USA > Iowa > Lucas County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 12
USA > Iowa > Wayne County > Past and present of Lucas and Wayne counties, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 12
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The new St. Paul & Kansas City Short Line Railroad Company are also building an immense reservoir or dam several miles from their proposed depot in Chariton, where they expect to obtain all water required for their use. This is simply the collection of rain water in a very large body.
140
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
where they expect it will be kept pure by the winds and sun, and they can see that it is protected from filth of all kinds. The old idea of planting trees around such artificial lakes has long since been abandoned, in favor of the theory that the winds and sunlight will have more to do in keeping this large body of water pure than the presence of trees around it.
THE COUNTY POOR FARM
Perhaps the most deserving institution in the county of Lucas is what is called the county poor farm. It lacks a great deal of being a poor farm; in fact, it is one of the best small farms in the county. It adjoins the town of Chariton, and with its buildings could be sold for three hundred or four hundred dollars per acre. It consists of 200 acres of well- improved land. The buildings on it cost the county about twenty thousand dollars. It is purely a humane institution, made to care for the aged, and for men and women who are unable to provide for themselves. Such institutions now exist in every civilized country.
The duty of the people generally to care for people who are no longer able to care for themselves is recognized in every civilized country; to have people starve for want of food, or suffer for want of clothing, would be a disgrace to any civilized community.
It is true that it may be humiliating to persons, espe- cially to those who have seen better days financially, and yet, there is another view of the question which should re- lieve persons who are sensitive about becoming a county charge, and that is that their condition arose without fault upon their part, amid the ever changing financial condition of men, who, perhaps, have at one time been financially inde- pendent, may have lost their property through sickness, misfortune and in different ways, in which it can be said. that they are not to blame for their present condition. A mistake in an investment may suddenly result in rendering a man insolvent, where, perhaps, a few days prior to such investment he was entirely solvent, and had ample property to provide a home and a living for himself without the aid of the public. Only a few months ago, an old man, for- merly a successful farmer, with a well stocked farm of his own, died as an occupant of our county farm. Twenty-five
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, RUSSELL
CHRISTIAN CHURCH, RUSSELL
143
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
years ago he was considered a well-to-do farmer, and was nominated by one of the political parties of the county as a candidate for the office of representative in our state legis- lature. Suddenly he lost his property in the business of buying and selling horses, and then, one by one, the differ- ent members of his immediate family died, and after attempt- ing for a while to live by himself, he gave it up, and applied at the county poor farm for a home and the necessaries of life. We understand that he took a philosophical view of the situation, and was entirely contented and satisfied with his home. Being of a social disposition he could and did find persons at this county home with whom he could con- verse, and pleasantly pass his time, and then when he de- sired to do so, he could walk into town and visit with his friends and acquaintances there, and this way he passed his remaining years in contentment.
There are doubtless many persons who take this view of this institution, and in this way the great benefit arising from institutions of this kind is demonstrated. While, of course, such homes are not self sustaining, for the reason that many of their occupants are not physically able to labor or conduct the farm, yet the immense garden, cared for largely by the labor of the occupants, does much towards furnishing the institution all vegetables it may require or use. However, there is sometimes some trouble in securing a competent man for the position of superintendent of this poor farm. It requires a man of great patience, and one who is well supplied with common sense and tact in handling people. A superintendent who does not possess these qual- ities would likely at times meet with some difficult problems, which, perhaps, he could not solve. We had one superin- tendent who, becoming exasperated at the misconduct of a patron of the institution, so far forgot himself as to assault and strike one of the inmates of the farm, which resulted in the arrest and final discharge of the superintendent. While, of course, he was exasperated at the misconduct of the party, vet a man who could not control his own temper was wholly unfit for that position. But, as a general rule, our superintendents have had the disposition and ability to fully comprehend the duties of their position, and avoid such disgraceful controversies with the inmates.
144
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
The actual cost of maintaining such an institution is com- paratively small, when we consider the vast work, and vast good that it is doing. As an illustration of the extent of its work its record will show a number of cases wherein stran- gers or citizens of the county, unable to care for themselves, upon receiving some personal injury, were sent to the poor farm, where they were nursed to health by this institution, without reward, or the hope thereof, except in the satisfac- tion of our people in extending aid to their weak and depen- dent fellow men.
Tom Paine expressed the thought, that as we are all the children of God, one man could not better express his rever- ence for his Creator or better please his Creator, than by kindly treating one of His children.
