The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-01-07

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NcAjor Jones Again. H

makes fellow wish hv lived there. Not
but what we have some pretty good times
here in certain way, but 1t lacks the vasi.
city that is to bc found in the "aayrow
city"
\ One thing is very eonsohng to conscrve
. i've, the "Abcs' are ~ quiet ~ circle OF
spirituslsts, since the Ja,Wsrd movement
across the Rappahannock. They are con-
tent to listen while we rexd frou the New
York World, Chicago Times, and evca
Malone, = editorial on the Presidents mes
sage. They make al sorts Of grinaces
over it tho, but can't help themselves, for
the truth is out, and man is no longer ar.
rested for uttering it, any more than for
"discouraging enlistments."
The low prices for produce, occasioned
by the sloppy condition Of the river at your
place, makes money matters look rather
sleepy here just now, except in paste board
which has run till it has pretty near run
everything else out, and itself into the
ground.
1t was first started by some one in Nc
Gregor, and soon after, others finding that
they took, went into it, till finally every
body took it up and made their own money.
Not to be out done by such little insig-
nificant puddle as Nc Grcgor, ps went to
work and got out our "checks," which were
| q much prettier article and mighty hard to-
counterfeit. Yes, we all got them out,
from our good natured and portlY Clerk Of
| the Court, etc., down to II. q: Walkers
drivers.
Things went swimmingly for about six
weeks, every boy big CROUCH to hold a stick
of candy with both hands, had a pocket
full Of checks, and Kerosene raised and so
did paste board. The Board Of Trade met
twice a week, and sometimes ofteDer, to en-.
quire of each other who was doing the best,
and to devise some means to guard against
| (D-redemption. 1t was finally agreed upon
by the Board" not to take any more Nc
Gregor checks, and get rid of what they
had, which would be easily accomplished
by showing them off on the farmers and
other country pc pie who are supposed to
be ignorant of the new fashioned money"
and thea they could have it all their own
way, and could geta larger circulation Of
their own make, away from home.
The first instalment for forsign circu'a
tion, was sent to McGregor by "Bill' Red
field, special Agent for the Board" (not
paste-board) who am told laid in stock
of Hardware, but was brought up standing,
when informed that, although they were
'green enough" yet West Union green
backs" were not considered legal tendcr'
with McGregor merchants, and that hateas
corpus was haJeas corpus still. Bill swore
and frotted at the mouth, and threatened
to withdraw his custom and bankrupt the
id town.
Soon after, the Board met, heard the mar
ative Of its Agent, and resolved itself into
a committee Of the whole, on the state Of
its funds. It resolved to instruct all the
country people not to take McGregor checks
under any circumstances, for they were all
counterfeit that were good for anything
and what wasn't, were not worth having.
So none Of US would take anything but
our own money, which would be hard to
counterfeit, because every one but Jo., writes
very queer hands, and no body but them
selves can initiate them, and then the paste
board itself was got up at Dubuque, and
much better done than it could be any
where else.
Bat alas wickedncss still prevails, and
rogues go about the country seeking who.
they may cheat. The day before Christ
mas, when parents were collecting a few
dimes, and fond mothers came in with their
poultry, anticipating surprise for their
little ones on the morrow morn, when "Old
Santa Claus" was sure to be round and fill
their suspended stockings, which wei, more
capacious than usual, and which had been
carefully laid away for the occasion, q
damper "came oe'r the spirit Of their
Dreams" for it was found out that nine
.enths Of the checks in circulation tlmt day
were-bogus
Ye Gods what a scratching there was
amongst the rubbish, to see if anything
could be found, in Oh about the pocket, of q
genuine nature. Merchants were ALARM ed
and money changers turned PALE while the
little ones retired moodily for the night, for
fear that Santa Claus" checks were bad
and he would be unable to make the neces-
sary purchases.
But the old fellow came round for all
that, and made glad the hearts Of Young
America, from Joi n the oldest, down to
baby. 1t is generally understood that the
old chap bought his stock at McGregor, and
paid for it in regular spelter, which is the
only currency lie deals in, as he has the
reputation of being honest, and disdains
doing fraudulent act.
AS was saying, early morn brought joy
to the youngsters, and it also brought the
sheriff, or rather his Deputy, who, armed
with search warrant as keen as a two
edged dirk, proceeded to search for checks
"clandestne." \ few were found Of tho
first form, and few Of later birth, but as
ev0ry body in ta.r,. lad i.-.. -....A - -..s.-
thought advisable to drop scJt currency
and so into the hard. F.r-
Our Deputy happens to be banker aud
shaver Of notes, and rivalry has long ex-
listed between him and the owner Of the
premises searched. This now would be .
good opportunity to find out who had the
most money, and consequently it was count.