Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1922-02-16

veloped. Credit was curtailed. Bank
ing circles became hard pressed. Bust
ness men found their wholesale hous-
es begging for collections which could
not be made because too much cred
it had been extended. Grain and live
stock markets went to smash. Chattel
securities shrunk to a point where it
was not uncommon for such securi-
ties to become a liability. In place
of credit came cash dealing. All these
things and no'crop for feed, left US
gasping for breath. M
1t is true that during the prosper
Gus times our people bought too much
They went too far in debt. Automo-
biles, and upkeep, caused the drain
ing of this section of funds. Promot-
ers of one sort and another harvest
ed a rich reward. Money flowed like
water. People lived high. Last fall
suddenly found them unprepared to
stand hard winter. And then an
unusually severe winter struck US.
1t started early, and. has been unusu-
ally serious. Lack of funds and lack
of credit made it difficult for many
to secure the necessities of life. Lack
of feed forced the disposal of much
stock at a ruinously low price. Cattle
and hogs were loaded onto the mar
ket before they had matured. There
was not even sufficient feed to care
for even a few mich cows and nee
essary work horses. There is little
money to buy gas for tractors. And
the winter is not over yet by any
means. Current bills remained UNI
paid. Collections are almost nil.
Banks are suffering under the load.
And, without crop in prospect for
1922, the future would look black in
deed.
1t is no wonder that demand came
from all directions for the county to
bond so that it could loan the farm
ers needed seed and feed. If we get
crop, there will be little loss. If
we get no crop, we will be up against
it anyway. If we have confidence
enough to continue to live here, we
should have confidence enough to do
what we can to see that the country
is made to produce. And, because
some given community is not as ser
iously hit right now as others is no
indication that the tables may not be
turned some day. Reasonable assist.
ance should be provided where pos
sible. It's we'll enough to say, "let
the banks handle the situation" But.
if the banks go under, the communi-
ty will go along. They have been
doing all they can to keep things go
ing. 1t is foolish to say that they
are sitting back like vultures waiting
to pounce upon their victims at the
first opportunity. True, they will try
to protect their funds. But there
are more farmers today who are put
ting it up to the banks to figure the
way out than there are banks who
are trying to seize the farmers chat
tells.
We must only hope that present
conditions will be lesson to our peo-
pie to 60 slow in the future. Let US
hope that our grain failures will pro-
duce mere dairying and less wheat
raising. Everybody knows that this
section at least, is not wheat-grow-
ing country. In these days of trial,
all classes are cooperating together
to weather the storm. When the
days of prosperity come again, as
they will. let us hope that the exper-
fences Of this winter will make us a
little more inclined to cooperate with
each other fer the general good.
It is right that every effort should
be made to safeguard the interests of
our agriculture. But. it should be re-
membered that it is much easier to
get into trouble than it is to get out.
1t will not do to follow every false
prophet that appears on the horizon.
Frugality, hard work, cooperation and
confidence will be needed before pros
perity finds its way here again.
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE COUNTY
HIGHWAY