Mower County transcript., 1869-12-09
MOWER co. TRANSCRIPT,

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GEO. H. OTIS, Editor and Publisher.
AUSTIN. MINI, DECEMBER ., 1869.
Lessons Of the Hour.
:. is an unpleasant fact that nearly
sll classes Of men, with perhaps the
single exception Of dealers in money,
sre to-day unable to meet their indebt'
olness. We speak now, more especial
" with reference to Minnesota, though
the same remark is true of most other
new Western States. The common ex-
plauation of this undesirable condition
of things is that the products Of the
State being at low pricein market. while
articles Of importation required for
homo consumption are extremely high.
Let us accept this theory, which is un-
loubtcdly correct. The staple product
Of the State is wheat. To-day, the far.
mcr goes to market with load Of this
commodity aud receives therefore the
sum Of sixty cents per bushcl. He
takes his money and goes to the mer-
chant to buy clothing and groceries
f;r his family, and pays for them near.
ly or quite as high price as was de-
nanded when wheat was worth one
dollar per bushel. The machinery
with which he tills the soil and gathers
his harvest costs as much now a. when
wheat brought double the present price.
The causes which keep merchandise up
to the present standard and operate 50
unjustiy towards iae Producing c!::.e.
are found in the financial problems
ehat now agitate the country. aud are
consequently beyond the control Of our
home merchants. Even if they could
get their pay, the traders Of Minnesota
are deriving very little more profit
from their business now, than when
wheat was worth q dollar and twenty
five cents per bushel. Hundreds Of
merchants in all parts Of the State are
insolvent, and many are going into
bankruptcy. They claim that this is
because the farmers will not psy them.
Now, here are two prominent facts,
both Of which ore of sufficient impor-
tance to command attention. First the
producing classes Of the State are at the
mercy of traders, and second, mer-
chants are crippled in their business in
consequence Of the failure Of customers
to pay their debts.
How to avert such calamities in the
future is the problem Of the hour.
The present unfortunate condition Of
the farming population Of Minnesota is
Me certain and inevitable rcsnlt Of re-
lying upon a single product. In this
instance the product is wheat, it might
be something else with the same results.
Pork, beef, butter, and cheese, and
young stock, all command a good price,
and how many farmers mourn that
they have not now these products to
sell. But the fault is their own, and
this experience, ought to be sufficient
to teach them to devote henceforth, al
least, half their money and time to
stock raising.
Again, the vast expenditure for ma
chinery that is now impoverishing SC
many farmers should be reduced a,
least one half: The extravagant pur
chase and proaigate use Of reapers, see
ders: mowers &C., is absolutely astonish
ing. This farm machine business ha,
become a mania, aud will ruin th'
country unless checked. There is hard
ly better grass growing region in th'
west, than southern Minnesota, and tn
sooner the people turn their attention t.
this branch Of industry. the soonc
will they relieve themselves from tn
embarrassed condition they are in to-day
Wheat is good, but like anything else
to much o. it will make a man poor
Merchants, as we'll as farmers, are ais
in trouble, and the fault is partly thei
own
Since the war a large number: 0
young men, with few hundred dollar
and no business capacity or experience
have set themselves up as merchant:
Tne west, always Offering an ample fiel
for enterprise, has become crowded wit
this class Of traders, all anxious to dis
pose Of their wares. Competition ha
been active and the demand for cred1
has been great, which, they have nc
been slow to crafty. Consequently
majority of these inexperienced trade.
meu find themselves to-day embarzasse
beyond hope Of recovery. The good
they bought on time are not paid to-
their customers have no money, an
bankruptcy stares them in the face.
These evils may be avoided in II
ture. At least onc-third Of those VIII
call themselves merchants should bu
peicc of prairie, 60 to work and bel
strengthen the productive forces Of th
country. The balance should sell oni
for cash, except to few who are know
to be prompt and honest.
1t is proverbial that Western ma
will buy anything he can get truste
for, whether he needs it or not, b,
the pay Gay is too frequently forgotte7
rrho crod;t svsfem is the father of iii