PURCHASE OF THE POOR FARM
In 1869 the board of supervisors concluded to submit to the voters of the county a proposition to purchase a farm adjoining the town of Chariton for a poor farm. The fol- lowing is a copy of the
RESOLUTION
adopted by the supervisors, to wit :
"Whereas, William Skidmore offers to sell the southeast quarter of Section 13, Township 72 north, Range 22 west, and also the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 18, Township 72 north, Range 21 west, for the sum of $10,- 500.00, to the county of Lucas; and the Board of Supervisors being fully of the opinion that said farm and buildings are suitable for a poor farm and,
"Whereas, there are sufficient funds on hand, to pay for the same and that there would be no additional levy necessary to be made to pay for the same, it is therefore ordered that the question of purchase be submitted to the voters of this county for their ratification or rejection, at the general elec- tion to be held on the 2nd Tuesday of October, 1869."
The above report of the committee was adopted by the board, and the proposition was submitted to a vote of the people at the time named therein with the following result: For the purchase 804 votes. Against the purchase 385 votes.
145
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
Whereupon the purchase of said farm, on the terms above stated, was consummated on the 18th day of October, 1869, and William Skidmore, and his wife, America Skidmore, executed and delivered to Lucas county a warranty deed for the 200 acres of land above described, for which the county paid to them the consideration of $10,500.
The same year L. Stanley was placed in charge of the farm as superintendent, and remained there until March 7, 1871, when Josiah Critchfield was appointed superintendent by the board of supervisors, who has managed the farm and house satisfactorily.
The reports of the superintendents of this farm in and during the years 1871 to and including the year 1880, show the business-like manner in which this institution has been conducted, as follows:
1871
Number of paupers received in the house ... 18
Number died 1
Discharged 9
Number remaining 9
Receipts from the farm $ 55.05
Disbursements 150.00
1872
Number of paupers received
Number discharged 18
Receipts from farm
592.75
Disbursements 354.45
For new barn
2,300.00
1873
Number of paupers received 7
Number died
2
Discharged 10
Receipts from farm
1,118.00
Disbursements 380.44
For an addition to house 650.00
146
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
1874
Number of paupers received 9
Number discharged 11
Receipts from farm 674.09
Disbursements
763.58
1875
Number of paupers received 10
Discharged 3
Receipts from farm 1,048.45
Disbursements 729.23
1876
Number of paupers received 22
Number born 1
Number died 2
Number discharged 19
Receipts from farm 59,205.00
Disbursements
1,255.36
1877
Number of paupers received 19
Number born 3
+ Number died
2
Number discharged 15
Receipts from farm 222.77
Disbursements
1,422.42
1878
Number paupers received 19
Number died 3
Number discharged 18
Receipts from farm 566.35
Disbursements 988.55
147
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
1879
Number of paupers received 37
Number discharged 37
Number died . 3
Receipts from farm
685.49
Disbursements
965.22
1880
Number paupers received 16
Number died
1
Number discharged 19
Receipts from farm
66,249.00
Disbursements
1,081.01
This record shows that there were only 150 paupers re- ceived at this farm during 11 years, of whom eight were born there. During the same time 150 were discharged, including thirteen by death. The total expenditures of this institution during said eleven years amounted to about $10,974.35, includ- ing the cost of a barn and an addition to the house. The total receipts from the farm during this time amounted to $6,122.84, thus leaving a deficiency of $4,851.51. In addition to these ex- penditures, about 300 tramps were kept over night, and fur- nished from one to two meals, each in each of the years 1878, 1879 and 1880.
The above system of keeping a record of the receipts and expenditures of this county institution, has continued and still exists, and as the population of the county increases, it necessarily causes an increase in the receipts and expenditures thereof. vet, owing to the good management thereof it has not proven any great burden. At each session of the board of supervisors a committee, or frequently the entire board. visit this poor farm, and they thus keep in touch therewith. and see that its management is proper and economical, and considering the great relief it affords to the helpless and needy, this farm is a credit and honor to the county. Of course, the county has to bear the burden of maintaining the farm and the buildings thereon. In the year 1904 the board found it necessary to build a new house therefor.
148
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
After advertising the proposition to furnish all materials and build such house, the contract for this work was let to the lowest responsible bidder. Alonzo Hoagland, an architect of Chariton, being the lowest responsible bidder for this work, the contract was let to him, for the sum of $13,800, and the result is, that the county has secured a large, comfortable house, well situated and suited for the purposes of a poor farm.
