Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-16
IOxut Of interest in my judgement increase the

oHrtS Of interest In my judgement increase the
wealth Of the State stimulate the development Of our
agricultural, manufacturing and commercial indus.
tries, and enlarge the field of employment for both
capital and labor while high rates Of interest have
the contrary effect, and tend to discourage enter
rather than employ 1t in the active pursuit Of wealth.
experience during the past ten years has taught
those engaged in promotion of the various industries
tnat our commercial and manufacturing pursuits are
TO be conducted In direct competition with those Of
our sister States, where the rates Of interest are
much less.
satisfied that law reducing interest rates a.
much at least as to correspond with the legalized
rates in neighboring States, would result to the adj
vantage of all concerned. The resumption Of specie
payment as the settled practice OF the government
and the low scale of values which must prevail from
the sounder basis upon which business 10 conducted
must render small margin Of profits inevitable In
all branches of business, and there is every reason
why the price OF money should share in the common
reduction.
- AGRICULTURE.
During the first half of the growing season the
past year the unvaryng report from all parts Of the
State was that the prospects for wheat never
good, nor for corn poor, appearances then
held forth. The result In two-thirds of tiled
area was the poorest wheat crop and the finest corn
emphatcaly illustrate the uncertain promises Of
agriculture, nor more pointedly condemn the folly
profits of a single product. This is further shown
by instances which have to my knowledgeI
where men heavily pressed with debt had fortunately
Eoted half THEN prepared land to corn, with result
ing good profits md happy rescue from bankrupE
cy. 1t is indeed the opinion Of observing men Of
longest experience that notwithstanding peculiar
adoption to wheat growing and the supposton that
our latitude is too high for the most successful pro-
ducon Of Indian corn the latter is nevertheless the
more certain and profitable crop when the average
results of several years considered. At all events
is the part Of wisdom to try both, and to sn fur
Their employ the resources which, beyond those Of
all other pursuits. give agriculture assurances
against needless failure. The profit resulting from
the transportation OF neat cattle across rne ocean,
and the extending facilities by which the farming
Competition with those of Europe should encourage
producers to avail themselves of all their multiplying
advantages.
WHEAT INSPECTION.
In view Of the excitenent recently created regard
ing the inspection and grading of wheat, suggest
that o commission be created by your honorable
body to take the whole matter into special consider
alton. The peculiar nature of the injury inflicted
upon the maturing grain the past season was made
the occasion for much complaint with the cassifca-
ton of the product and the manner Of testing its
grades, and nasmuch as serious charges have been
repeatedly made of dishonest practices by wheat
buyers to the injury of producers, it is important
that thorough and impartial investigation of the
matter by men representing all the parties interested
be made without unnecessary delay.
INSOLVENCY.
Since the repeal of the national bankrupt law MANY
complaints have been made respecting the injustice
attending assignments by bankrupts. BY the collul
sion of the insovent with or two leading crediI
tors it is claimed the assets of the debtor are fire.
quently sequestered and absorbed to the injury of
| the mass OF creditors, among whom the effects
should be equitably divided. In,lny Judgment the
wrongs inflicted by such practices demand the enact
ment of law which shall provide alike for all cred-
tors and strictly prohibit the preference Of cred
tor over another.
FRONTIER MATTERS.
The absence OF Legal for the actual organ
zation Of counties which have been established and
by the act of legislature and the resulting
confusion irregularities and contests occasoned by
premature efforts to create county governments.
nave been referred to in former messages. The
questions raised in the recent Of election re-
turns as well as the danger Of future complications
growing out of the doubtful legal status Of these
counties emphasize the Importance Of timely rome
dial legislation. AS less irregularity attend
ed the organization of many of the counties,
to them undergo careful examination with view to
such legalizing action as may be found necessary,
and that provision be made for the uniform and reg
| uar organization of counties in future.
