Since the early pioneer days, both agriculture and weather have been important factors in the progress of the town of Dallas Center and the surrounding farming area.  If farmers were adversely affected, so were the merchants . . . if the farmers prospered, the merchants and businessmen also prospered in similar proportion.

          Before the town was established and before the railroad came through in 1869, farmers drove their hogs to the nearest market which was in Des Moines.  Later, after the stockyards were built south of the former Whitaker Elevator (presently the location of the Farmers Cooperative's first elevator) it was comparatively easy to drive stock to town.  Before the days of trucks, farmers delivered their cream, eggs, and other produce to town in lumber wagons or bobsleds because of the poor condition of the roads.

          Because much of the land surrounding the village of Dallas Center was listed officially as swampland, it was not settled as early as the higher ground.  The first drainage tile put in soon after 1900 were only two-inch tile, but they made it possible to farm more of the rich, black loam soil.

          The following markets appeared in the Dallas Center Globe January 24, 1878:  Grain - Markets firm on all kinds of grain at quotations.  Recipients of corn liberal:  of other grain light.  Livestock - Receipts of hogs rather light; firm at quotations; scarcely anything doing in cattle.  Produce - Eggs coming in quite freely, and off in price.  As yet, no market for poultry even at quotations.  Lard and apples off.

          Wheat per bu., .75-.80; Corn per bu., .12-.15; Rye per bu., .30-.40; Oats per bu., .14; Cattle per cwt., 2.25-3.50; Hogs per cwt., 3.00; Butter, .13; Eggs, .10; Turkeys dressed per lb., .07; Chickens dressed per lb., .04; Lard per lb., .09-.10, Tallow per lb., .05; Apples per bu., .09-1.00; Beans; dry per bu., 1.00-1.50; Potatoes, .25; Onions, .40; Flour per sack, 1.25-1.65; Salt per bu., 1.85.

          In 1880, Iowa's standing among her sister states was first in corn, second in hogs and third in wheat.  New corn was being contracted at 20 cents and 22 cents per bushel.  Shipped from Dallas Center in the month of September 1880, were:  58 cars of corn, nine cars of oats, 13 cars of hogs, 15 cars of cattle, for a total of 95 cars.  These (see next page)

     IN MEMORY OF

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Watters, Bechtel and Ebersole Families