Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-03-20
COUNTY DEBTS AND WHAT TO DO
WITH THEM.

From the ST. Louis Republican,
We took occasion Il short time ago
to advise Missouri farmers whose
farms are murtgagPd and who have
been staggering for years under the
burden to take advantage of the re-
vived demand for anh increased
prices of farm products, to get out of
uebt-to set apart the tirst-fruits OF
the prosperous era that has come
upon the country to their extrica-
ton from the thraidom OF debt-owIng
and lntercst-payIng, aud reSalnlng
that real Independence which
| debtor cannot realize. We take the |
| liberty now of extending that advice |
| to ali the Indebted counties of Mis- |
souri,. There are not as many heavily
burdened counties in the state rs
there were five years ago. Some
have quietly husbandcd their re.
sources, kept out of the courts, and
reduced their bonded debt by regular
annual payment on them, and thus
brought them down t, amounts that
are scarcely felt. Audrain, Boone
and Monroe are examples. Oihers
like Lafayette, Howard and CaltawaT
have mansged to effect compromises
with their creditors by which obliga-
,,ous oppressive at first have been
reduced to manageable proportions,
and placed in process OF gradual eS-
tinuuishmcnt. But there are others
plunged in harassing litigation over
debts which are no nearer settle
ment now than they were 1Ve or
six wears ago, and it ia Oh those we
desire earnest Y to press the necessity
I of getting rid of the annoying bur-
t deus Not by reputation, nor by
v popular organization for resisting
: judicia! processes. .evies aud sales-foi
\ the bitter experience that has attepd'
@ ed such proceedings in the past
a teaches the lesson of their futility
+ Protracted legislation supported by
i the evasion of judicial orders and
4 uou-pnymeut OF interest emily serve
TO aggrayate the burden and keel
a the indebted county in turmoil
There are few county railroad debts
that may not be reduced by compro
mise with the creditors, provided the
z latter be approached in Il fair spirit
a The cases of Lafayette and othe
y counties that have reduced their obi
T. cations by mutual agreement will
IL their bond holders proved tins con
"a clusively. What these counties .haV
g done others can do.
r. Our effort. to briug immigration
10 to Missouri cannot have full success
y as long as litigation of county DEBT
C. in the courts attracts SO much publ
r attention aud provokcs SO much ur
" favorable comment. The subIeC
is ought to be taken out OF the courts
III The debts ought To be settled. ho
to litigated. The former is the easie
Mt and cheaper method i'll the end. Ih
nc very best thing that officials aud peo
as pie of an indebted county can q
)n with their burden is TO reduce 1T
pit the most favorable terms they can e
ls. from their creditors, and then sett'
'e- down quletiy and resoluteiy to IN
&C. inevitable work OF paving IL by re!
"a. uIar annual reduction. lu mo-
lg cases a moderate special tax Will su
1t flee to pay the Interest aud lea'
re something over TO 60 to the redu
OF ton of the principal, aud this proce
ny ii steadily maintained Will III a fe
OF years cause the annoyance 10 disa
he pear from the public mind and 7
i'll licve the state OF IL trouble that Ii
ilt been clog Oh its progress.