26 BULLETIN 1295, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
5. “ Better living on the farm” (85). Closely related to the last reason, and 
the characteristic answer of former factory workers. The “ high cost of living ” 
in cities, from 1917 to 1920, made many farm-born city workers think longingly 
of the cheap food, fuel, and shelter they knew in their youths. 
6. “ Disliked my present work” (59). Because it was too monotonous, too 
dangerous, or too uncertain by reason of strikes and unemployment periods. 
A characteristic answer of former miners and metal workers. 
7. “ Thought I would like farming” (94). Characteristic answer of the “ for- 
ward-to-the-lander” and of the ‘“baek-to-the-lander” who left the farm early. 
It is because farm work is out-of-doors and “the farmer is independent,” that 
farming appealed to most of this class. 
8. “ On account of my health” (26). 
9. “Family reasons” (15). Such as health of children or to be near relatives. 
The settlers who were farmers prior to settlement consisted of 
tenants, farmers’ sons who preferred to own a cut-over farm to rent- 
ing an improved one at home, and all sorts and descriptions of farm 
operators who for various reasons sold their farms in other North 
Central States and decided to try their fortunes with cheaper lands. 
The reason these people usually give for becoming settlers is that 
land is too high where they formerly lived. Interpreted, this state- 
ment means for some that they believed that although they could 
make money in farming in their former homes, they could make still 
more money on the cut-over land. For more of them, however, it 
meant that they had found themselves unable to get ahead on the 
land at home at prevailing prices, and that others more efficient had 
outbid them for the land. Thus, competition had operated to force 
the poorer farmers onto the less desirable lands. Again, there were 
others whose particular qualities rendered them better adapted for 
success on the cheaper cut-over land than on the high-priced im- 
proved land. Men of some ability and initiative are usually at a 
premium in a new country and are therefore afforded opportunities 
for service and advancement which they could not expect in an older 
country. Financial success of farmers is often founded in part upon 
leadership in other fields. 
TaBLe 10.—Description of areas 
Land classification 
Size of F 
Area area Soil types Mer- | Brush Water Not 
chant- end Marsh ond - Iti 
able | + land b proved!} GWU. 
timber | S=™mps og vable 
No. Acres Per ct.| Per ct. | Per ct. | Per ct. | Per ct. | Per ct. 
1c ee 10, 000 | Heavy sandy loam-.-...---.--_----- 63. 3 18. 3 | 8.3 6.5 4.6 9.5 
Ti See. 50,000 | Heavy sandy loam and clay till____| 20.7 47.9 14. 2 3.0 14. 6 9.3 
1 Ol Mitek Taf 50 0007: cult Tosims ee ne ee 40.9 53. 1 2.9 1S aes .9 3.0 
hyper 20000 let.’ doy. ar% ver ere elves Pekar ie 4.2 81.1 9.0 §..2 <6 8.0 
Wise Sy 40000" 2. = Got 22 Sek es ee eee 36.9 53. 8 .5 2.6 6.2 11.6 
Wires | 150,000 | From heavy to light sandy loam _-- ou 78. 0 iy | 8.6 2:5 10.7 
Vit_ ..-|2100, 000 1_.Clay, muck, andipest-- 2 asss = ed, 84.1 = Aho] 6.0 7.5 2.0 
VIII_-_-| 50,000 |} Heavy sandy loam-_-___-_...___-_-_- 20. 4 78.0 1) :2 as 2.4 
1) ets 50, 000 | Silt Joam_=..._..-.- Rei ih Pk te .6 85. 0 5.6 | 7.5 1.3 9.6 
ee 20/000) 52-0 res: he eae a ae See ee 2.0 87.5 4.7 4.4 13 7.4 
D0 ie 150,000 | Finesandy loam tolightsandyloam} 11.3 77.5 6. 6 | 4.6 6.6 22.0 
ile. _ | 20;000 | Whixed:clay till spe. Fee es 6.3 74. 6 9. 2 | 5.1 2.6 10.6 
XIII___| 60,000 | Fine sandy loam and silt loam ----- 9.6 77. 5 4.6 | 6. 2 ma 11.1 
LY =) 5100: DOO! [SITE TO estry coe eee ee 23 87. 6 2.6 | 6.6 1.0 10.7 
MYT SF 15000 Red Gayest 7S ens Bit 1.4 89.0 | 1.2 | 5.2 3.3 19.8 
1 Cleared or brushed by former settlers on same holdings or by land company in advance of settlement. 
2 Arbitrary. This company controls 700,000 acres in 12 counties. 
