The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-08-08
those found in much Older towns "
TI',4i's'isil,glss$s,9l ..,,&', ,s.IFEG,
fail 70 attrMact notice IN reference 70

NThefe is one feature that cap not
fail to attract notice IN referenceNto
the new western townT-the class of
people who open it up and begin the
town seldom remain residents of it
long. They are usually people who
have formed a fondness for the bus
tie and excitement of "a wild new
town; and when the boom is past as
itwere, and. the town becomes quiet,
peacable and every day like. a spirit
of restlessness comes over the adven-
turer and he soon makes for the
more distant west. One almost won
ders what such individuals will do
when there is no "farther west" to GO
to. The first people of the town very
seldom have much capital, and many
of them are unable to survive long
in business point of view. Then it
is the immigration that flows after
the first crash that moulds the destiny
of the town. If this be of substsn-
tial kind, the town must partake OF
the same quality.
Bowie can no longer be called a
mushroom railroad town even by her
enemies. No town, new or old, can
boast OF better class Of citizens,
and while there is as yet but little
wealth in her midst, no country can
offer better resources. The indus
tries are of both a stock and agricul-
tural character. The farming lands
are very superior. Last years crop
brought good returns and prospects
now are very hattering for an abun
dant harvest in the fall. This will
set the general condition of the
country in such good shape as to re-
ceive the strokes of misfortune with
tolerable IMMUNITY. If farmers have
good luck this year and are able to
pay for their lands, they will be in a
condition to survive bad seasons and
failures in crops another year.
There is mutual dependence be-
tween farmers and merchants. They
are all in debt and the failure of one
insures the failure of the other. The
growing fields are watched with fear
and trembling, for this year decides
the fate of Bowie. If there is fail
ure this year it will take her years to
recover the effects of the backset.
There is a general financial
squeeze throughout the whole coun-
try at present. All the banks have
been shut down for the past fifteen
days and will not open credit for
thirty days to come. The best of
men find it impossible to borrow a
dollar from that source and it has
seriously disconnected many persons
involved in heavy business transac-
tons. Texas offers great field for
speculation. There is always way
to turn money over to an advantage
and it is hard to find man with any
business who does not carry heavy
Indebtedness. The market is down,
nobody is able to pay any money and
they are bound to be carried over.
1t is said that in Gainesville, veal
thy stock men, who are as good as
gold have had their checks refused
for so small an amount as two hun.
dred dollars.
A heavy blow. has fallen on this
county by the loss of the court house,
which was burned in Montague last
April. 1t was quite handsome
thC III
the treasury for the last payment.
Bowie is working for the county site,
being larger than Montague, and on
the railroad, but also, having the dis
advantage of being in the corner OF
the county. Bowie proposes as an
inducement to the farmers TO build
the court house at her own expense
The money has been subscribed and
deposited in the bank.
Montague prefers, though possess.
ing more wealth than Bowie, to have
the court house built by taxation, and
claims she has a right to it, since
there it will be in the center of the
county. The matter has made dead
ly enemies Of the two towns. There
has been much contention, excite
ment, and SANDER. Montague has