The Newtown bee., 1892-02-19

There Is tide in the affairs of men,
 Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune Omitted, all the voyage of their life
 Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
 -[Julius Caesar.
 MONROE.
 The fact that building and loan associ- atious offer the most advantageous and easiest terms to the borrowing classes fully justifies the rapid increase of those institutions in the newer and undevelop- ed parts of our country. The system, which is the sOuudest, enables them to pay much higher rates for money than prevail here and the security no we'll in- formed person will question; while the companies are paying s to 10 per cent. to Eastern investors, that money is earning IS to 24 per cent. The borrower and common stOckholder gets the excess of profits, less expenses. The policy of the State is to view building and loan as- sociations as beneticent institutions and every safeguard possible by law is thrown around them to protect their patrons.
 
 reference to them Cooperative bank is only another name for building and loan) from New England Homestead of Febru- ary l3, lS92:- [James c. Johnson.
 Though but 15 years since the system of co operative banks was established in Massachusetts, it's progress has been re- markable. During this period, not single dollar has been lost to members and only one such bank has been closed. In that case, ,all installments were refund ed in full. There are now JOS co-opera- tive banks in Massachusetts, with assets of $ll, ,S74, 4,530, against 103 banks year ago, with $9, ,264 ,S33 assets. Their posi- tiOn can be seen from the following ex- hibt of the past two years:
 1891. 1890. Increase. Per
 cent. Shares in force ,OG9 302623 04l6 F Shares pledged, 75,2o7 5G,2s8 Is,9l9 34 No. of members, 4944I 43 S96 5,545 l3 No. Of borrowers, 9,ss3 7,sO3 2,0S0 26 Dues, $39SO, ,475 $3 1852 ,5s4 $627, ,940 l9 Profits, 6O5,I29 4774O0 l27,12S 27 Expenses, G5,345 5l,546 13,799 27 Total alassets, l,S74, ,53O 9,2G4,s33 2,GOo,6SG 28 The popularity, which also adds to the security of these banks, is evident from the fact that the increased percentage of shares pledged is double the percentage of the shares in force. The percentage of new borrowers also is more than double that of new members. The aver age assets of each bank are $ll0,000 and the average deposit of each depositor is $50. lis average income is SIP p or rather more than l-2 per cent. of the total assets, against about 4 per cent. in the old State savings banks. The secur- ity of these banks is of the best, first on good real estate. Their earning capacity is larger than that of savings banks by the premiums and fines paid, consequently reducing the ratio of expense and proportionately increasing the net earnings and percentage of prof it's. It is not surprising, therefore, to find, in comparison with the older and more conservative system of savings banks, that the cooperative banking sys- tenn is decidedly assuming the lead.
 The cooperative banking system has also made enormous progress in New York, Pennsylvania and other States, where these institutions are more gener- ally called building and loan associa- among the wage earners in cities and towns, but the system is peculiarly ad- apted to farmers wants with some nodi- fications. By this method, small savings at regular periodical intervals are put on interest immediately and help to wipe out ones mortgage or increase the sur plus. There Is no reason why our thrf- ty New England and New York State farmers should not enjoy the benefits of this phase of cooperation to the fullest extent.
 It is expected that Rev Mr Lathrop will become pastor of the Congregational church about the first of March. There { will be Sunday school in the church, next Sunday at 12 and prayer meeting at 1. A full attendance is desired. ( Mir Smith has sold his milk route and :, stopped Edward Curtis's and John Grif- :, fins milk.
 Arthur Curtis has traded colts with A. E. Kraemer.
 Mrs T. D. and Miss Lottie Beardsley visit in Hartford. John H. Hawkins started for Virginia, Monday.
 F. D. Hollister has been in Dr Stew sns's care, suffering with indigestion. Miss Annie Fohrenbach has returned ,o Bridgeport after short visit home. Ignez Buzzer is guest of his brother Joe for week.
 Philip Jones and son have just finished their fine lot of fatted steers, F in number. They supply the market by the quarter or smaller amount; likewise with pigs and lambs. They re- gently butchered eve that weighed 130 I pounds in the meat. Evidently they un- ierstand the secret of successful farm ing.
 Mrs Charles Botsford, wife of our pop ular blacksmith, is still unable to walk from injuries received from the runaway horse. It is now II weeks since the sad