Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-13
BURROW'SBASELESS CHARGES
Commissioner Jenkins interviewed
On the Alliance Memorial
SOME VERY SUGGESTIVE FIGURES
Great Indignation Aroused Through
out the state and Decisive
Steps To BE Taken In
the Matter.
The Alliance Memorial.

LINCOLN, Neb., March "a Special TO THE
BEE. THE memorial of the farmers ALI.
nnce, alleging that Nebraska farmers and
iaborers are sinking to financial ruin and
physical degradation under load OF mort
gage, has aroused q great deal Of indigna-
ton The feeling is directed TO Farmer Bur
rows, who is regarded as the author and
mover behind the memorial, and steps are
being taken to repute his vaporings. A BEE
correspondent called On Commissioner Jen-
kins for light on the subject.
"The statements of the SO called memorial
nrc false and misleading" said the commits
sioner emphatically. 'It cuts and slashes
without regard TO the facts. Before making
up my report sent TO Mr.. Burrows for list
Of the secretaries Of the subordinate bodies
of the alliance with view to sending them
blanks for distribution. Mr. Burrows re-
piled: For reasons need not explain, L can
not give the addresses of the secretaries of
the alliance And then he coolly proposed
to send the blanks to the secretaries and
have them returned through him. OF course
refused to be put under his control.
"What are the facts' This department
sent out 2,500 blanks to the farmers of the
state, selecting their names indiscriminately
from the state gazetteer and without personal
acquaintance with any of them. We re-
ceived reports from 2l6, ana they show an
encouraging state of affairs Only so per
cent of the farms bear mortgages, and in no
case is there n lien of that sort exceeding
$1,000 in amount. Some of them are as low
as $3.50, and the mortgages are trihe
when compared to the value of the property.
"Here Is another fact to be borne in mind.
Some of the mortgages were given to raise
money for permanent improvements, which
enhanced the value of the property by that
much One farmer writes that he came to
Nebraska in 1881 with only IS cents, and is
now worth 50, 500. Another has saved s17. 900
in sixteen years. A third rented farm in
1880 and got one-slxth of the product. Now
he owns 1858 head of cattle free of incum-
brance. The rates on the mortgages vary
from to 10 per cent-very few at 10 per
cent and most of them at per cent.
"Here are some suggestive figures from
our report. There are 1876 farms owned by
those working them and only thirty-one
rented. Among the owners $50 are Ameri-
can and thirty-fve foreign born. Number of
farms mortgaged 113. Average value, S23 so
ber of farmers who saved money last year
80, 6S American and 81 foreign born. You
must remember that while many did not
save money, as represented, by an increased
bank account, q goodly share earned a sur
plus and put 1t into improvements. Some
men take up land on speculative basis and
as soon as they get a title from the govern
ment they slap mortgage on it. But there
is rarely q foreclosure where the farmer IS
Industrious and shows disposition to i'm
prove his property, and meet his obligations.
Indeed, money lenders often assist such
men, because improvements add to the value
of their security. Agrculturally Nebraska
is as well favored as any state, both as to
the condition of its soil and its finances. If
IN business to that in farming you will find
the result greatly in favor of farming.n