The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-23

Of Kansas and Nebraska. suffering pc
cause OF the failure Of crops IN lsss.
were the recipients Of the SEED Weary
every beneficiary has made ample re-
turn for the aid given him in 1893.
The year 1884 was one OF tne haroest
the Western farmer has faced IN many.
Drouth. the bugbear Of those who have
pitched their tents In the SAM valleys
Of the Arkansas. a and Platte, de-
scended upon the states until the some
time mighty rivers were reduceo 70
mere dribbling brooks and me not
winds dried and shriveled the wheat.
corn and oats. None was able 10 save
sufficient grain to seed his farm for the
coming year. Appeals were sent O. py
the state executives for aid. seed grain
was wanted and seed grain was fur-
nished.
In March and April Of 1895 the Chi
cage board of trade collected slo'Soo
from its members in response 10 these
calls. The amount was invested IN
wheat and oats and placed In the hands
OF agents for distribution. The MEM
bers who subscribed to this fund oid ~
with the purpose of aiding the NEEDY
farmers and without any expectation
OF return. They paid In the money ana
supposed that would end the matter.
But the farmers had different ideas.
They were neither mendicants nor pau
pers and proposed TO pay for all they
got.
Fifty-two counties in the w states
were invaded. One agent was named
for each county. and TO him was IN
trusted the distribution of the grain.
Some found hundreds of farmers ready
to accept: others found few. But
and all insisted upon making provision
for repayment. All wished To give
notes payable In one. two or three years
for the grain received. purchasing al
the market price. This plan was re-
ported to the board of trade. and while
the members did not expect payment,
they felt that the farmers should have
the chance, IL the so desired.
So notes were made anging from
$40 to s24 payable to Lyman j. Gage:
trustee. Every farmer who received
a portion of the grain gave his note
for the amount. Each note was turn
ed in to Mr.. Gage. but he was not
able to attend to the business and turn
ed IL over to Assistant Secretary
Worthington of h board OF trade,
who has since looked after the busi-
ness. Fffty-two agents, with some "f
them having nearly 800 notes to look
after. meant a large amount OF work.
But 1t was all cared for and strict ac-
counts kept with every beneficiary.
The succeeding years were more Ia
vorable and the farmers harvested
good crops. Then the payments be
gan 10 come IN. They came so rapid
ly that on March 10. 1896, a dividend
of 40 per cent. vas declared and $6.l22
was paid back pro rata to subscribers
to the fund. Then until last week the
fund was allowed to accumulate with
out another dividend being declared.
The keeping OF the accounts involves
a large amount of work. however. and
all concerned wish to close up the ac-
count. SO last week a dividend OF Ia
per cent, in amount $2,lf2.70, was de-
clared.
Some Of the beneic'aries have re-
fused to honor their notes, but these
are few. some have paid part OF the
sum in small amounts and are still
paying. Small amounts are coming In
and will continue to do so Indefinitely,
but the fund will not be kept open
for additional distribution among the
subscribers. Mr.. Worthington does not
expect that a large amount Will be re-
ceived. but he says whatever is added
to the surplus left after paying the
last dividend viii be turned over TO
some char.ty.-Chicago Chronicle.