The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-10
PAYING UP GRAIN LOANS
STATE AUDITOR DUNN SAYS DEBTS
ARE BEING WIPED OUT
Liberal Amounts Have Been Paid
Durfr\ the Last FCur Years on
the Sums Advanced Through
Their Respective Bondsmen-fn-
dicatiOn Of Prosperity.

State Auditor Dunn reports that the
farmers in the northern part of the
state are fast paying uo their seed
grain loans for 1885, and previous years.
The legislature of 1887 and succeed
ing years made large appropriat
known as the seed grain loan for the
relief of farmers in counties which had
suffered either from drought or storm.
During the last four years liberal
payments have been made on amounts
borrowed in 1887, 1889 and 1891, which
has resulted in almost totally wiping
out the debts of those years.
However, something like $4,000 re-
manned uncaid on the more recent
loans up to the first of the year.
The March abstract Of taxes now
being received from the counties by
State Auditor Dunn, with few eXcep-
tons, include unusually large pay
ments to apply on this fund.
The payments received so far by the
state auditor are larger by far than
any previous year, and from counties
which have been especially derelict in
their payments.
Auditor Dunn thinks this a most
gratifying state Of affairs, owing to the
fact that the seed grain loans of the
70S which were provided for under
much the same conditions, had to be
cancelled. By those loans the state lost
S44, 900, owing to the inability of farm
ers in thirty-three counties to recover
wholly from the effects, of the drought
OF those years, and also the fact that
many of them moved away from the
state.
The amounts outstanding now are
concentrated in thirteen counties in the
northern part of the state, and it is
probable that the whole amount due
will be paid in the next two years.
Auditor Dunn thinks the large pay
ments which have been made Of late
are evidence Of the prosperity Of the
agriculturalists.
The loans were made for the purpose
Of assisting poor farmers, who had
experienced a failure of crops, in get
ting enough seed to start in with the
next spring. The law was most meri-
torious one, because none except farm
ers who could not secure credit at the
banks were accommodated.
The state advanced the money to the
county and the county officials, on be-
half of the county, went as bondsmen
Of the farmers who thus obtained re-
lief.
The legislature of 1897 was not call
ed upon to make an appropriation, be-
cause there was no demand for such
relief. The session of 1897 was the first
legislature since early in the sos, which
did not make an appropriation for a
"seed grain loan"
In 1895, however, owing to the failure
of crops the previous year, they were
compelled to make an appropriation Of
$4,000 for loan. When the legislature
Of 1897 convened there was balance
of $S,752.45 still to the credit of this
fund. bill was passed transferring
the amount to fund to be known as
the Red River Flood Sufferers Fund"
This amount was expended by the
county officials of the northern coun-
ties for the relief Of hundreds Of fa1ni-
lies who were rendered homeless by the
high waters that year on the Red"
The balance Of the loan of 1895 out
standing becomes due this year, and
the county auditors are making every
effort to collect the full amount.