If legislative discrimination concerning localities
be jusfable it should surely favor rather than
oppose the interests of those frontier sections which
uffer the unavoidable disabilities incident to their
exposed situations. The failure of the legislature
| to make the required apporhonment following the
census of 1875 was serious injustice to the newer
counties In depriving them Of the increased repre-
sentaton to which they were entitled by their rapid
growth of population; and if anything can properly
be done at the present session to make amends foI
that injustice by facilitating the prompt apporton-
ment to follow the federal census of 1880. trust II
| may not be withheld.
| information has reached me that in some Of the
southwestern counties in consequence Of the failure
OF the past years crops following the impoverished
condition resulting from successive grasshopper
raids the people will be unable meet the require
ments of the seed grain law and suggest the pro-
priety OF granting further time to enable them to
meet their engagements. forced repayment at
this time would defeat the original purpose of the
law. by depriving the most necesstous of the seed
| grain needed for their coming seasons crops.
Another matter affecting the practica interests Of
the frontier people deem of sufficient importance
to require attention. Considering the similar topog-
raphy and identity of interests marking our wide
prairie areas the multiplication of small new Counties
burdens their inhabitants unnecessarily with the
costly mac hinery of government. Large counties
like Kandiyohi, Stearns and Otter Tail, while suf-
centy convenient to all parts of their territory for
the transaction of business with the seat of govern.
nent distribute the burdens of taxation upon larger
populations and thus lessen their hardship upon in.
dividuals In the considerations touching the sala-
| res of county officers and the expensive buildings
and provisions required for the of county re-
cords the advantages which large counties afford
small ones without increase of taxation, worthy
of attention.
The improvement of the connecting channels and
increase Of harbor facilities for transportation upon
the great lakes are demanded by the rapid increase
| OF their trade, and the marvellous resources and
as OF the vast country whose bulky products
| The recent completion Of q continuous railroad
from st. Paul to Winnipeg, affording overland con-
necGOQ with the three great water systems
sissippi river Hudsons Bay and the lake chain and
the immediate extension to be made of the Northern
Tactic railroad to the mineral and gra zirg section
The far West, indicate the extent of the expanding
commerce which must here converge The impor-
| lance of the subject leads me to urge that you
memorabilia Congress in furtherance Of the objects
sought by the late convention in behalf of lake nay
cation. The" condition of the terminal harbor at
Duluth and the erection Of at least one lighted
refuge for vessels upon the long coast between that
port and Thunder Bay, would seem to be among the
important considerations pertaining to the interests
Of lake commerce.
| NATIONAL.
The resumption Of specie payments adds another
to the proud achievements of . prosperous nation.
1t corrects perhaps the most fruitful Of the radical
disorders bequeashed us by the demon Of civil war
It signals the end of the long night of feversh dis
ress and hastens the glad morning health, peace
and prosperity. In her dire struggle for life and
health the nation has never more suspicious
epoch than that with which she receives the greetings
of the new year There remains now but needful
time and rest for restoration to the full measure Of
her normal strength.
History indeed records no obstacles more fornid-
able than those which confronted the American peo
pie in the great work of pacifcation following the
| commissions of their new birth. despodc power
may suppress instruction by simple force, visit
summary punishment upon its rebenious subjects
and reassert its absolute sway. With popular gov
| eminent comprising voluntary union Of States
| without unrepresented territory, the task is NOT
merely to enforce the national authority, but to
wiring from sullen and Discontinued comnun tiles the
willing support requisite to its cohesive existence
| In the performance of work so complicated, TO
wholly escape bunders would be to evince in human
affairs more than human wisdom. If the govern
ment has carried its forbearance to point exciting
the amazement IL not the ridicule Of nationsif Il
has withheld punishment for treason by blood
hscaton-if the insurgent States have felt the
avengng hand of the government In little else than
its benefactions-f leading offenders find swift re-
Mobilization in the councils of the nation they sought
to dissever-h may prove that wise government il
stronger In the hearts Of it people than In the prow-
ess of its arms. Whether such shall be the happy
outcome of all our internal disturbances depends now