Telegram-herald., 1889-07-17
OFFICIAL PAPER or THE CITY.
GRAND RAPIDS. WEDNESDAY,. July 4,
AILEGAN COUNTY LIBELED.


Some pessmistlc free-trade crank IN
iIlegan county writes 10 the New York
Ees1ssAg Post, that farmers IN ms sec
ton are not prosperous, and that
ssabout On se farms out OF every four
are m6rtgaged." This IS = libel upon
one of the best counties in Michigan.
The fact Is that according 10 the
statistics complied by the Bureau OF
Labor in thisState mis- when a special
effort was made in the report of the
bureau 10 emphasize the magnitude Of
the mortgage Indebtedness of the farm
lands Ofsghe STATE, less than one-half
the farms OF Allegan county were
mortgaged. According 10 the report
OF the labor bureau there were 3,s92
farms IN that county, Of which SIS
were m0rtgaged, leaving 2,ol4 that
were free from mortgage obligations.
The assessed valuation of the mort
gagged farms was 1885, ,90i, while the
total mortgage Indebtedness amounted
10 only si,ifS,9iI. or less than
80 per cent. of the assessed
value. The total assessed valuation
of farms IN the county was 5000 69l,
SO that the total mortgage indebted
ness of the county was only about 20
per one-hfth-of the total as
ssessed valuation.
AS the TELEGRAM HERALD has SAID
more than once heretofore, the mere
fact of a mortgage is no indication of
proyerty ia the soil or anoyerburdeued an
condition of the farmer. Most of the.
farm mortgages IA Michigan have been
given 10 secure the balance of the pur-
chase price. A mortgage Of this kind,
instead Of being an indication
that farming IS unprofitable in
dicates Just the .everse of tins
il shows faith that Il willing to stake
money that tine farm ; a good invest
mont, aad that it viii produce enough
above interest and expenses to pay the
amount ot the mortgage.
Farming may not be the m Ost profit
able busIifs u tire world. nor Is Il the
most Improbable. There are other
considerations beside money-making
which induce men 90 become farmers;
but Allegaucouuty need nOtbe ashamed
OF her m0rtgage-record.
THE TFLEGnAN-H HErALD some weeks
since called attention 60 the necessity
Of having the shade trees along the
streets in this city trimmed SO that they
may not interfere nth the hight from
the street lamps. Mayor Killean, on
Monday evening. again cnlled atten-
ton e. she matter. Citizens should
comply with The law whcn requires
shade trees 90 be trimmed 10 height
of ten feet above the walk.
THE street ears are growing IN popu-
bar favor, both IN New York and PhIla-
deiphia, as a means for evening family
outings. Parents and children board
the ears together about OF : o'clock
and ride back and forth until they are
weary OF their recreation. It's cheap.
but a means ofpttsng an airing not
sitoggth t. bc dspsed.
pIFFEEESr people ind recreation IN
different ways. Prof David Swing
says that while pr- Cuyler goes 70 Sar-
stoEa every SEASON Dr. Tslmage
lectures al summer by way 0f rest ard
peace. Fer the eccentric brooklyn
divine eternal travel, with a big fee at
each town bail. avsils for rest. and $50
night j. a lemonade with a straw
in it.
FoR Al amateur ia the bssno<s. Col.
Shepard. IT tie New York Ksa aaa
EiFrsss. takes tie rremium IN perre-
trat.ng p0ns. Here soaeef his efforts.
"Why are Mr. Mars relatlons 10 Ms
Venus Ike BriEad dlcr-Geueral Fm-
Nous Clsrk's - Frinceg BecauSe he :
gong 70 have her
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