USA > Minnesota > Renville County > The history of Renville County, Minnesota, Volume II > Part 14
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The parts of Minnesota over which the last continental ice sheet passed is characterized by many depressions which hold water until late in the season, making in some seetions consider- able wet areas. Renville county lies within this portion of the state. Here are found these conditions, though not to the extent that is found elsewhere. The farmers and officials of the county realize the value of this land once drainage is provided and are making the necessary effort to seeure this. Up to the present time $462,000 have been spent in county and judicial ditches, while drainage projects which will involve the construction of 600 miles of ditch and afford outlets for six townships are either under way or being petitioned for. These new projects will cost approximately $1,400,000, and will bring the total number of dis- triets up to sixty-nine county and eighteen judicial ditehes. In the new system tile is being used where the cost will permit, wherever such large tile is required as to make the cost too great, the open ditch is put in. These ditches provide outlet only for
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the farms within their territory. Complete drainage can then be provided for later by private systems.
Of the old open ditch systems in the county, many are still operating in a satisfactory manner. Some are found, however, which were either not properly construeted in the first place, or have been made useless by filling in or injury to the ditch. Por- tions of the old systems have also been incorporated into new sys- tems so that some of these have lost their identity. The new sys- tems will prove much more satisfactory than the ohl as tile is used wherever possible. An ideal system of drainage is adequate, permanent, not a hindrance to cultivation, and uses the least possible land. The open diteh system does not fulfill the require- ments. Valuable land is occupied and the ditches become filled, requiring much time and money to keep in condition. The money being spent now in the county for drainage purposes should prove to be a very paying investment as they fulfill the requirements. Besides the making of more land available for cultivation, roads are also being improved by these systems.
The county drains naturally in two directions, the largest por- tion to the Minnesota river through the several creeks in the county, the other portion, the north central and east end through Buffalo creek into the Crow river.
The farmers of Renville county are beginning to realize fully that a one-erop system of farming means the running down of the soil with a minimum return per acre. In the past wheat was the only erop raised. Corn is gradually taking the place of the wheat field so that Renville county is now recognized as distinctly in the corn belt both in the quantity and quality of the corn raised.
The development of the corn industry has resulted in greater farm profits and an increase in land values. The breeding of seed corn has been emphasized along with the growing of corn for feed. Renville county seed corn is shipped in considerable quan- tities to surrounding counties. Of the seed corn breeders of the county, E. G. Enestvedt with his Minnesota 13, and Jos. Kein- holz with his Silver King have attracted the most attention. There are many other breeders with very excellent corn of these two varieties which are the most popular varieties in the county. Many Farmers have their own seedeorn breeding plots for their individual use. These conditions are bound to give the county a state wide reputation for good seed corn in a short time. In fact, this year corn from Renville county was the only new corn exhibited at the Minnesota State Fair.
Corn, wheat, oats and barley are the predominating erops, while flax and buckwheat are grown to a lesser degree. Timo- thy, elover, red top, and alfalfa grow abundantly and vield large crops. Sugar beets have been grown extensively around Ren-
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ville, Sacred Heart and Olivia, showing that soil and climate are adapted to this crop. The crop acreages for 1914 were : Corn, 94,173; wheat, 98,858; rye, 2,280; oats, 60,066: barley, 41,728; fax. 8,461 ; potatoes, 1,850, and hay, 89.039. Fruit is also rapidly be- coming an important erop.
The county is blessed with two good nurserys, Dunsmore's at Olivia, and Flagstad's at Sacred Heart, which supply the farmers with good home grown nursery stock. Operating in connection with these nurserys, are commercial orchards which with G. A. Anderson's Glendale Fruit Farm and Pat O 'Brien's Orchards at Renville are possibly the largest orchards in the county. All of which do business on a commercial scale.
Renville county soil is well adapted to the growing of elover and alfalfa. Of this fart the farmers have taken advantage. Only a few years ago clover was considered an impossible erop. Now most farmers consider it a very necessary step in their cropping systems. In fact, the plant has become so connon and well adapted to the county that road sides. fence rows, and such places abound with it. This means the keeping up of soil fertility with increased crop yields. As to alfalfa, in 1913 the acreage amounted to between 75 and 100 aeres. This has been increased until in 1915 there are over 1,500 acres in the county.
