FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART XII. 703 



At this writing (September lOth) early corn is matured, and with fa- 

 vorable conditions until October 1st we will be able to realize over fifty 

 l;er cent of the exceptionally large yield of 1902. 



Farmers are each year giving more attention to the raising of stock, 

 ^nd an interest is manifest for producing better breeds, and the improve- 

 .ment in cattle, sheep and swine is quite noticeable. 



Horses are in demand, and the better class are bringing good prices. 



There is a marked advance in price of farm lands here, good farms 

 l>ringing from $60 to $80 per acre. 



LINN COUNTY. 



E. E. Henderson. 



Fair held at Central City, September 22, 23, 24 and 25, 1903. 



The fair was one of the best ever held at this place, and was pro- 

 nounced by all who visited it, to be one of the cleanest fairs they ever at- 

 tended. The management turned down several hundred dollars offered 

 l)y privilege men that were making the rounds of other fairs. 



The live stock exhibit was good, and pronounced by many to be the 

 best ever seen at this fair. The amount of premiums paid were never 

 exceeded but by one fair since the organization of the society. The art 

 hall was well filled and decorated, and contained no exhibits of mer- 

 chants or business firms, being filled only with the handiwork of the 

 people. 



A cabin such as was used in pioneer days was built, and contained 

 an old time spinning wheel shown in operation, together wit bother arti- 

 cles suggesting and illustrating pioneer times. Great interest was man- 

 ifested by old settlers in this cabin and its exhibits. 



The attendance was the best had for three years, but was not up 

 to the expectations of the management. Nearly eight hundred dollars 

 were spent in improvements, in the way of two new large swine barns, 

 planting of shade trees and ditching. 



The extremely wet season affected the crops to some extent, but they 

 are considerably better than last year, and especially is this true of the 

 quality of corn. Oats were of a fair yield, although they are somewhat 

 light in weight. 



There were potatoes enough raised for home consumption, but are 

 not of as good quality as usual on account of wet weather. 



The hay crop was an exceptionally large one, but was not put up in 

 the best of condition owing to rains. 



Live stock is especially well favored in this county, both in quality 

 and quantity. Considerable more feed-stuffs are shipped in than out, 

 which speaks well for the live sfock industry. Very little land is being 

 sold in this county. 



