We will be glad to meet any Jasper county people that may be down this way at any time and Avill take pleasure in showing them over the greatest city in the Avorld, for its age. With the compliments of the season to the many readers of The Democrat, and best wishes for its continued success, I am, Yours very truly,

U. M. BAUGHMAN.

Mrs. Emma Burden Writes From Northwestern Oklahoma.

Boyd, Okla., Dec. 1, 1914. To The Jasper County Democrat and All Old Friends:

I left Rensselaer in July, 1905, went to Pifeblo, Colo., where my sister, Hortense Shook, had gone in the month of March for the benefit of her health. She went with Mrs. Kay Wright, formerly of Rensselaer! \V& stayed there until October then went to Kingman, Kan., and from there to Augusta, Okla., where he heard of this Beaver county land and determined to own a home of our own. In company with 1). E. Sheysy I drove 100 miles In a buggy to locate the claims. My sister filed on the land we picked out for her. Mr. Sheysy, his nephew and my sister and myself filed on a section, but I am the only one left hare. Have had a good many ups and downs in this new country, but. have never had to go hungry yet. We have had droughts and failures enough. But the present year has been a bountiful crop year, for which Ave are truly grateful.

Beaver county is in the northwestern part of Oklahoma, and is in what, used to be known as “no man’s land. it is a good stock country.! All the school and college land in the county was being auctioned off to the highest bidder at Beaver yesterday and today. Our rallroau town is Liberal, Kan., 30 miles. All the grain we have to sell has to be hauled there. Liberal is also the greatest broom corn market in the world. The weather has been warm all fall but colder now. My husband is still sowing wheat. With kindest regards to old friends and acquaintances,

MRS. EMMA BURDEN.

James McManus Thinks Oregon Ia Alright.

Corvallis, Oregon. December 8, 1914.' Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Indiana. Dear Sir: in response to your letter of Nov. 19th, I am pleased to_ tell you that though we have been away from Rensselaer for a period of ten years, we have oftln spoke of our former friends who lived there when we did, many of whom, are no^> no doubt, living in distant parts. When we sold our farm three miles west of Rensselaer, in 1904 and in December of that year held our closing-out sale, the event of our departure to a new country was a dual one: we regretted to leave our friends, but looked with pleasure to the anticipation of spending our future in Oklahoma, in the “sunny South,” where we would be free from winters chilly blast and iblinding snow. Snow on the ground at Rensselaer was a foot deep, and to our surprise, Oklahoma was almost as deeply hovered and we didn’t get an opportunity to see Oklahoma’s soil until some time i n February We lived in Oklahoma for six years, having purchased a quartersection, rented 240 acres more, and wwn iP *L ed u°, farm on a lar ® e scale. With the help of my sons we managed things very well, and made j\ little money. I came to the conclus on, however, that grain farming ex- . clusively was not satisfactory in that country; but that diversified farming must be adopted. During tne first three years we lived there we experienced a continuous drought We then confined our efforts to the quarter section we owned, and raised mainly kaffir corn, cotton, milo maize and live stock. l n the sixth year we read considerable literature f?, a Oregon, and being successful in finding a buyer for our land, dec ded to push on to the far west We made stops in Colorado, Utah and Idaho, but failed to find a location suitable to our fancy, and continued on to Oregon. We stopped at l ortland a couple of days, and while there decided that owing to educational advantages offered, we would to Corvallis, where some of the PhUdren might attend the Oregon Agricultural College. We have been f *°Hs hay e enjoyed the best of health, like the climate, the people, and the country, and’will likely remain here. The town in which we now live is the county seat of Benton county. Benton county, although compara-

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