The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1893-02-10
are to go with me and see how business is
drlctnd in A

are 10 go with me and see how business is
conducted in America"
We soon saw a sign indicating the place
we sought, On entering, the duke began
at once to ask questions and examine
| maps.
How do you get possession of so much
land for sale?" asked the duke, after being
shown an immense quantity in nearly
every county in the state, it seemed to me.
"A great many farmers mortgage their
lands, and failing to pay when due, we
buy the lands,' said the agent; 'or they
place their farms in our hands to sell, to
raise money to meet the mortgages, hop
ing to save something in that way"
What dc you do with the lands you
hold before you get buyer?" asked the
duke.
''There are always plenty of men who
want to rent. We get good terms. We
often rent to the former owners They
make good tenants" said the agent
''Then you are sure there will be no
trouble in getting good tenants if I should
buy the lands we have been talking off,
''None at all. There are more tenants
than farms, and you can make your own
terms" said the agent, eager for sale
''Then if agreeable, we will go and take
a look at some Of your best bargains said
the duke.
Very soon we were at the depot ready to
start. We went south from Chicago. The
green landscape was dotted with happy
homes. Little villages nestled in the val
leys, and prosperity seemed to reign SUI
preme. Well-filled corn cribs attracted
our attention. We passed the Joliet prison
and saw some of the unfortunate beings at
work in the stone quarry near by.
We were delighted with the country.
The great fields of wheat and corn, the
beautiful rivers, bordered with good tim
ber, and the delightful climate were per-
fectly fascinating.
What contrast! I have not needed
my umbrella once since / came into Illi-
nois. In London and Ireland it would
have been in constant demand. Yet the
fields of growing grain are in fine condi-
ton. think it must rain when we are
asleep, to keep the earth looking so fresh
| and green"
We left the cars at the little station and
| soon were riding over roads in the most
| perfect condition. We called at one place
| where there was quite a comfortable house
and barn.
"This is one of the farms I mentioned"
said the agent.
While the duke and the agent were
| walking about talking business, I inter-
| viewed an old man who had been cultivat-
ing the corn.
| "Sir," l asked, "can you tell me how
this land came to be in the market?"
! eyes, sir,' said he, "this was once my
home 1 came here from Ohio when land
was cheap. / bought this hundred and
sixty acres of land, paid part down, and
gave mortgage for the balance. I put on
improvements as fast as I could. worked
my farm carefully, and for a few years
everything went we'll Then times became
hard, crops were not good, and what I
could sell brought very low price. But
good crops or poor, good times or bad, the
interest ON the mortgage kept growing all
the time. We began to live more careful
| ly; wife would make one hundred dollars
| do the work of three in living and cloth
| ing. We kept less help and worked early
and late, but to no purpose. The time
came when the mortgage was due, and the
| interest had accumulated until it ate up
all there was over the mortgage. Then
the place was sold. Now, here am ten
ant where / hoped to be the owner.'
"Where do you place the blame of your
unfortunate circumstances"
1.-The scarcity of money is the first cause.
That makes hard times. l can raise just
as much wheat to the acre when it brings
one dollar per bushel as when it brings fif-
| ty cents With the dollar / can meet my
obligations. With half dollar I must
raise twice as much grain, or fail. The
price of wheat indicates. l think may
safely say, the rise and fall of money Low
prices make good times for money loaners
and bankers who are willing to secure
themselves by mortgage on our real
estate, and help US by loanin g money at the
moderate rates of from one, two, or even
three per cent per month. If the men
whose only business is to deal in the cir
culating medium of the country are per-
mitted to increase or decrease the quanti-
ty as they please, they have the advantage
over the laboring and producing classes.
When farmers are in debt, and money al
the time growing scarcer, there is no hope
but to sacrifice their homes for much less
than their real VALUE. Large tracts of ian(
are being obtained by speculators in this
way, and held at moderate prices. This
tempts rich foreigners to invest large sums
OF money here They are willing to wait
for the time when they can realize gooc
profits on their investments, while in the
meantime they secure a good income by
leasing their lands to tenants"
You seem familiar with the importan,
topics OF your country" l said.
Yes, SIR" he replied, 81 am membal
OF the Farmers Alliance Club; thai
ke> ,,ps us posted on all that concerns us as
arm rs"
"The, you are opposed to foreigners
com ing he>'e and buying lands?'' ! asked.
II I'm. We have no lands for people
who Oh @y care to bleed us!'' he said yehe.
mently. "Any man that wfsnts a Iksme
and will pme here and live orp the larkls
he buys, l & IN ready to welcome.:'
"You have large Land monopol4s among
your own people," said.
1--WE have, N sorry to say But our
motto should be, NO American land MON,
opoly, either foreign ordomesticF'
CONTINUED lSE&T WEEK.
Bob Burdette: Whesf [ think of
the towel. the old fashioned towel
l., =, L Ir,r