Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-11-16
Admitting the Facts.

The season just ended has not been an
suspicious one to Minnesotians. Much
Of tho crop was badly put in, on account
Of the uufavorable weather; some bad
seed was used, and it proved failure.
The drouth in the spring prevented the
usual growth, and later the continued wet
weather had damaging effect upon the
maturity Of the straw and the develop.
ment of the kernel, 80 that the harvest was
little more than one.third Of its customary
value. Early the prices ranged 3" low
that the producer could not realize enough
from what he had to sell to pay the cost
Of production. Later the market has i'm.
proved somewhat, but only. after the bulk
Of the crop has gone from first hands.
To the already excessive indebtedness of
previous years were added other large
for machinery and improvements, 80
that in many cases the burden IS greater
than can be borne and men are giving away
under the pressure. Of course the failures
are not yet numerous, for 1t is early in the
season of collection, nor are they, nor will
they be very disastrous to individuals,
because the exemption laws serve the pur.
pose Of fortifcation which is sure de-
Tense against the assaults Of the Sheriff,
but country suffers more in the aggre
gate from loss Of credit than it does from
sale on execution, because of the general
distrust which is begotten Of a failure to
meet engagements. If one man is sold
out by his creditors and goes down, the
man who buys takes his place and thus
business transactions continue uninlpcded.
but il hundred men neglect to pay
their debts, and instead OF giving place to
others who can pay, continue to do an un
profitable business, it acts upon the
country like q break upon revolving
wheel-retarding its progress, and finally
by continued resistance, succeeds in stop.
ping it. 1t is by this general pressure up
on the wheels Of business that they are
made to run 50 slowly at this, a time Of
the year when ordinarily their velocity IS
greatest. Stagnation is the parent of all
kinds of evil, and in its effect upon the
country is far worse than individual ca
lamity, because it is not only fatal
but general, involving all classes and
conditions in common trouble if not in
common ruin. The practical question is,
what is the surest road out Of this finan-
cial wilderness: We answer: For many
the only avenue Of escape is by sale Of
their possessions enabling them to throw
off the burden of debt and with their sur
plus, more or less to make new start
Others by industry and economy may
struggle up through their embarrassments
and finally overcome them entirely; but
in doing this, present liabilities must
not be increased: while the season has
been to some extent unpropilious and in
dustry has not met with its usual reward
it may as we'll be admitted that present
are LAT ay the result Of
excuses, aud in some cases
foolish extravaganza. A recognition Of
these facts is an essential element in the
Of any scheme through which
We may reasonably hope hereafter to
achieve greater degree of business pros
perity. Our wants and not our desires
should determine the measure Of our ill.,
diligence.