Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-05-07

"frie"ds" 20 to the whisky tubs to
''nourish'' themselves. That is his appro-
pirate time. Let hin, come out then.
Facts and Figures.
An effort has been made by the use
Of correspondents aud other means, to
prejudice tho agricultural community
against the business me Of Austin.
The purpose which ac.uates tho move
ing parties 's very apparent to those
who arc familiar with them. They
seek political preponderance, and are
willing to purchase it ut whatever cost
Of truth, fairness, or friendship. Repre-
sensi"g no principles acceptable to
the masses, they see no chance Of sue
cess unless they al succeed in arrayiug
the different classes Of tho republican
party against themselves; and in
creating a feud between the city and
the country. For this purpose
they resort to the work Of misrep
ressnting, -telling that such staple ar.
ticles, ~ spades, shove's, forks, and
rakss, can be bought through the
grange agency cheaper BY from so to
100 per cont. than hardware dealers
have been getting for similar articles
Of the same quality, a saving o.
Dearly the saue per cent. can be made
upon groceries. aud dry goods. Such
statements, false ss they are, can not b
attributed solely to ignorance, although
a great deal may be excused on that
account. They show tho desperate
recklessness Of both writer and pub.
Usher, and their disposition to subordi'
nate truth ,tothe achievement ofpolitical
victory. THEY WANT VOTES; but ia
get thew, they must cheat tie people.
This they are trying to do. There are
in this city about a dozen houses doing
= business Of $4,000 a year, and sew.
eral that approach 100000 very
closely. OF the second and larger
clase,-beeause they represent a more
diversified trade, We will make a few
statements concerning expenses and
profits Rent per year, $500, taxes
500, insurance $3.50, clerk (and three
are generally employed) $500, fuel
500, lights SIS, stationery and blank
books $50, postage and exchange SIS,
advertising 500, travelling expenses in
buying goods 500. interest on $4,000
capital employed $500, losses 500,
living s60o,-total $500. Upon an
annual business Of 5000 these ex-
penses consume ISL per cent Of the
whole business, and they are actual
too. Now We make tho assertion, -
and We know We state tho fact,-tbat
the merchants Of this city do not real
ize an average Of ono mill more than
20 per cent, upon their sales. This in
most cases does not give then, a salary
as large rs thoy could obtain, were
they to take situations as clerks in
large cities. As a rule, men don't
make money in merchandising. The
commercial record for the last decade,
shows that less than three par cent Of
the entire number in the business have
been successful, and that ut least ninety
per cent. have hopclessly failed. .
These are facts. Take the city Of
Austin. Only twodry goods houses sur
vive, that started here ten years ago.
Not a single man has retired in
a~A1uence, and but comparatively few
have made o than a living.
Again 1t is said that the merchants
hold the farmers notes, which the lat
ter are unable to pay, and are therefore
subject thereafter to be victimized at
will. The fact is. the merchants are
often driven into bankruptcy, because
they cannot collect what belongs to
them. Some ofthe very men who are
slandering dealers here, r notorious
for never paying their debts. . Then
farmers, in all candor We ask,-who
are the victims?
There are two sides to every ques.
ton. Look out over this county. How
many men can you count living in good
homes and cultivating hundreds Of acres,
who came here in early days, poo,
in everything, except in good health
and an honest purpose. There ar
many such. We oar point to ten u
often as you will find one merchant
equally wealthy, and We are glad to SET
the tiller of the soil live like an Ameri
can Grand Duke. He deserves his aflu
ence who reaps it AZ the fruit Of homes
labor, and as a class the farmers of to
day are more Independent and prosper
Gus than are the men from whom the,
buy their dry goods, their groceries
and their hardware. The farmers o.
this county are not poor. They are
creating wealth by their labor, ant
while they sleep, nature develops and
perfects what they have wisely begun
Correspondence.
LYLE, May 4th, 1877
The soft breezes now prevail, ant
fan to life the 11owry vale. SpriuI
with her balmy breath aud sweet flow
ers has come ut last, natures orchestr