Of the pioneer alfalfa growers probably E. O. Oppegaard of Hawk Creek is the oldest successful large scale grower. On this farm there are at present fields of Montana and Grimm alfalfa of ten and fifteen years standing. It was seed from the latter field which won first prize at the Corn and Alfalfa Exposition at Ortonville in 1915. Chas. Kenning, Bird Island. is also a pioneer with this crop. The largest acreages in the county are on the farms of A. O. Skrukrud and Ed. O'Connor, both of Sacred Heart, and Fred Pfeiffer of Morton. On all of these farms more than 40 acres of the crop are growing at the present time. Many of the growers this year have saved their second crop for seed. so for the first time in the history of the county a quantity of home- grown alfalfa seed will be for sale.
Each year also sees an increase in the mumber of live stock. both beef and dairy cattle, and hogs. In 1914 there were 1,900 horses, 35,000 cattle. 21,000 sheep and 100,000 hogs. The swine in- dustry has been especially favored by the Government work on hog cholera control. From May 8. 1914, when the work com- meneed, to December 31. 1914. 13,689 hogs were vaccinated and 91 per cent were saved. Estimated at $10.00 a head this means a saving of $124,570. From January 1. 1915, to October 31. 1915, 2,813 hogs were vaccinated and 93 per cent saved. The work as carried on has been worth at least $20.00 to the farmer for every dollar spent. This hog cholera control work has been under the direction of Dr. G. S. Weaver, of the U. S. Department of Agri-
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culture, assisted by three veterinary inspectors. The State Live Stock Sanitary Board has looked after the enforcement of sani- tary and quarantine measures. This work has been done by Dr. II. Evenson. The Minnesota State Agricultural College has conducted the organization of the county and the necessary edu- rational work on hog cholera control. For this work their repre- sentative. W. E. Morris, is the county agent for Renville county.
The greater interest in the cattle industry is shown by the increase in the munber of silos erected this year. At present there are 138 silos in the county. Thirty-seven of these have been built this year, which is an increase of nearly 27 per cent.
The first silo in the county, a wood stave, was built 11 years ago by George Forsyth of Franklin. This silo is still in good condition after continuous use. Ensilage has been fed to beef as well as dairy cattle in the county. Barnard & Daly of Renville have topped the market at South St. Paul twice in the last two years with baby beef, which were fattened with silage as the principal roughage. John Kern of Olivia, another big feeder, turns off two to fours ears of cattle each year, fed heavily on eorn silage. Many other farmers are doing the same thing on a smaller degree. The townships having the most silos are Palmyra. eighteen, and Camp, thirteen. Wood stave silos predom- inate with solid concrete, panel, cement panel and cement bloek comprising the remainder. More silos, eorn, and clover means more live stock, better cropping systems, increase in soil fertility, and maximum returns per acre. The increased interest in dairy- ing is shown by the new creameries being built and the old ones in operation. Seven old cooperative ereameries are in operation at the following places: Olivia, Brookfield, Franklin, Fairfax, Eddsville, Melville, and Lakeside, and the Bird Island and Hector farmers are now building new ones. Private creameries take care of the cream at Buffalo Lake, Hector. Danube. Renville and Sacred Heart.
Pure bred live stock is growing in favor. Numerous herds of pure bred cattle may be found in the county. Holsteins and Short ITorns predominate, although pure bred herds of Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, Jersey and Guernsey are present. Pure bred hogs are raised extensively while a few farmers breed pure bred horses.
Renville county ranks first in the poultry industry. The 1914 census shows the total number to be 292,788. There are many fanciers in the county and each year the Renville County Poul- try Association holds a show, which ranks with the best in the state. Birds of high quality of practically every breed found at ordinary shows are exhibited here. In the production of eggs Renville county ranks highest in the state.
For a comparatively new county the farm improvements in the county are good. Some sections are remarkably built up.
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Fine house and barns with good other buildings show the pros- perity and advancement of the county. Furnace heat, electric or gas light for both house and barn, and water systems are not in- frequent. Renville county farmers have early recognized the de- sirability of good groves and wind breaks with which most farms are now well provided.
