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POTATO DEVELOPMENT WORK IN WISCONSIN. 



JOHN HESS. 



Field Superintendent, Starks, 

 Wis. 



Such farm employees a^e under the constant supervision and 

 direction of Mr. Hess, Farm Superintendent and expert farmer 

 at Starks, Oneida County, Wisconsin, who exerts as much ef- 

 fort to make their work a success as 

 any other branch of the company's 

 work. By this method these employ- 

 ees will be developed into expert 

 farmers, thoroughly familiar with all 

 the conditions incident to the growing 

 of these crops in Northern Wisconsin, 

 and when their savings approximate 

 an amount to warrant the actual pur- 

 chase of lands for their own use, it is 

 not a far drawn conclusion that the 

 Company will permit them to pur- 

 chase such lands as they may wish to 

 buy. The actual value of the land has 

 been determined by such employee by 

 virtue of his years of experience in 

 cultivating the same. 

 The company erects substantial farm buildings on the wild 

 land to be cleared, which are used as a dwelling place for the 

 men engaged in such work. The following year the buildings 

 arc ready for occupancy by the farmer who is to farm the 

 lands; and during the winter time all the employees are en- 

 gaged in getting out forest products from the lands of the com- 

 pany, thereby giving them all employment the year round. 

 By the above plan of operation the land is cleared more rapidly 

 and consequently more rapidly converted into productive farm 

 lands, and the farmer with no capital except his intelligence 

 and labor will earn sufficient money to buy an improved farm 

 in less time than under any other system of operation. 



The company operates a general store, blacksmith and ma- 

 chine shop at Starks. A public hall is maintained for the free 

 use of the residents at that place for religious or amusement 

 purposes, a public school is maintained for their children, and 

 with the aid of the L. Starks Co., the industry and thrift of its 

 employees, Starks, Oneida County, Wisconsin, bids fair to be 

 the leading potato producing section of the State. 



