Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1880-12-24
Agents for the "Teller."
Financial Condition.

somewhat into the state of our finances
a. people. Have we advanced dur
ing the past year? If so in what has
our advancement been made. 1t is
quite doubtful about there being as
much ready money among our people
A. we had one year ago. During the
year there has been considerable in
crease to our population particularly
In the rural settlements. Some of the
increasing population brought with
them money and some of them stock,
but none to large amount. This has
been disbursed and distributed in va
rious ways and much of it has found
its way in the channels of trade of
our merchants and farm machinery
men to pay for merchandise shipped
from the lower country. Our mines
have produced less than he usual
quantity of gold dust. A few thous-
and head of cattle and horses have
been sold for cash at low figures. A
few thousand pounds of wool and
hides have been shipped. Our wheat
shipments have been light. Our fax
crop has been far above the average
and when delivered the aggregate re-
turn bids fair to be in excess of all
others in some localities There is
yet considerable wheat and other
grains belonging to the crop of the
present year in the hands of the
producers. Some of which is good
and some of it damaged by the frost.
1t is quite doubtful whether there will
be much for shipment abroad after
the increasing home demand is sup
piled. Of bacon and lard we have
not raised enough for home supply,
but have been compelled to ship frcm
below. The average farmer is about
finding out that the surplus products
Of his farm during the year past has
been barely equal to his family expen-
scs and the payment for hired labor.
Through another channel much money
has been gathered up and gone away
from the country. We refer to
money paid for entering land, large
number of the settlers who had filed
declaratory statements for pre-emp-
tons year or two ago found it a ne
cessity, if they were to preserve their
rights to raise the money and prove up
and enter their lands. To do this
many Of these pre-emptors have been
compelled to stra n every point to
raise the necessary money, by borrow
ing from friends and neighbors, a lit
tie here and a little there, to make up
the requisite amount. In some in.
stances they have mortgaged these
lands after receiving their certificates.
This money has oil left the country,
amounting to more than $50, 900,
and while the lands remain as proper
~ OF the settler, yet they now are sub
ject to taxation at the high rates to
which all property is subject under the
laws of Idaho. The foregoing depicts
something Of the financial condition Of
the people of North Idaho. We dc
not say that we are not advancing, bu,
we do say that our observation teaches
US that we are not in healthy condi
ton to encounter hard winter. such
as to kill off our surplus stock or t,
encounter total failure in the crop
OF the ensuing season, and it behoove
every man to husband well the it'll
he has, to curtail all unnecessary es
penses of self and family, and to d
bis utmost to aid every enterprise tina
will open up market for every poun
OF surplus products that our industr
can bring forward, and at profitabl
rates for production. Our soil has tn
capacity to help every man out of h
present embarrassment and make hi,
ilch, II it be properly cultivated an
the channels to market are speed
and cheap In December, 1881, wi,
proper climatic influences continuir
We ought to be able to make a mu,
better showing than we can now d