Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1891-09-11
WHO IS THE LIAR?

why Docs Gen. John II. Rke0 Try to r.
plain Away the Conditions which Gave
tor
The following is a synopsis of the re-
port OF Kansas mortgages given to
member of congress by the chief clerk
Of that division It will no doubt be
read with interest by all, and settle the
question in favor Of so-called ''calam-
ity howlers:"
A real estate mortgage debt Of $751;.
69?,6i0, excluding state and railroad
contracts, was recorded in Kansas dur
ing the ten years lss0-s9, of which sei7,-
2:4,532. or 5l.2i per cent, has been
paid; S3iS, eos a3i. or I'LL per cent. in
numbered acres, which are almost en-
tirely agricultural real estate, and
SlS9, 431, 400, or 2s. 50 per cent. ipcum-
bered village lots and other real estate.
The total number of mortgages re-
corded during the ten years was &C.,
0i9. of which Az, 622. or 81. 03 per cent.
of the total, were acres; 2Oi. i27. or 81
per cent on lots. These do not include
interest and commission mortgages,
which were converted into additional
rates of interest borne by first mort
cages.
The total existing debt Of tho people
OF Kansas, secured by real estate mort
gage, aside from state and railroad
land contracts, January 1, 1890. was
ss35, 1876, los. of which the debt on acres
is 1857, las. 039. or 09s per cent OF the
total. The per capita existing debt was
Sl65.
Considerable land has been sold on
credit in Kansas by the state and rail-
roads that have received government
grants on railroad contracts. There is
an existing indebtedness Of 81. 993. 9s3
on the state land sales. An existing
Indebtedness Of 81, 667, 7s5. added to the
recorded existing debt, makes a total
existing debt of s17O. S12, TIA; sl37.65s,-
900, or IS SO per cent of the total
amount of recorded debt bore 10 per
cent interest; usurious interest was
paid upon g. SO per cent of the total;
so. 40 per cent. of the total number of
recorded mortgages during the ten
years 1SSO-1SS9 were for 500 and under
$1,000.
The above is, to say the least, 4 mild
statement of the mortgaged condition
of Kansas. and fully justifies all that
has been said of the unfortunate situa-
ton in that state. The statements
heretofore made in regard to this form
of indie btedness has been declared false
and absurd by the partisan press, and
the parties making them have been de-
nounced as calamity howlcrs" and
enemies of the state of Kansas. The
synopsis given above is evidence of the
truth of the statements made. and
should ill every honest heart with
alarm. instead of resentment or anger
at being made public. Nothing worse
than has now been proven true has
been stated in regard to the condition
of Kansas, and this has been given out
in sorrow and regret When truth be-
comes q calamity. what might not fol-
low deception? The people of Kansas
now know their real condition. Neither
the politician, the money loaner nor
the subsidized press can longer hide
the true situation. The valuation of
zeal estate in Kansas for taxation in
1889 was $3.50, 131, GS2. 1t is safe to say
that the state is mOrtgaged for more
than this amount The per capita debt
of S165 amounts to SS25 for each fam
lily of the average number of five. The
interest on this immense sum cannot be
less than S25. 900, 900. Add this to what
is paid on other forms of indebtedness
and the vast tribute which the people
of that state are compelled to pay to
the owners of money can to some ex-
tent be approximated. 1t will now be
in order for those who have declared
these statements false to cease such mis-
representation and join with the alli-
ance in devising some means by which
the people of Kansas may be aided in
their distress If they are honest, if
they have the best interest of that I'M
fortunate state at heart, they will do
so II, on the contrary. they are the
tools of the money power, and are aid
ing the money loaners of the east to
more securely fasten their grip on the
wealth of the state, they will continue
in their opposition to each and every
reform that promises relief. The flu.
ture will soon determine their status.
National Economist