Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-03-29
PAYING Off MORTGAGES.
EXTRAORDINARY PROSPERITY OF THE
KANSAS FARMERS.

The figures have given tell the gen.
eral prosperity story. They may be too
dry for the general reader because they
lack the element Of human, personal In
terest. In that case let me print some
stories Of the prosperity that came to
individuals here and there 10 Kansas and
Nebraska. They illustrate the amazing
character Of the profits that some farm
ers In those states received last year.
The manager OF one Of the largest coal
companies In Kansas told me that In No
vember last be went into the nour mill of
an acquaintance In Larned, Pawnee
County, beyond the centre Of the state,
and almost on the border Of the "short
grass" country. He met farmer past
middle age coming out Of the mill. The
farmer was tucking little piece Of
white paper into his pocket. The man
had been 10 such straits Of poverty that
his trousers were patched with burlap.
His boots were broken, and through the
holes his bare feet showed. The mans
attire was really that of tramp.
"Did you see that farmer going out?'
said the miller TO the coal man.
"Yes," said his visitor.
"How much money do you suppose
j just paid him In cheeky"
"Oh, $500 or 5000"
swell, gave him check for $1,000"
That $1,000 represented only part Of
the wheat raised on OIL 200 farm. The
farmer had 1000 more bushels to sell.
That man had owned his farm clear, but
had little working capital. He decided
that under no consideration would he
run In debt. His family lived on the
dairy products OF his farm, and went
without those things for which cash
must be paid usually. The first thing
he did with his wheat money WAS to 1T
out his family In clothes, and then he
went In for some luxuries. He bought
two carriages and piano. Then, to
show his faith In Kansas farming despite
droughts, he put the rest OF his money,
except the receipts from the 1000 bush
els Of wheat held In reserve, into more
land.
Here IL another story, vouched for by
Mr.. Breidenthal, whose name was used
frequently at the outset In these articles
because there IL no man 10 Kansas better
equipped with information regarding the
states prosperity than he. Tho county
seat OF Ness County, out 10 that dreary
and almost desert-like part Of the state
known ~ the "short- grass" country, IL
Ness City. IL Is place Of about 40 In
habitsnts, and has state bank. IL Ia Mr..
Breideuthars duty to 60 there OCCASION
ally and examine that bank. He says
that In Ness City there Is an agent for a
company that sells top buggies. Since
the good times came that agent sold In
that town 400 top buggies. OF course
that would mean one for almost every
man, woman and child In the place,
which would be preposterous. The
ouggies went all over the county, but
venture 10 say that no eastern village
ever could show such record OF pros
perity In the buggy trade.
| There Is n farmer In town near the
| centre Of the stste-l am not At liberty
10 give his name-who had section Of
land, $40 acres. II was worth probably
5000. He had mortgage on II for
$1,000, and Bank Commissioner Brieden-
thai had been urging the bank which
held the mortgage TO have the indebted
ness reduced. He regarded the mort
gage as n rather shsky security. Early
10 October he received letter from the
bank officials. saving that the farmer
had raised $1,000 worth of wheat on that
land, had paid Off the $1,000 mortgage,
and had bought an adjoining quarter
section Of land for s2,5OO. He had
cleared, deducting expenses, elt,5oO on
his wheat, and he had $1,000 left after
making his purchases. with which "a
improve his farm and lay aside for a
rainy day, which In Kansas means an
other drought.
Out In Thomas County, In the "shori
grass" country lives former member OF
the legislature. He had $50 acre farm
It's value WAS not more than $1,000. The
hard times sorely pressed him. He went
TO Topeka, the state capital, and hung
around his former associates, fairly beg
ging them to give him some kind OF q
Job, even II IL WAS worth only few hun.
dred dollars year. He failed TO get q
place and went home discouraged. He
put In q crop OF wheat on his land--thers
was nothing else for him TO do-snd,
almost hopeless, he sat down TO watch II
grow. II did grow, and when he had
harvested It he got $1,000 for II. Ths,
man IL no longer looking for political
lob.
In Sheridan County. adjoining Thomas
there Il a man who had half-section OF
land, 800 acres, on which he owed $500
He put 300 acres OF his farm into wheat
He raised 1000 bushels, which he sold al
IS cents bushel, bringing him $3.50
He paid of his mortgage OF $500, paid
o., 500 for a whole section Of land adjoin
joining his farm, and $3.50 for improve
ments and reserve fund.-ksnsas Cor
respondence Of Harper's Weekly.