Nebraska Newspapers

    THE OMAHA AIIAr BEE : SlJ&DAY , 3TJBBHUATIY 13 , 1808.
BRIGHT SKIES IN THE WEST
Convincinp Evidence of Prosperity in
Kansas nnd Nebraska.
PROOF THAT FARMING DOES PAY
< ltr\lrn iif ( lie Material Conillllnn of
Tito .Slntt-n n Mi imn lij- ( lie He-
Iioi ( % of UKHiitikliiK Dc-
" Nebraska" Is
"Prosperity In Kansas anil
the text of the third paper of Mr. Franklin
Matthews , correspondent of Harper's Week-
If , published In the current Is use. Mr. Mat
thews reviews \vlth considerable detail the
many evidences of prosporltj In both elates ,
fortifying hM own observations and conclu
sions by official record * . The paper Is as
follows :
The story of the prosperity that the crops
of 1SS7 brought to Kaitttat and Nebraska
probably will not bo revealed fully for sev
eral jcnM , Thiough the channels of trade
Iho sweep of prosperity ha * been turned licro
and there , and the eumeit will continue to
be felt not for one year , but for Koveral.
Hut tlioic wao ono place where the sunshine
brought Immediate gladness , ami that was
upon the farm
"There Is not a mail , woman or child In
Kansas that hasn't got name money thin
3 car , " said Secretary T. D. Cobum of the
Kansas St.tto Hoard of Agriculture to the
writer In answer to a question an to the
real effect upon the masses of the largo
craps.
And that tell. * the atory. so far as It cart
lie told In one sentence. Kansas nnd Ne
braska peciilo do not deny that prosperity
lias come. They Imvo nothing to say about
tliu price of wheat anil silver rising nnd
falling together. They no longer fear crop
failures as they did. In the lean jears since
18D2 they have learned some new things
about farming , and they are prepared to
meet future atlllctlons with courage. Othcra
way say that the prosperity was a form of
good luck , due to crop failures In India and
elsewhere , but jou hear llttlo of that In
Kansas. Even the politicians have dropped
such talk. Governor I.cedy has declared of
ficially that the state la prosperous. It was
John \V Hroldcmthal , the leader of the pop-
ullot jrnrty In Kansas , who was the first
of the state olllclals to proclaim that the
prosperity of the middle west was genuine.
The people there do not look upon the good
Units mcn'ly ns temporarj , n happy excep
tion that proves the rule that the lot of the
farmer In the middle west Is , and Is to be.
one of doleful misery ,
The fact is that farming In the mlddlo
west , when not hampered by crushing debt ,
pajs ns few other businesses pay , nnd when
an unusual jear of plenty comrfl and good
prices arrive at the same time , the returns ,
as In the jear 1897 , are simply fabulous
nnd bewildering. It Is safe to sav that no
business In this country made such returns
upon the capital Involved and the labor
employed as did farming In 1S97 In the mid
dle west.
west.THH
THH HALF WAS NOT TOLD.
Those stories that came from Kansas and
Nebraska In the fall of 18')7 ' ) , those- marvel
lous stories , were not exaggerations. The
half was not told. IJvcn the people of those
two sorely stricken states do not understand
jet the extent of the good times that came
to them. Now that the crop statistics have
been printed now that they can look a I
their redeemed mortgagers , their recently
purchased comforts for the homo , their lux
uries , their top buggies , their bicycles , their
pianofi for the farmers have been buying
all thise they are beginning to realize that
the prosperity Is general and that the re
vival of trade In this country really began
with them. To encompass the extent of the
prosperity and to set it forth In an article
of a few thousand words Is a taok that In-
\olves the serious dlillculty of knowing not
only where to begin , but where to leave oft.
It Involves statements of truth that are as-
tMilshliig.
I'orhapj the cordltlon of Kansas especially
can best bo revealed In a paragraph , aside
from the icniark I have quoted from Secre
tary Coburn , by what ono of its best-known
cltlrens said to mo while walking down the
main street of a town of S.OOO inhabitants
cm a Saturday moinlng In December when
the farmers were making their weekly pur-
ao
"Look up and down this street. There arc
probably 200 horsw tied along It. I defy
jou to find a horse In the lot that Is In
jioor phjfllcal condition. You cannot see tiie
ribs of ono of them. Would you nnd the
liorses of eastern farmers in such condition
without exception ? Another ILiIng- There Is
not an able-bodied pauper In this county.
end there are not 100 nblo-bodled paupers In
the esitlro state We have been poor. Slnco
1892 many of our people have had no now
clothing , but every man and every man's
family ind every nun's live stock have had
enough to eat Now that we have money wo
are getting out of debt "
Ono thing should be remembered at the
outset. The crops for 1S97 wcco not the big
gest that Kansas and Nebraska ever pro
duced The value of Hie Kansas crop , ns
eotlmate.1 by the state authorities , was $230.-
000000 , Including llvo st ck In 1890 the
% aluo wes $325.000,000. That was when the
boom was In full swing. In 1S91 the value
wis $287.000,000 , In 1892 It was $273,000,000
Then It began to fall off. and In the year
189B tbo year of dieadful predictions for the
western farmer. It fell off to $189.000,000. The
oops In Nebraska for the various years bore
< i relation similar to thoao of Kansas In
the yield last jear of whoit. corn and
oats was valued nt $ fi',000.009 ' } on Increase of
$15,000.000. The total value of the agrlcul-
turwl product , excluding live stock , was moro
than $136.000.000 , or about $100 for uvery in
habitant Including llvo stock , tfio value of
the agricultural jwnductlons wa probably
ibout $190 for each Inhabitant , or nearly $1,000 ' .
for each family In the state Nebraska's |
crops and llvo stock l > n 1897 aggregated i
In value $101,000.000. In ono county
In Kansas Rush county the value of the
wheat crop alone was moro than $1,200 for
each voter.