The business men and farmers work together showing com- munity spirit. O'Connor Bros.' State Bank of Renville has loaned money without interest for the building of silos. The same bank and the Olivia State Bank each offered free money for community live stock buying. The People's Bank of Olivia annually holds a corn show at which very liberal premiums are paid. Every banker in the county, in fact, is working in a similar manner such as assistance in hog cholera control work, loaning money on cattle, etc.
The county has taken advantage of the aid given by the state and the United States to secure the general adoption of the best agricultural practices. At the present time five high schools in the county employ agriculturists whose duties are to teach agri- culture in the school and to carry on extension work among the farmers. The latter consists of surveying wet lands for drainage, testing 'seed corn, pruning orchards, and being of any similar serviee. The high sehools employing such men are Renville, Olivia, Bird Island, llector and Fairfax.
An agricultural agent is also employed by the county. The largest portion of the funds necessary for the maintenance of such an office is provided by the state and U. S. Government. This office was opened first in Renville county in August, 1913, with W. E. Morris, as county agent. On August 30 the same year a Farm Bureau was organized. The purpose of this organization is the bringing of farmers together for mutual cooperation who wish to investigate the fundamental problems that are involved in pro- duction on their farms. The county agent, working with this Bureau and its members, may be of assistance in investigating these problems and demonstrating aecepted agricultural practices.
One feature of the work in this county has been the introduc- tion of alfalfa. Prior to 1914 less than 100 acres of alfalfa were growing in the county. The Farm Bureau secured a quantity of seed at a reasonable price which was distributed to farmers at cost. Through these efforts the acreage of alfalfa has increased to about 1,500 aeres. Most fields are doing well and demonstrat- ing thoroughly the value of the erop.
Organization is an important part of Farm Bureau work. Since the work started in Renville county, five live stock shipping as- sociations have been organized. This has meant a considerable financial saving to the members, as their stoek has brought them actually what it was sold for, minus the expense of marketing.
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Sixteen farmers' elubs have been organized in the county. Most of these are very active and improving themselves, their homes. and their community by associating, exehanging ideas and work- ing together.
Numerous demonstrations have been carried on, such as treat- ment of seed grains for smut, spraying orchards. pure seed, seed corn selection. selection of breeding stock, farm management, drainage, silos, and others. The work now is meeting with favor and should develop more as time goes on.
The future of the county, agriculturally speaking, is bright. Possibly there is no seetion in the state which is as uniform in soil conditions and topography as this county.
The soil. typical of western Minnesota. is shown by analysis to be one of the richest in the world. This, combined with the existing climatie conditions, which are plenty of rainfall and sunshine and a long growing season, offer wonderful advantages for diversified farming. and situated as it is, in close proximity to the good markets of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and with ten live towns within its borders. this industry should develop to the fullest extent. Diversified farming with a good system of crop rotation with corn. clover. alfalfa and live stock is bound to increase with the advantages offered in the county. These mean the upkeep of soil fertility. maximum erop yields, and prosperous, contented communities.
Renville eounty is acknowledged as being among the best and most prosperous stock-raising and agricultural counties in Min- nesota. Its people are wideawake and keep step with the pro- gressive march of the times in all that pertains to a civilization of happiness, industry and culture. The first permanent settlers of the county were farmers. and their object in coming was to till the soil.
All had many lessons to learn. Many of the pioneers were from foreign countries, and all the conditions were new. Some were farmers from the eastern states, and they, too. found eir- eninstances absolutely changed. Some were men who had pre- viously been engaged in other occupations, but who saw in the opening of Minnesota an opportunity to seenre a farm, together with the health and longevity that come from ontdoor life. All of them. regardless of their previous circumstances, were able and willing to work; they had industry and courage and they were determined to win.
In the face of obstacles of which they had previously no knowl- edge they started to carve their fortunes in the wilderness. The country was new, there was no alternative but that success must be won from the soil, which was their only wealth and their only help. There were among the early comers a few money- lenders, a few speculators and a few traders. but everyone else,
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even the lawyers, the doctors and the ministers, must wrest their living from the earth. And in spite of all the obstacles and in- conveniences, and notwithstanding the fact that in the face of many disasters hundreds of the pioneers left the county, those who stayed, and those who have come in sinee, have met with unbounded success. Nor is the end yet reached. for the county has in its agricultural and dairying resources a mine of wealth yet undeveloped, which, when the years roll on, will grow more and more valnable as the people become, through seientifie meth- ods, more and more able to utilize it.