In a financial report of Lucas county, for the year 1904, prepared by H. C. Dillman, county auditor, there appears the following statement, showing the cost of the new poor- house, and the expense attending its operation for one year.
Expense of County Farm House to January 1, 1904
On building contract $13,800.00
Extra on change of plans
1,090.08
Drainage 181.00
Architect 210.00
On heating and plumbing
1,500.10
Cistern
293.90
Range
125.00
Total
$17,200.08
Pauper
Mdse.
$1,488.15
Overseer poor 150.00
County physician 408.00
Deaf and dumb 8.39
Burying paupers 94.00
Small pox, Jackson township
187.08
Total
$2,335.62
Poor Farm
Steward
$ 500.00
Labor
621.34
Mdse. 1,079.77
Total
$2,201.31
WEATHER REPORTS
DATA RELATIVE TO THE CROP AND WEATHER CONDITIONS OF IOWA
We are indebted to Mr. C. C. Burr, a farmer of Lucas county, for the following interesting data concerning the crop and weather conditions of Iowa, during the years 1890 to 1912 inclusive. In inclosing this data Mr. Burr says:
"I am mailing you herewith some data, relative to the crop and weather conditions of Iowa, and especially of the year 1912, the year making a new record, as to the amount and quality of crops grown. The result is great prosperity for the producer, as there is good demand for all farm products, at satisfactory prices, and general prosperity abounds. Clippings, from State and National Service."
"The year 1912 was abnormal in many respects, the month of March was the coldest month of that name ou record, and the snowfall exceeded that of any month, of any year on record. Highways were drifted full, and railway trains delayed for two and three days at a time. Freezing temperature was frequent during April and May, and a light frost on June 7th. Yet under these adverse conditions, Iowa harvested the greatest general crop ever grown, and it was saved in fine condition. The precipitation for the year was 28.89 inches, or nearly four inches less than normal. The normal ten-year average rainfall is about 33 inches. The temperature ranged from 37 degrees below zero on January 12th, to 104 degrees above on September Sth. The year with the greatest amount of rainfall was 1902, 43.82 inches; the year with the least rainfall was 1910, with 19.87 inches. There were 164 clear days, 97 cloudy, and 104 partly cloudy. Another noticeable feature of the year, was the absence of severely destructive storms during the crop season-the rain- fall was about as the growing crops required for the best results, and the soil absorbed it all."
Vol. 1-9
149
150
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
COMPARATIVE DATA FOR THE STATE-ANNUAL
Temperature
Precipitation in inches
Mean annual
Date
Date
Annual
Greatest anunal
Least annual
Av. snowfall
1890
48.0
110
July
13. 27
January
22 .31.30
45.74
16.00
....
1891
47.3
106
Aug.
9.
.31
February
4. .32.90
49.05
23.48
1892
46.6
104
July
11.
38
January
19. .36.58
48.77
24.78
34.2
1893.
45.7
102
July*
13.
.36
January
14. 27.59
33.27
19.19
37.2
1894.
49.7
109
July
26.
.37
January
25
21.94
29.81
15.65
19.2
1895.
.47.2
104
May
28.
.33
February
1 .26.77
35.25
18,57
26.0
1896.
48.6
104
July
3. .20
January
4. .37.23
51.60
28.68
22.6
1897.
47.8
106
July* 23.
30
January 25.
.26.98
36.18
20.21
38.S
1898
47.7
103
Ang.
25
.40
February 11
.28.68
42.06
21.79
23.4
1900
49.3
103
Aug.
3.
27
February 15
35.05
47.33
25.05
25.8
1901
49.0
113
July
22.
31
December 15
24.41
37.69
16.35
38.5
1902
47.7
98
July
30.
.31
January 27
43.82
58.80
20.14
25.0
1903
47.2
101
Aug.
24.
.27
December 13
35.39
50.53
26.41
19.4
1904.
46.3
100
July
17
.32
January 27
28.51
38.93
19,34
29.2
1905
47.2
104
Aug.
11.
41
February 2
36.56
52.26
24.66
38.3
1906
48.4
102
July
21.
.32
February 10.
.31.60
44.34
20.63
32.8
1907.
47.4
102
July
5.
.31
February 5
.31.61
43.90
19.93
24.0
1908.
49.5
101
Aug.
3.
18
January
29.
.35.26
49.98
24.11
22.7
1909
47.4
103
Ang .* 15.
26
Feb 'ary* 15.
40.01
53.48
27.20
49.0
1910.
