Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-15

A CAST IS beng mOlded Dy y. ". a.
Ward, at New York, for the bronze statue
of Henry Ward Beecher, which is to sur
mount the monument to the preacher in
Prospect park, Brooklyn. The granite
pedestal will be nine feet high and have
figures in bronze on each side. On the
left will be young negro woman reach
ing up to the plinth to lay palm leaf
at the feet of the friend of her race. On
the right will be the figures of two white
children, one of whom endeavOrs to place
aowers on the plinth. The statue of Mr..
Beecher will be eight feet six inches high
and represent the preacher standing
bareheaded, holding his familiar soft felt
hat by his side in his hand. BE wears
his usual cape overooat unbuttoned, dis
closing the coat and vest underneath.
plain cravat, knotted, is worn under the
broad turn down collar. Mr.. Beeeher's
left hand falls by his side, and he looks
slightly up, ahead and little to the
right. Mr.. Wards idea is to show the
cist and citizen. He looks as if he we're
taking a walk in the park and hae re-
moved his hat but for the moment. The
monument will cost about $4,000.
DESTITUTE JEW FARMERS In DAKOTA.
The reports telegraphed to the east re
garding the terrible suffering from cold
"a b,--ar o,,ary n onlopU Polish
Jews in northern Dakota, gave the cause
as an early frost which destroyed their
crops. While this was the beginning of
their troubles, it is by no means the en-
tire cause of their present wretched cor
dition. The settlemant is located In
Ramsey county and comprises 20 fami-
lies, numbering 23S persons. The Jews
went there two years ago last spring from
some OF the larger western cities,
with household truck and from $1,000
to $25O0 each in money, farming imple-
ments, stock, etc. They procured lands,
built their modest homes, and went TO
work with will to clear the land and be-
come independent farmers. Those with
out money, mortgaged the land and bor-
rowed enough to pay the government
price, about $23s, and expected to live
on the balance OF their loans until the
first crop was harvested. fair crop
was raised the first year and the prospect
seemed SO bright that the more favored
mortgaged their lands and other property
to purchase stock and farm machinery.
Loan sharks lent them the money
and charged exorbitnt interest, the
notes and mortgages signed by them in
many instances bearing interest at the
rate Of per cont. month on chattels
and IL per cent. per year on real estate,
besides 5 per cent. per year on loans.
The settlers had planted a much larger
acreage this year, and seemed in fair
way to prosper, notwithstanding the
heavy load the loan sharks had placed
upon, them. Then came the severe
frost which destroyed their wheat crop
The merchants, VINO had been so anx-
ious to supply their every want, refused
them further credit. The sharks became
alarmed and began to foreclcse, until
finally the situation became so bad that
the sheriff refused to infict further suf-
feripgs on the people by taking their
property. The unfortunate settlers were
stripped of erything of value to satisfy
the avaricious money lender, in many
cases entire families being without food
fuel or clothing. One woman was found
with two little girls with bare
limbs and feet, though it was
freezing cold trying to keep warm
on the sunny side of the house
Some crsditor had taken her COW and lefi
her to starve with her little ones. Min
neapolis sent a commissioner to investi-
gate, and this is che substance of his re
port. Aid will be sent 10 the unfortU-
mates, but their experience is not likely
to encourage honest and Woodworking
settlers in their attempts to become inde
pendent farmers in the great west. Pc
cuIiar interest attaches TO the venture be
cause the Jews so rarely turn to agriculture
their race, but as tyranny and persecu
ton for ages compelled them, cling t.
the cities and TO trade and exchange. 1
rather modifes the common notion of tn,
races sharpness that they should be 81
over-reaohed in cent percent. The fac
is that many of the Polish and Russian
Jews are very simple, almost childlike
people.