The farms of Renville eounty are similar to the farms of any other county having a rich soil. It has its good farms and its poor farms. Or, better stated, it has its good farmers and its poor farmers. Agriculture, like every other trade or profession, has its suceesses and its failures, but perhaps not as many com- plete failures.
The high altitude gives to Renville county an ideal elimate. Its mean temperature for summer is 70 degrees, the same as middle Illinois, Ohio, and southern Pennsylvania. The extreme heat that is felt in these states is here tempered by the breezes of the elevated plateau. Its higher latitude gives two hours more of sunshine than at Cincinnati. This, with an abundance of rain- fall, 26.36 inches annually, on a rich soil, accounts for the rapid and vigorous growth of erops and their early maturity. There is a uniformity of temperature during the winter season in southern Minnesota, with bright sunshine, dry atmosphere, good sleighing and infrequent thaws that make life a pleasure in this bracing. healthy elimate.
There was a time in Renville county when, like all new lands, the first consideration was to build good barns for the housing of the floeks and herds, and the home was the most inconspienons object in the landscape. As the farmers prospered, the log house disappeared, and now there are few log houses in the entire county. Now the farmer's house vies with the city residence, and has many of the modern conveniences. Where electric light and power cannot be seenred, gasoline engines furnish power, and a number of farm houses are lighted by their own gas plants. By the use of elevated tanks in the house or barn, or pneumatic tanks in cellars, farm houses often have all the sanitary conveniences of a house in town. Farmers realize the value of keeping their property in the best of shape. Houses and barns are well painted, lawns are carefully kept and flower gardens show that the people recognize that the things which beautify add a valne to life as well as to property.
The rural telephone reaches practically every farm house, which, with rural mail delivery and the newspapers, places the farmer in elose touch with the great markets and with the cur-
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
rent of affairs of the outside world. There is no longer any iso- lation such as existed in the early days when pioneering meant privation; no longer any need for the denial of many of the luxuries as well as the comforts of life. The farmer can have his daily newspaper and his daily market reports; he can have the advantage of the eireulating library, and his table can be sup- plied with whatever the village or city market may have to offer. The changes of the half-century have been more marked in searcely any direction than in the conditions which surround life on the farm. The plodding ox which did the field and farm work has disappeared; the gang plow, the mower, the seeder, the harvester and the steam thresher are doing the work so laboriously and imperfectly done by the seythe, the cradle, the hand-sower, the flail and the horse-power thresher. The buggy, the carriage and now the automobile are almost universal among the conveniences of the farm, while the sewing machine, the organ and the piano are familiar objeets in the inner life of the farm home. The future doubtless holds still more in the way of convenienees and comforts, but it can give nothing beyond what the great service the farmer has rendered and is rendering the country in the way of its development merits. There cannot but be deep regret, however mueh it is in the nature of things, that so few of those who bore the heat and burden of the day in the years of beginnings, have survived to enjoy the fruits which their labors produced. "Their epitaphs are writ in furrows
"Deep and wide The wheels of progress have passed on : The silent pioneer is gone. Ilis ghost is moving down the trees, And now we push the memories Of bluff, bold men who dared and died In foremost battle, quite aside."
GOVERNMENT REPORT.
The following report of Renville county agriculture, issued in connection with the thirteenth census of the United States, speaks for itself in regard to the present-day agricultural eon- ditions in the county :
Population, 23,123 (in 1900, 23,693).
Number of all farms, 2,871 (in 1900, 3,013).
Color and nativity of all farmers. Native whites, 1,331; for- eign born whites, 1,540.
Number of farms classified by size: Under three aeres, 0; from three to nine acres, 31; from ten to nineteen acres, 14; from twenty to forty-nine acres, 51; from fifty to ninety-nine acres, 219; from 100 to 174 acres, 1,113; from 175 to 259 acres, 805;
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
from 260 to 499 aeres, 578; from 500 to 999 aeres, 59; 1,000 acres and over, 1.
