Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1916 — LETTER FROM JEROME ANDRIS [ARTICLE]

LETTER FROM JEROME ANDRIS

J. G. Andrus writes the editor a letter in “two sections" from Shelby, Michigan, in reply to a letter written him the latter part, of October, and we publish his letter herewith as he has many old friends and acquaintances in Jasper county: Shelby, Mich., Nov. 29, 1916. Friend Babcock—Sorry to say 1 hat you was too late, for apples were all gone, what I had to spare and the others around here were sold out. Apples went off quick this year. Some sold for $2.50 per barrel. Potatoes are $1.40 to $1.50 per bushel. Beans have been sold ns high by some for $6 per bushel. There have not, been many beans threshed yet, have not got mine threshed. Lots of corn in the shock. The weather lias been bad, so much rain. It was very cold in the spring and late; did not look like we would get much, but the weather warmed up and we never had better crops except, potatoes, of which some had very good crop and some half a crop, while corn and oats were good. Corn was the best we have had since I have been up here, and everything* was a good price. Also had a fine crop of fruit; with a good price. One of my neighbors had 2,000 bushels of plums which brought him $1.25 per bushel besides his other fruit. Tie has 120 acres of different kinds of fruit, lots of apples on this farm. Just, think what would have happened to this section of country if Wilson had not taken a hand and stopped that threatened railroad strike, with ail the fruit that, was in Oceana county? For the month of September outgoing afternoon freight, from Shelby station totaled 226 carloads, of which 193 carloads were fruit,, ho Hi hulk .and canned, or an average of 514 cars for every day In the month. The Pent water News recorded the shipment of 7,0ft0 bushels or peaches which woulll aggregate about. 15 cars frqm that, part on. one Sunday evening boat. It was probably the largest shipment of fruit from one place at one time in the recent history of Oceana county. So that the season’s output. of fruit, will probably ho as large as any in a number of years, at least the returns will be more, for prices on all farm products have been especially good. Besides nil of this there will he lots of apples and potatoes shipped out. December T 9. Will try and finish this letter. It is snowing every day now, the snow is about two feet on the level; in some places u<p to my waist, so you see we are blessed with lots of snow. We are lucky so far for we have had no blizzard yet. Got my beans threshed last Wednesday, had to shovel the stacks out. of the snow before we could thresh. Lots of the beans are not threshed yet; f'an’t get around with the large machine any more so they will have to use the small machine now. Potatoes are $1.40 per bushel today. We are ahead of you, for we elected one Democrat in our county this fall, probably would not have done this if the Republican candidate had not been a land agent. Now, if any of you want apples ever again, bear in mind that the railroad will not receive any by local freight after the first of November. Now you must not. think that, it is easy to raise fruit, for there is lots of hard work and worry about it, besides one don’t know whether they are going to get anything out of it until they get it. •Sorry that you were tori late for apples. Please forgive me for not answering before. Will close with wishing you and everybody in Indiana health, happiness and prosperity through the new year. Yours truly, JEROME G. ANDRUS.