The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-09-30

At this season of the year, as we
have noticed for a number of years,
there is the usual complaint Of hard
times and Of the scarcity OF money.
There is not much to boast Of, but not
much more than in other years to
complain of. If there be 4 defect in
the cultivation of our lands, and some
thing short in the outcome, it is one of
the results of Il speculative system in
business and farming.
Last year, just at this time--as many
will remelnber-there was general
complaint as to the scarcity Of money.
Men with large possessions, as we'll as
men in active business, felt then, as
they donow, the need of money. In
some way, we cannot say how, the
difficulties We're all surmounted, and
the business and planting operations of
the country have gone along.
1t is no discouraging prospect that
planters and men in commercial pur-
suits have become apprehensive AS to
the future. 1t may take some time to
enforce the lesson taught by our eX-
travasant way Of living, and to re-
form the speculative system OF farming
under which our people have pretend.
ed to live ; but the eventual result
must be Il class of planters and farmers
more independent, and fertile lands
more thoroughly cultivated. The
planter who has undertaken to cult
waite more land than he can fence had
II praise-worthy ambition, no less than
the merchant who has attempted to do
more business than his capital would
warrant. Farmers with their small
acres, and men with little country
stores have been equally grasping and
ambitious. Exactly where tho blame
lies may be ascertained by watching
the wagons rollin. along our streets
filled with bacon, meal and the like,
out of the cotton crop of this year. 1t
follows that the crop of next year,
where the producer does not live some-
what at home, will go in the same di-
rectiOn.
But whatever may he the trouble
itstfihs tHttt ~ &tpSsI W asc
ought to know their business, as they
are presumed to know,-wc should
consider the difficulties in existence
and tho best means of an escape from
the prevailing pecuniary hartlships. 1t
is characteristic of any people in times
like these to hoard their money-the
man of dimes as we'll as him with dol
lars. I1 pay, even with u pocket full +,
is bnt seldom tho cheerful lot of any
individual, man or woman, and when
the country generally sets up the COM
plant Of hard times, the purse strings
of rich and poor alike are drawn tight.
Just ut this time, half, Or more than
half of the pecuniary distress com
planned of, comes from this selfish and
unmanly way ones liabilities are met.
He is going whining through the obi.
cations of this year, with the cXpecta-
ton of starting out bold at the begin
ming OF 1882. "Suc me-" he may say.
even for the meat and bread he has
lived upon--cxpecting some other
dealer in produce, equally az crazy to
make his profits, will furnish him all
he wants next year.
What money there is in the country
should go into circulation. One dollar,
kept moving, will pay obligations
amounting to fifty, within Il few
weeks, and il is not improbable that
. at least fifty people will be benefited
The times are not so hard as we all i'm
agine. Money is scarce just now, as il
il at this season Of the year in 4 cotton
growing country, but the people car
survive the present distress by :
prompt interchange of dollars ant
dimes and, by living more at home
As it now appears they should, n sole
foothnid will soon be reached.
The river is five inches below tn,
low water mark Of 1879.