The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-04-17
THE DAY FOR SETTLEMENT.
Peculiar Custom Of Farmers-A Business
of Nearly a Million.
[Chambersburg Pa Letter.


[Chambersburg (Pa-) letter.
Nowhere in the United States can be
itnessed such peculiar method of trans
citing business as that which yearly oc-
|urs in Chambersburg, Pa, upon the first
lay of April, which is the great settlement
day, and has grown TO be such remarka-
BILE and established institution. In Lam
caster county, there is some approach
to the practices here observed, but the i'm
itation is only partial, and more improved
business methods are in vogue there. The
peculiar custom of crowding the business
transactions of the whole year into one
day, of transferring thousands Of acres OF
some of the most valuable farming land IN
the country, and making hundreds of
thousands of dollars change hands in
few hours is a spectacle which amuses
those acquainted with the business meth
DDS observed elsewhere in the United
States, and has in it many quaint and in
teresting features.
1t is difficult to explain how the custom
came to be observed AS far back in the
history OF the county as the oldest inhab-
liant can recollect it has been the practice
among the farmers here, particularly
among the mennonites and dunkers. two
religious sects which are very strong in
the county, to so arrange their affairs that
all their transactions in money and land
should be consummated on April l. All
agreements for the sale of land are so
drawn as to make the title pass that day,
no matter how far distant it may be from
the date of the agreement and all pay
ments upon the land are arranged so that
they will fall upon the lst day of April
of the next or succeeding years. Leases
of farming lands to tenants upon shares
are drawn in the same way. This arrang-
ing for the LIST OF April for a settlement
day is not only universal custom as TO
land transactions but it is carried into
money-lending and money-borrow1ng in
all its phases. When money is loaned
and Judgment given in security the pay
ments are all arranged so as to fall upon
April /, and it is the same case where
mortgages are given and notes for cattle
and farming machinery bought, and pub
lie sales by farmers are dated in the same
way. Into private transactions between
one farmer and his neighbor across the
road or across the fields the custom has
also crept until it now thoroughly per-
vades almost every form of business trans
action the farmers ever have occasion to
enter into.
AS a result Of this strange arrangement
the great settlement day is the greatest
day of the year to the farmer, his wife,
and his family. 1t is dreaded by the at
tOrneys, courthouse officials, and bankers,
as well as by those who have payments to
make and no money to meet them. Early
on the morning of the lst the town begins
TO assume an unwonted aspect of business
activity. From all points of the compass
the farmers teams arrive in quick success
sion and over-crowd the hotels with
guests. Their wives and daughters, eager
to make their annual purchases of sup
plies, quickly fill the stores and gladden.
the hearts of the tradesmen, while the
fathers of the families make their way to
the banks, courthouse, and lawyers Of
fees and begin the active business of the
dav The attorneys have the deeds and
title papers already prepared, the banks
have laid in heavy supply of currency,
and the county officers have engaged ex-
ira clerks for the great rush. The first act
of many of the farmers is TO 60 10 their
banks and draw out their deposits in cash.
The average farmer neither paws with
checks nor accepts checks. Uncle Sans
greenbacks are the only things for which
they viii hand over their deeds to satisfy
their judgments and mortgages. They
look with great suspicion upon check,
and have decided preference for green
backs over gold certificates or silver GER
tifcates.
Many have disdained the use of banks,
and boarded up the money at their homes.
An old leatheTn wallet tied around with
knotted shoestring Will often disclose
thousands in large bank notes. In every
nook and corner parties of two and three
can be seen counting down their money,
improvising a table out of a store
box upon the sidewalk or any other
convenient object. Many thousands
Of dollars are openly displayed and
carelessly handled, and it would seem to
be rich feast for pick-pockets, but some
how they have never invaded these pre-
serves. Homespun and plain jean cloth
ing, broad brim hats, overcoats with capes,
many with hooks and eyes instead of but
ions, give the wearers Of the costumes
Quaint appearance. The plain clothes
dive no sign of the great wealth in lands,
ftocks, bonds and cash which some of
them possess.
One peculiar feature OF the transactions
+ the liquidation of many debts by single
payment. 1t often happens that a group
df six or eight farmers all have money
diving 20 or from one of the other A
DIVES b 500, and has arranged to pay to
q the money he has received from A, and
sP on. If the first debtor is slow in pay
ibg, all parties are put back, but when the
exchanges once begin to be made they fol-
l4w one another rapidly, and it is
hAIoIuhlOh 70 SEQ luTc6 OF
fdur thousands OF debts paid with
a few hundreds in money. The
business of the banks is enormous. The
transactions OF the national bank in these
payments Monday alone footed up TO
NEARLY 100000. For years past efforts
have been made by the lawyers to divide
UP the business SO as to extend it over
several days, but they have been unsuc-
ceFsful, and every year the crowds and
the total Of money transactions grow
larger. Strange to say, with all the hurry
and excitement few mistakes are made,
and the farmers still regard it as the best
and easiest way of transacting their money
affairs for the year.