The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-15
STATE MERCHANTS
ENJOY PROS
PER|TY
North Dakota Business Men at
Present Time Are Prosper
Gus Glass.

Financial and credit conditions in
North Dakota are unusually good, and
there is every evidence that the state
is most prosperous. according to
prominent credit man OF the twin
cities who recently visited this Sec
ton. In spite Of the crop losses which
have been experienced in the Red
River valley in recent years. very few
of the local merchants have fallen
behind in their payments. and there
is no locality where the big iobbers
and wholesalers of the country are
more ready to extend credit.
"The losses to jobbers In North
Dakota have been kept at mini
num-" said the credit man in dis
cussing the matter. "and this fact is
remarkable, for the conditions have
been rather favorable to heavy. losses.
With new towns building up all over
the state and new firms starting up
everywhere. many OF them with in
sufficient capital. it is surprising that
there have not been more failures to
meet bills. This is especially true be-
cause many farmers who had pre-
viously had no business experience
and no business training have during
the past few years sold their farms.
moved into town and gone into busi-
ness. In fact. these former farmers
make up large percentage OF the
present business men of the state.
1.-The fact that these inexperienced
merchants have been so generally
successful is only to be accounted for
by the growth and general prosperity
OF the state"
Note Of Warming.
But the credit man, who. on account
OF his wide acquaintance throughout
the state and his business connec-
lions, asked that his name be not
used. did not fail to sound note of
warning. He said that people in
North Dakota as elsewhere are be-
coming altogether too prosperous. and
that it was Il good time to put on the
brakes and retrench.
There are many merchants in the
state who are living right up to their
income. while few are living beyond
it. The business of the merchants
has increased and their incomes have
grown within the last few years. but
they have allowed their personal en-
penses to increase in greater proper
ton until in some cases they have
run ahead Of their incomes.
When man has small business
in town of say 500 inhabitants, he
can afford to take out $40 or $50 a
month to live on, and make money,
but when it comes to taking out from
800 to $3.50 month to live on he is
treading on dangerous ground, for he
should remember that the present
great prosperity may not always last.
Applies to Northwest.
THE same thing applies not only in
North Dakota. but all over the north
west. I have recently been investi-
eating number of firms for jobbine
houses and found that in several in
stances the members of these firms
were living in much better style than
they could really afford, considering
the amount of business they are do
ing.
People now travel three times as
much as they did a few years ago
Many. not satisfied with the educa-
tional advantages at home, are send
ing their children away from home
They thus incur considerable extra
expense, but instead Of cutting down
their expenses at home to balance this
extra expense they continue to spend
money at the same old rate.
These are only a few instances.
might mention number of others to
show the extravagant tendencies OF
this class"