Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-07

Not one farmer in a hundred.
whether a member Of the grange, alli-
ance, or other organization, or none,
is acquainted with the fact that per-
fectly successful way exists Of paying
off mortgages on the cooperative plan
1t is a sad fact that the cooperative
banks or savings fund, loan ana
building associations, are almost
wholly confined to cities and towns
They have proven marvelously sue
cessful, there being some six thou
sand of them in the United States
with about $5OO,OOOOOO of assets, one
fifth Of which represents earnings OF
profits.
The general plan upon which these
building or loan associations are con.
Quoted is that each member SUBJ
ScribtS for certain number of shares,
on which he pays 81 per month. He
borrOWs money with which to buy a
farm Or home from the association,
and pays the interest and a small in
stallment on the principal monthly
along with the monthly dues paid on
his shares. In ten or twelve years the
shares are paid up and the mortgage
is discharged The cost to the owner
have to pay in rent, and he owns the
the place free and clear. In other
words, the rent more than pays for
the place. This is cheaper, too, than
a savings bank loan, for, while the
interest may be a fraction higher, the
mortgage is obliged to be constantly
lessening the amount of his loan,
whereas if one borrows Of a savings
bank or private individual, there is
not one chance in ten he would make
the small payments that the co-opera-
tive system provides for.
This system Of cooperative payment
Of mortgages in small installments, is
within the reach Of every farm family,
ought to be generally known: The
facts about it are now available in
great detail in the special report on
building and loan associations just
published by the United States COM
missioner of labor. 1t gives census
of all the cooperative banks, and then
describes in detail how they are oper-
ated, and gives the various laws of
the different states regarding them.
We would by all means urge every or
ganization of farmers, laboring men
and others to write to their congress
men and senators at Washington, OBJ
tain copies of this report, appoint a
special committee to investigate it and
present plan for applying the princi-
pie of building and loan associations
to farmers. We shall be happy to lend
our aid to this good cause, and will be
pleased to help any organization with
reference to it.
Treatment Of Sick Horses.-Bran
stands decidedly foremost as the food
most generally in use for the invalid
horse; it acts as a laxative, is fire.
quently tempting to the appetite, and
easily of digestion. There is no part
of the general treatment more univer-
sal than Offering this substance as a
change of food. Does the horse show
slight symptoms of cold or fever, a
warm bran mash is a convenient plan
of steaming, and consequently of
soothing the irritable mucous mem
branes of the air passages; it is a sub
Stitute for the more stimulating diet
he is accustomed to and gently pro-
notes the activity of the digestive APP
paratus; it is also a convenient me-
dunn for the giving of certain simple
remedies. When it is necessary to ad-
minister purgative medicine, a bran
mash or two renders the bowels more
susceptible of its action, and a smaller
drug is therefore required to produce
the desired effect. Bran maShes may
be given hot or cold-cold are perhaps
quite as grateful to the horse-but the
nibbling of hot mash in catarrhal af-
fe"tiOns is particularly beneficial from
tie necessary inhalation of the steam.
OF all the roots with which horses are
tempted, the carrot, as a rule, is the
favorite and perhaps the most bene-
fetal. 1t is said to be somewhat
1iuretic in its effect, and to exercise
a salubrious influence upon the skin.
Certain it is that a sick horse may be
coaXed into eating carrots, when dis
inclined to partake Of other nourish-
ment, with the greatest beneficial re-
suits For the ailing horse carrots
are most valuable as an article of diet,
and a few may be given with advant-
age to a horse in healthy condition
/ Oatmeal is extremely nutritious, and
as a food for the convalescent horse
Is most valuable; the bruising process
r, the grain has undergone breaks the
husk and renders it more easily acted
upon by the digestive organs. It is
usually given in the form of a cruel,
and in that form it is one of the most
I essential articles of diet for the in
Urinary. Linseed is decidedly to be
included in the sick-diet roll. 1t is
nutritious, and from it's oleaginous
! nature soothing to the frequently IT.
ritable mucous membrane of the
alimentary canal, and hence is par
! ticularly to be recommended in the
treatment of sore threats. Nor is its
bland effect local only; its more gen
eral influence is particularly observ-
/ able in affections of the kidneys.-F.
L. Mcmahon, veterinary surgeon to
the Chicago fire department.
Cattle.-Never let an animal get in
poor flesh. If you do your profit upon
it is gone. The expense of restoring
| it to good condition is greater than
the profit in any sort of stock will war
rant.