Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 142, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 December 1903 — What L. S. Alter Saw In the Southwest [ARTICLE]

What L. S. Alter Saw In the Southwest

Ed. Republican: I arrived home Dec. 9th, feeling glad I had a home in the Old Hoosier State. I made a careful inspection of the lands, products etc. of the country from here to Oklahoma, especially in Arkansas and Oklahoma. The latter is certainly a most beautiful country, rolling to hilly; most of land is good farm land. But hot, dry weather in summer and fall prevents the productions of many crops we are used to, especially garden track, wheat is the main crop. Some corn is raised, which is rather small but heavy and solid. Sorghnm is the main forage prop, bnt I believe Alfalfa is the coming crop for that country. Land is from 910 to 940 dollars per acre. But for a poor man I believe Arkansas offers the best chance of any place I know of, provided he can withstand the malaria until he gets acclimated. Cotton is the principal crop. Many farmers are making enough clear out of their cotton crops this year to pay for the land on which it grew.

But the present extreme high prices will not be likely to remain. Land ranges from $2 or $3 to $25 or S3O per acre. The olimate is much better than in Oklahoma. The west part of the state is very broken and of but little value except for timber and coal. The large amount of excellent timber there was a surprise to me. About equally divided between hickory, oak, gum and cypress. The hot, dry summer and fall prevents a diversity of crop and garden produots. But after all if a mau has a home in Indiana, 1 think he will do well to stay with it and let well enough alone. Yours, Lewis 8. Alteb. The Obiosgo Bargain Store is the oolj bouse that received a oar of Ihia years potatoes.