The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-12-12
Correspondent.
The Farmers and Patrons Savings
Institution-AnA ntidote for Hard
ri~aa

EDI-oR REPUnLCAN-Every farmer,
who wishes to be independent Of the
fluctuations of the money market, and
consequently of the fluctuations in the
price of all farm products. should have
a supply fund deposited somewhere,
that he ran make a draw on when tho
price of his produce will moi justify him
in dispcsing Of it at the prevailing price.
And as We have seen that the farmer
cannot rely on our present banks for re-
lief, il is time the farmers were casting
about to find some mode Of relieving
themselves, by establishing a bank of
their own. on which they can rely in all
contingencies. And as il is possible
that any incorporated institution may
burst up. or suspend payment when the
farmer is in the greatest need Of n little
money, would it not he well for every
farmer to inquire, of himself. if it is not
possible for him 10 establish a bank of
his own the safe of which is burglar
proof, and which would be in no danger
of being swindled ny dcfaulting or alb
sconding clerks and cashiers? | think
that almost every farmer can establish
such a bank. In every other business.
men proceed with some kind Of system /;
they have certain rules that they work
by, and if they succeed in making a
profit the gains are Immediately put
back in the business. How is it with
the farmer here in the West? When he
raises an extra crop of corn or wheat,
and makes 4 profit of his land, does he
put any part of the proceeds back on
the land, SO that he may he able to raise
a better crop next year. am sorry to
say that. if he does. it is an exception
and not the rule; but, instead. he lays
it all ont in building a fine dwelling.
buys more unprOductive land, loans it
out on interest. invests il in bank stock,
or some other business over which he
has very little or no control, and allows
his land to become poorer every year;
and then, az a natural consequence, he
comes to the conclusion that farming
does not pay. Would any other bust
pess.pav if a man commenced with only
a moderate capital, and managed Sc as
to decrease the productivcness of his
capital every year? Most assurcdly not.
And vet most farmers act as though they
expected all this of the farm. l have
thought a great deal about this matter.
and the only conclusion that ] "a ar
rive at is, that the most profitable "bank
stock that a farmer can invest his sur
plus money-or time, which is money
in, is Il good bank of manure; the judi
cious use of which will undoubtedly in
crease the productiveness of his original
capital. Every farmer should make it a
great part of his study. how to increase
the prod~uctiveness of his soil. instead of
how TO raise crops that will bring the
greatest immediate returns, at the ex- !
pense of the fertility of the soil. Such
an investment as this never fails to yield
annual dividends. and the farmers check
on such a bank seldom returns unhon-
ored. If the farmer invests his gains in
other bank stock he has no assurance
that he can get it back again at a mo-
ment's notice; and if he had taken stock
that is not all paid up, or owes the bank
and is called upon to pay up. he has to
respond Immediately, Notwithstanding
there may be o panic in the money
market, and money worth twenty-five per
cent. After the farmer has invested all
be can manage in his OWL business, let
him invest in some other, and not be-
fore. Let the farmer produce. as near
Is he can proitably. all that ne con- ]
,umes at home, and then encourage the
manufacture OF thft whdh be buSs, a.