Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-05-16
THE DEBT HABIT.

WtSUOIn III Gv0Ty S0nt0nC0-Llv0
Without Paying Interest-Learn to
Go Slow.
The bane Of the average western
farmer Is that as soon as he owns a hen
he wants to run in debt for an incu-
bator; before he has really good COW,
he is crazy for a costly creamery, and
SO on with everything connected with
the farm.
Whether it is our invigorating at
mosphere, or because our population is
composed so largely Of the visionary;
over-sanguine, poor calculating classes
from all creation, or whether we are
the victims OF unusually sharp agents,
boomers, ':public spirit" cranks, or
something else, ! do not know, but the
way our people will, upon the slightest
prOvocatiOn, 60 into debt, is simply ap-
palling. And this miserable and most
ruinous habit is today the most danger
GUS rock in the troubled waters in
which we are trying to navigate.
In talking with hundreds of poor
families all over the Dakotas last sum-
mer, did not find one but what admit
ted that II they had no interest and
debts to pay. they could manage to live
fairly comfortably on the little in
come they had, even in the hardest Of
seasons. but with very few exceptions
they told me they had interest and
debts to meet, the payment of which
would press them greatly, and, ia some
cases, ruin them. But when began
to talk poultry to some of these peo-
pie they actually began to ask me con-
corning the cost and management of in
cubatOrs; when l advised COWS they
talked cheese factOrses and creamcries.
and when | prescribed wool and mutton
more than one asked me If | did not
think that In order to succeed. sheen
men should combine and put up scour-
ing mills of their own.
OF course told them that I had
found poultry very profitable, but had
never seen an incubator only at fairs,
and had no earthly use for one; that ii
had II dozen cows l would make nv
own butter and send it 10 my customers
direct, and that | had always kent
sheep, but that had no possible use
for securing mill and never expected
to have. These people evidently pitied
my old fogyism, and wondered how in
the world | managed to make living.
In conversation with jeweler and
fancy goods dealer in one OF our western
towns, after one-fourth of the peop,e
had played out and moved away. he
complained that his business had
shrunk IS per cent. How is this.
asked? Only one fourth OF the people
gone away, but your business gone
three-fourths?
"Well, you see, said the keen fel.
low, 1.-THE One-fOurth who busted were
the ones who bought everything they
saw. These fellows with money don't
do it,"
Now once more possibly prosperity
Is coming to the Dak0tas. The time
for seasons of moisture and better
yields Is close upon us. We have the
benefit OF past experience to point the
way. More largely than eyer our peo-
pie are turning their attention to corn.
potatoes and the coarser grains. and to
the cows. poultry, sheep and hogs that
must be kept to consume them.
We started once in this race for q
competency, but the start was had
one, and We we're called back. Again
we are In line. Again ''go'' sounds
from the meadows of the valleys. from
the grassy hills Of the coteaus, from
farm and ranch. and flock and herd.
and II We refuse 70 be handicapped by
debt and interest the race is ours.-M.
| r. Greeley in Dakota Farmer.