Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1898 — In Onion There is Strength. [ARTICLE]

In Onion There is Strength.

Benjamin J. Gifford, developer i and owner, of the Gifford District, i has at last struck a lead which, we firmly believe, will make his thousands of acres of rich marsh land, the source of almost unlimited wealth. The several years’ experience of Alfred and James Donnelly near Rensselaer, and some shorter trials of others in the "district” have demonstrated the wonderful adaptiveness of this black muck land to raising onions, and in a scarcely less degree, to raising potatoes. Onions of the finest quality grow so large and so numerous on this land that they fairly crowd each other out of the ground and over the hill to the store house. Last year enough were raised in the "district” to fully demonstrate their success. This year about 120 acres of onions are being raised in the district, and they promise to produce from 300 to 400 bushels per acre. Next year, as we are reliably informed, Mr. Gifford will not lease land except with the agreement that on every farm at least 10 acres of onions and 10 of potatoes must be planted and cultivated. This will mean something like 1500 acres of onions, with a probable total yield of 400,000 bushels. It to get this year’s big and next year’s bigger onion and potato crop cheaply and quickly to market, that is one the chief considerations that are hurrying Mr. Gifford in the construction of the first and, to his district, most important section of his railroad.