West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-02-05
GET OUT OF DEBT.

The Uncomfortable Position ian which
Western Farmers Find Themselves.
a New England farmer who has
been spending some time among the
| farmers of the Western States and Ter
| rtorieS reports rs one of the results Of
| his observation that he found them al
most without exception to be in debt.
As a rule they bought everything on
credit They had running accounts
with the grocer, the dealer in dry
goods, the seller of agricultural imple-
ments, the blacksmith and the carpen-
ter. Not unfrequently their wives were
paying for sewing-machines and some
times musical instruments, on the in
stalmcnt plan. Many farmers agree
to pay their hired help and to settle
with merchants after harvest With
the low price Of grain and most other
farm products, however, they are not
able to do this After selling all the
| crops they can part with and disposing
of some fat stock they will find them
selves in debt at the commencement
| Of new year. Not unfrequently they
are obliged to borrow money at a high
rate of interest for the purpose of pay
ing their taxes in the spring. Some
times, however, they dispose of young
stock Mt sacrifice i'm order TO meet the
demands of the tax collector. This OBJ
server comes to the conclusion that the
usual condition of the farmers i'm the
Territories and new Western States
was to be in debt. They commence TO
get in debt as soon as they move on
their places, and as often as they dis
(sh gaf Of 81, Al
tract some more.
This is very unfortunate state Of
affairs, but that it is general in many
parts of the West is not to be cues
toned The habit of getting i'm debt
IS not easily broken OF. Once con-
tracted and continued for series of
years. II Is likely TO be kept up indefn-
itelY. Few farmers succeed i'm pro-
ducing rs large crops as they antici-
| pate, and they ordinarily expect higher
| prices than they obtain. The occur
ence OF fire, tornado, protracted
| drought, an early frost, a visitation of
destructive msects.a contagious disease
| among farm animals or sickness i'm
| the family upsets all the calculations
made for getting out of debt. More
| obligations are incurred and the labor
| OF years j. required TO discharge them.
| mou constantly harrassed bv debts is
/ nm NO condition tO enjoy life He can
have but few pleasures. He is at the
| mercy Of every person he deals with.
/ Tie must take goods at the price de-
| manded tor iaem. though il may seem
| TO be- cNOrbtant Traders who sell
/ articles ON credit are Obliged TO charge
high prices. Thoy assume risks. place
| thcu own credit I'M jeopardy, and arc
| often put 20 great inconvenience IN the
management Of their business They
| would prefer to sell goods for q much
smaller profit provided they could re-
/ ceive cash for them. The high prices
| for almost every article bought I'm the
country are chiefly due 10 the credit
/ system which generally prevails.
Now Is a good time 10 form plans for
/ getting out Of debt and for keeping out
/ II may be necessary 20 resort TO heroic
/ measures 20 accomplish this. but it is
| best 20 resort 20 them after all a res.
| olution 20 contract no new debts Ia the
| hrst step necessary 10 climbing up out
| ~ the degraded position In which so
| many find themsclvos The effort IL
| clearly worth making Observation
/ shows that the successful farmer is Or
| diuariiy the one who has ready money
! whCrowith fO buy stock and tools when
| they are offered for less than their
! value for the purpose Of securing cash
! He buys all his goods much cheaper
| than the man who gets trusted for
| them Hc enjoy. them better after he
/ BIAS Obtained them The credit system.
| which has become general among farm
/ ers ln many parts Of the West, has pre-
| vented them from getting much enjoy.
/ ment ont Oi their common life For
I many years prcYiDus 20 The commence.
/ mcut Of tbe civil war the condition ~
| the farmers Zoe the South was poor. not
outstanding the fact that they raised
| good crops and received high prices
| for them The credit system stood i'm
the way Of their prosperity. They
| worked one year 20 pay the debts con-
| iracicd ih' previous season. As rule
| they were year behind in al transac-
nonns involving the payment 81 monet
chicago ThHcs