48.6
108
July
16.
.35
January
7. 19.87
27.99
12.11
23.4
1911
49.5
111
July*
3.
.35
January
3. .31.37
46.77
19.74
35.3
1912
46.4
104
Sept.
8.
47
January
12.
28.89
38.13
15.25
39.5
* And other dates.
COMPARATIVE DATA FOR THE STATE-DECEMBER
Temperature
Precipitation
Year
Meau
72 72 Highest
Lowest
Average
Greatest
Least
1890
. 29.1
-18
.45
1.40
.00
1891
32.3
-14
2.41
4.50
1.21
1892
. 18.9
6S
-29
1,65
3.04
.20
1893
.22.0
70
-21
1.31
2.80
.46
1894
.30.1
73
-17
.95
1.75
.25
1895
25.4
63
-16
1.63
5.74
.00
1896
.30.8
70
-10
.65
1.79
T
1897
18.0
60
-25
1.65
3.22
.61
1898
18.1
60
-25
.48
1.70
T
1899
22.6
75
-19
1.61
4.28
.10
1900
.26.9
63
-10
.45
2.70
T
1901
20.5
64
-31
.93
2.75
.05
1902
20.1
59
-20
2.23
5,51
.67
1903
19.6
58
-27
.41
1.96
T
1904
.23.4
67
-19
1.44
3.68
.06
1905
.27.0
62
-11
.52
1.69
T
1906
.25.7
65
- 9
1.43
2.81
.37
1907
28.8
62
- 9
1.00
2.28
.0,5
1908
.27.2
67
-17
.57
2.07
.05
1909
15.1
60
-26
2.18
6.10
.89
1910
.23.4
57
-14
.37
1.39
.01
1911
27.9
60
-24
2,57
4.43
.62
1912
29 9
64
-13
.74
1.75
.10
T indicates a Trace.
- indicates temperature below zero.
December 31
31.34
55.47
19.51
40.3
1899
47.3
104
Sept .. 6.
Highest
Lowest
151
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
AGRICULTURE
The prosperity of Lucas county is largely dependant upon agriculture. This is the foundation of her wealth, and business of all kinds necessarily goes up and down on the prospect of crops. It is true that we have an abundance of coal, which would be useful in operating manufactures, but we have no rock or other natural advantages, upon which to found manufactures.
Our chief agriculture products are corn, hay, oats, tim- othy and blue grass seeds. Of late years our crops of timothy and blue grass seeds have become a very important item. Since the year 1900 farming has been considered the most lucrative business in which men could engage in lowa. Prior to 1900 the market value of improved farms in Lucas county ranged from $15.00 to $50.00 per acre, owing to the improve- ments thereon, and, as a general rule, farming was not con- sidered a money-making business. For a period of about thirty years prior to 1900, if a farmer counted anything for his own time and labor, it was almost impossible for him to make money at farming. About the year 1885 Governor Boies, in a carefully prepared paper, showed conclusively that the actual cost of raising corn would and did amount to $.25 per bushel, and during the thirty years' period above mentioned, the price of corn was usually less than $.25 per bushel, and never more.
If a farmer owned his farm and had it paved for and had sufficient help in his own family to cultivate it, he could always make a good living and perhaps accumulate some- thing, but if he allowed himself anything for his time and labor in operating the farm, or interest on his investment, he could not make anything. These facts, we repeat, were dem- onstrated by Governor Boies in his paper above mentioned.
During the thirty-year period above mentioned the mar- ket value of corn in Towa ranged all the way from $.10 to $.25 per bushel, and the larger part of this time corn was selling in the market for less than $.25 per bushel. During the time above stated farmers did not attempt to raise wheat. For some unknown reason the average crop of wheat at that time ranged from ten to fifteen bushels per acre, and hence farmers found it cheaper to buy their flour from the mills in Kansas and Minnesota, rather than attempt to raise
152
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
wheat. But about the year 1900 a sudden and important change took place in the price of farms and in the business of farming in Iowa. Farms which had been selling on the market for from $15.00 to $50.00 per acre, immediately arose in value from $40.00 to $80.00 per acre, and they con- tinued to increase until they are now selling at from $40.00 to $125.00 per acre. The reason for this increase was readily seen in the increased prices of farm products. The price of corn immediately rose from $.25 to $.50 per bushel and all farm products immediately doubled in value.
