Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-03-04
Looking at tho Facts.

Winter. in the chronological order, has
passed, and yet We have not reached the
epoch from which We date the commence
ncnt of spring, in the sense of reappear-
ing vegetation, balmy winds, and mild
showers, but the undisputcd dominion of
frost is at an end, and his reign IS draw.
ing rapidly towards its close. The du.
ties Of tie Sprirg-time soon will tax our
best energies. In consideration Of this,
what is the outlook for US? What are
our resources and our dependencies? and
in view Of them, what do We expect
what may We reasonably expect. tn &C.
complish: We cannot individualize aud
state particular cases. 1t IL our province
j: this instance to consider only aggre-
gates, and regarding this county as
whole, t" summarize its obligations and
its capabilities.
First, misunderstanding both classes
the industrial and the professional, each
Is indebted ON an average to the extent III
nearly onc-half Of its tangible possess
ions. Of these fully three-fourths consist
If landed property not available vt once
for any other than the purpose Of tillage.
The remaining one-fourth is required for
usc in tho processes of reproduction, or
for sustenance pending the growth Of an
other crop. If this is fair statement of
the facts, and we think none will ques-
ton its fairness, we are in possession of
very limited available resources. What
have we: Let US see! Our land cannot
be sold at reasonable rates; but if itcOuld
We must not rclinquish it. for we place
our chief reliance upon tillage. For this
purpose our teams. our seed, our coarse
grain, and our labor are all ,ndispensa-
ble.-the very small surplus of each,
which any Of us may have, being all that
is at our disposal for the purpose If meet
ing present contingencies and mature
claims. This brings the whole case into
view, and after looking at it fairly we ask
what have We upon which to depend I'm.
til We shall secure another harvest? There
is but one answer: Our credit is our chief
dependence. Fortunately for this county
land this fair sample ofthe entire North
wesD we have in the aggregate, character
and property qualifications sufficient to
enable Us to obtain from the older and
more wealthy districts, all the money
which we need to cmsloy in any legiti
mate business enterprise. Many of us
realize this fact only too fully for our
own good, and because we have excellent
facilities for getting into debt we do not
duly consider the danger Of incurring re.
sponsibility. This is weakness Of west
ern men. We depend too much upon ex-
ecution and too little upon carefully d.
gested plans. We are not-generally-
sure We are right, before we 90 ahead.
We must learn To make haste more slow.
~. We are now about to commence an.
other business campaign. Let us do II
carefully, considerably. Precipitation
not unfrequently induces failure, while
moderation seldom gives occasion for re.
greet. Let every man remember tina,
whenever he becomes indebted beyond
his ability to pay, as the claims agains,
him mature to the extent Of his liabilities
beyond his means Of meeting them, he j.
m abjcct slave. We're this truth more
generally realized, men would be more
careful about assuming obligations It thu
bchest Of fashion, or for the grati6catior
~
Of a false pride. During the year that !,
before US there should be-sacA good man
agcment and spch wise economy as to re
suit in relieving; as from the burden ~
Indebtedness now so grievous, and II
.plactng vs upon q basis Of financial pros
pcrity hitherto unknown in the West