The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-16
The Farm ". wan street.

Breeders Gazette.
The recent financial disasters which have ov-
ertaken strong establishments and Individuals,
particularly in the East but involving to some
degree Western interests also, must make the
reflective farmer more than ever satisfied with
the modest but safe character of his business.
These bankers and brokers, and "specuIators"
were all reputed to be making large profits,
compared with which the moderate returns
Welded by capital invested in the farm seemed
insignificant But they had to take chances also,
and now where are theyY Money gone, credit
gone in many instances their good name gone
and involved in debts and losses from which
nothing but commercial miracles can ever enable
any one Of them to emergel. There comes to the
farmer no grand and sudden fortune; but neither
does there come to him those swift and complete
financial wrecks which seem sooner or later to
overtake nearly every individual who embarks
his fortunes and energies in those deceptive and
uncertain kinds of business, From the legiti-
mate products of his labor, and from the gradual
increase of his capital employed mainly in his own
business the farmers fortune is built up little by
little, with knowledge of the value of every
dollar and a conscious conviction that it has
been honestly earned It is employed as it is
earned, in such manner and invested in such
way that no panics can sweep it away. No ex-
posture of "stupendous dishonesty" in any quar-
ter, involves the safety of his capital, and he
loses no sleep from fear of broken banks, mis-
placed confidence, bankrupt corporations, or
worthless or shrinking stocks or bonds
1t seems sometimes, perhaps, as if the moder-
ate returns from agricultural operations were
too small; but, after ALL considering their secur
lty, there are no Investments that in the end
yield so we'll Merchants and manufacturers
may make money, for a tune, faster than the
farmer, but sooner or later they are caught too
widely extended in some period of stagnation
in trade or overproduction, and old houses
the pillars of the trade-sink into oblivion their
quickly acquired fortunes disappearing even
more rapidly than they were accumulated, and
leaving behind nothing beyond harvest of
bitter memories and blasted hopes. The capt.
talist seems to do better than the farmer lend
ing his money at good rates Of interest and TAX
ing his ease; but sooner or later there comes to
him time when he finds his securities have lost
much OF their value, or that he has overstepped
the bounds OF safety and embarked in some
thing which turns his dollars into ashes. On
every side men are engaged in ventures and en-
terprises which bring them world of care and
anxiety, which excite high hopes and are for
time seemingly prosperous; but in turn they all
go to the wall 1t seems only question of
time.
The farmer alone seems to have security. His
gains are small but they are The vicissi-
tudes of the seasons and the fluctuations of the
markets, prosperous times and poor times, spec
ulatlve periods and periods OF depression may
come and CO. they can only exert temporary
influence In increasing or diminishing Immediate
profits; but with prudence and economy these
things never attack or destroy the capital which
he has invested in his land and his equipment.
Times like these should serve to cure the dis
content with which farmers sometimes regard
their occupation, and admonish them of the
advantage of investing and using the accumu-
lating capital on their own farms and in their
own business. instead of interesting themselves
in outside operations, as many are tempted to
do, lending money, getting an interest in trade
of one sort another, yielding to the delusive
promises of speculation. Be content with the
farm and its legitimate business. for there is no
other industry which will bring, and deserve, SO
much contentment and happiness, and no other
avenue ia which the farmer or his sons can hope
in the long run, to do so well. Broad acres and
good live stock are banks whose shares never
depreciate or fail to pay dividend. Nobodys
account is overdrawn. and nobody's confidence is
misplaced or abused. The shareholder in such a
bank can pass through life as free from care as
falls to the lot Of any human being; and, no
matter whom he meets, need never have oecas
ion to pull down the rim of his hat to conceal
the record on his forehead