The change was surprising. In the twinkling of an eve the whole country seemed to change from a comparatively new country, where there seemed to be an over-supply of farms and farm products, to the conditions of an old country, with a large population, where farms and farm products were scarce, and belonged to the few, and where the large majority of the people did not have and could not obtain land. No such change was ever before experienced in this country and the astonishing fact is that there was nothing gradual about this change. It occurred at once without any seeming cause therefore. At one bound the whole country presented the appearance and actual conditions of an old and over crowded population. The people did not seem to realize this change or the cause thereof, but the fact that the opportunities to obtain homes and farms in Iowa had passed for men of moderate means became apparent. All at once the farmers of the county or those who had held the title or even equities in their lands, became independent financially. During the thirty-year period above mentioned many small farmers lost their farms, but there was still a large propor- tion of them, who, by selling corn at from fifteen to twenty- five cents per bushel, and by mortgaging their farms at for from $10.00 to $15.00 per acre, were enabled to hold the title thereto, and hence they received the benefits of this change.
The great advantages attending this marked change in the value of farms and farm products, came to the very class who most needed it-for years they had struggled to make a living for their families. At the prices at which they were compelled to sell their products it was impossible for them to make more than a mere living, and hence if they were so unfortunate as to become indebted, their only escape from a sale of their farms and homes was to mortgage them.
153
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
The large number of mortgages on farms became alarming. Loan agencies were established in every town in Iowa where debtors could borrow eastern money on farm mortgages.
Who could estimate the calamitous condition of the coun- try, and especially of small farmers if these mortgages had been foreclosed. But this marked change in conditions not only saved a large class of the people of Iowa from utter financial ruin, but it placed them in independent circumstances and changed their financial destiny.
FARMING
This is an age of progress and it is evident that the busi- ness of farming, to be successful, must keep pace with the general improvements and advance in the methods of agri- culture. While we boast of the fertility of our soil and the ability of our farmers to produce large crops, yet it is evi- dent that our lands are capable of producing much more than they usually do and that the losses and waste attending our methods of farming should have long since suggested rem- edies therefor.
The fact that our lands are capable of producing much greater products than we usually realize therefrom is dem- onstrated by the results of farming in old countries. It is true that the cheapness of labor in old over-crowded coun- tries enables them to expend more manual labor in the cul- tivation thereof than would be practicable in this country, but it is evident that by proper study we ought to be able to lop off a large part of the expenses attending farming in our country.
In the first place it is apparent that the cost of farm implements and modern farm machinery. robs the farmer of a large per cent of the profits attending his work. Think for a moment of the large amount of money invested in modern farm implements and farm machinery in Lucas county. Then think of the money required to keep such machinery in proper repair and condition, and the constant deterioration of such machinery, and the necessity of re- placing it with new and improved machinery every few years. When we contemplate this large drain on the business of the ordinary farmer, it becomes apparent that there must be some remedy therefor. He cannot abandon the use of
154
PAST AND PRESENT OF LUCAS COUNTY
such machinery and go back to primitive methods. He could not think of going back to the use of the scythe or the cradle to harvest his grain nor can he go back to the primitive methods of preparing his ground for the crop or of plant- ing his corn with a hoe. He must purchase and keep on hand the modern implements and machinery for a few weeks' use each year in planting and harvesting his crops.
SUGGESTIONS OF A PRACTICAL AND SUCCESSFUL FARMER
The following suggestions of a practical and successful farmer may be worthy of consideration:
He says: "As a general rule the farmer in the climate of Iowa only has about thirty days to prepare the ground and plant or sow the seeds. As a general rule in order to procure the best results this must be done in the month of May. There may be exceptions to this general rule, owing to the weather conditions, but as a rule corn planted in April or June does not produce a full crop. Again, there is a proper time for harvesting crops, and there is a loss attend- ing such harvesting of crops if the work is done outside of this proper time. To be successful and achieve the best re- sults, crops must be planted and harvested at the proper time. Hence such times are the busy times of a farmer, and it is at such times that he requires the use of the best modern appliances and machinery, and hence to require him to invest the money necessary to purchase such machinery and to keep it in good repair and condition, is an oppressive tax on this industry. This, I think, could be avoided by an arrange- ment between farmers whereby one person with a proper knowledge of such machinery should engage in the business of assisting farmers in each township or smaller district in the planting, sowing and harvesting of his crops. He could, with a sufficient supply of machinery and force, prepare the ground for crops, plant or sow the same and harvest the same within the crop season, and I am satisfied that the increased production attending this method would more than pay the cost of such help.
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