Land and Farm Areas. Approximate land area, 625,920 aeres. Land in farms, 589,798. (Land in farms in 1900, 584,659 acres.) Improved land in farms, 513,520 acres. Improved land in farms in 1900, 500,199 aeres Woodland in farms, 19,150 acres. Other unimproved land in farms, 57,128 acres. Per cent of the whole eounty in farms, 94.2 per cent. Per cent of farm land improved, 87.1 per cent. Average aeres to each farm, 205.4 acres. Average improved aeres to each farm, 178.9 aeres.
Value of Farm Property. All farm property, $33,685,584. (In 1900 the value was $18,539,120.) The percentage of inerease in Farm value in ten years was 81.7 per eent. Value of land alone, $23,798,173. (The value of land alone in 1900 was $13,563,070.) Value of buildings alone, $5,055,270. ($2,358,530 in 1900.) Value of implements and machinery, $1,271,143. ($709,490 in 1900.) Value of domestic animals, poultry and bees, $3,560,998. ($1,908,- 030 in 1900.) Per cent of value of all property in land, 70.6 per cent. Per cent of value of all property in buildings, 15.0 per cent. Per cent of value of all property in implements and ma- ehinery, 3.8 per cent. Per cent of value in domestic animals, poul- try and bees, 10.6 per cent.
Average Values. Average value of all property per farm, $11,733. Average value of land and buildings per farm, $10,050. Average value of land per acre, $40.89. ($23.20 in 1900.)
Domestic Animals on Farms and Ranges. Farmers reporting domestic animals, 2,842. Value of domestic animals, $3,436,289.
Cattle. Total number, 40,832. Dairy cows, 19,065. Other cows, 3,529. Calves, 6,946. Yearling heifers, 5,979. Yearling steers and bulls, 3,287. Other steers and bulls, 2,026. Total value, $815,634.
Horses. Total number, 18,256. Mature horses, 16,256. Year- ling colts, 1,592. Spring colts, 638. Total value, $2,199,324.
Mules. Total number, 106. Mature mules, 91. Yearling colts, 12. Spring colts, 3. Total value, $12,165.
Asses and Burros. Total number, 3. Total value, $115.
Swine. Total number, 42,677. Mature hogs, 23,199. Spring pigs, 19,478. Value, $377,515.
Sheep. Total number, 7,892. Rams, ewes, wethers, 5,585. Spring lambs, 2,307. Value, $31.502.
Goats. Number, 12. Value, $34.
Poultry and Bees. Poultry of all kinds, 292,788. Value, $121,- 448. Number of colonies of bees, 783. Value, $3,261.
Farms operated by owners, 2,015. (2,344 in 1900.) Per cent of all farms in the county operated by owners, 70.2 per cent. (77.8 per cent in 1900.)
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HISTORY OF RENVILLE COUNTY
Land in farms operated by owners, 413,607 acres. Improved tand in farms operated by owners, 362,037. Value of lands and buildings in farms operated by owners, $20,413,555.
Degree of Ownership. Number of farms operated by owners, consisting of owned lands only, 1,671. Number of farms oper- ated by owners which also include with the owned land, some hired land, 344. Of the men in the county owning and operating their own farms, 813 are native born Americans and 1,202 are foreign born.
Farms Operated by Tenants. Number of farms operated by tenants, 833. (652 in 1900.) Of all the farms in the county, 29.0 per cent are operated by tenants. (21.6 in 1900.)
Land in rented farms, 168,647 acres. Improved land in rented farms, 145,200 acres. Value of land and buildings in rented farms, $8,032,048.
Form of Tenancy. Share tenants, 559. Share-cash tenants, 34. Cash tenants, 79. Tennre not specified, 161. Of the people renting farms in the county. 500 are native born Americans, and 333 are foreign boru.
Farms Operated by Managers. Number of farms operated by managers, 23. (17 in 1900.) Land in farms operated by managers, 7,544 acres. Improved lands in farms operated by managers, 6,283. Value of land and buildings in farms operated by managers, $407.840.
Mortgage Debt Report of Farms Operated by Their Owners. Number free from mortgage debt, 1,012. Number with mortgage debt, 986. Number on which no mortgage report was made, 17. Mortgage debt report of farms consisting of owned land only. Number reporting debt and amount. 745. Value of their land and buildings, $7.506,707. Amount of mortgage debt, $1,954,084. Per cent of value of land and buildings mortgaged. 26.0 per cent.
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