THEIIB ARH OTHERS.
How over significant these figures and
miniate * aa to crop production may bo , there
Is another set of figures that tell morn
eloquently the story of prosperity that has
como to Kansas and Nebraska They are
the figures that glvo the condition of the
banks. . Hero Is a table prepared by Bank
Commissioner Broldcnthal of Kansas , show
ing the condition of business In that state at
the close of the month of October , 1897 , when
the returns from crops were nearly finished ,
ss compared with the returns at the same
tlmu of rear since 1891 :
par cent. Is It any wonder that Kansas has
money to lend ?
The figure * I obtained from the depart
ment of banking In Nebraska summed up
the condition of the banks there for the
month of September , 1897 , later figures not
having arrived at the time of my visit.
Hero we see an Increase of deposits of
more than $3,000,000 for 1897 over 1890 ,
The amount of borrowed money has fallen
from $1,100,000 In 1893 , the second year
a banking law wai In force , to only a lltllo
more than $223,000. Loans decreased from
$28,000,000 In 1S92 to $13.000,000 In 1S97. Tha
gain In resources In 1S97 over 1890 wa more
than $2,500,000. Hon. I' . L. Hall , secretary
to the banking department of the state , fur.
nUhcs this comment explaining the tnblo :
"This comparative statement shows plainly
that from 1S9J to 1S9G the banking business
In Nebraska experienced a steady decline.
This was duo to tvvo principal causes. The
first was tint prior to the year 1S92 the bus
iness In Ne-braska was boomed. Everybody
was establishing banks. Every postofllco and
crossroads must have a bank , and experience
and knowledge of the business was not
thought a requisite to success. Following
1892 came the panic and drouths of 1893 , ISO I
ind 1895. These jears sufficed to exemplify
the law of the survival of the fittest. The
weak. Ill-managed Institutions had to go.
Today I feel free to say that there Is not
mother state In the Union w Ith bettor man
aged , more substantial banks than Nebraska
"Special attention Is called to the sum of
the two Items 'Cash' and 'Duo From Banks'
shown In the statement for the jcar 1897 ,
nnd comparison Is cskcd with the same Items
In preceding years , not forgetting while mak
ing the comparison also to glvo attention to
'Deposits' nnd 'Borrowed Money. ' "
The figures from national banks are equally
striking. From Iho latest reports of the
comptroller of the currency the subjoined
table Is complied. The figures are from the
reports submitted periodical ! } ' , And although
they do not correspond exactly In time to
thoHo from the state banks , they tell the
same story practically. There Is the same
notable Increase In deposits and Iji resources.
The decrease In notes and bills rcdlscountcd
is also worthy of special attention.
COMI'AHATIVU HTATKMHNT IN OCTOIinit. 1SU7 , OP KANSAS HANKS.
1S97.
i.3 < S'j.0 57
-
Total it-sources 1,700/W 03
,
Hail tnt
e : i > , cr > G so
ruriilturt' and Hxtures
The most striking thing that thla table
shows Is that the deposits In the banks under
itato supervision Increased In ono year nearly
$7,000,000. and the reserve cash and sight ex
change ) increased nearly $5.000,000. Then look
at the column showing thu amount of bor
rowed money. In 1S91 It amounted to nearly
$1,81)0.000. In 1VJ7 It bad fallen to less
than $300,000. The total resources of these
banks Increased nearly $6,000,000 In ono
jear , and under the operation of the new
banking law of tbo state the real estate and
furniture ) and fixtures of the banks were
marked dow n nearly $500,000. Loans had In
creased moro than $1 500,000 , but that was
under the new banking law , which lias
thrown greater safeguards around such mat
ters , and which will bo considered at an
other time. The legal rest'rvo lu these
banks Is 21) ) per cent. The table shows that
Uo Kansas banks have a rescrvo of 50.93
acres. It was worth proMbly $7,000. Ho had
ft rnortgago en It for $0,000 , and Dank Com-
mlMlbaor nreldcnthal bad been urging the
bank whlcb bold the mortgage to have tbo
Indebtedness reduced , Ho regarded ( do mart *
Rage as a rather shaky security. Early In
October bo received a letter from the bank
"Yes , " said the visitor.
"How much money do jou suppose I just
paid him in a check ? "
"Oh , $300 or $000. "
"Woll , I gave him a check for $7,000. ' "
That $7,000 represented only part of the
wheat lalsed on a $1,200 farm , The farmer
had 4,000 moro bushels to sell. That man
haiL owned his farm clear , but had llttlo
working capital. Ho decided that under no
consideration would ho run In debt.
Hla family lived on the dairy prod
ucts of his farm , and went without those
things for which cash must bo paid usually.
TCio flrat tlilni ; ho did with his money from
last j car's wheat was to fit out his family In
clothes , nnd ihon ho wpnt In for some lux
uries , Ho bought two carriages and a pUno.
Then , to show his faith In Kansas farming ,
dcsplto doitths , ho put the rest of his mcney ,
except thn receipts from the 1,000 bushels of
wheat held In icservo. Into moro land.
Hero Is another atory , vouched for by Mr.
Urlodentfml. whoso name U used frequently
at the ouUct In these articles because ( hero
Is no man In Kanb.w better equipped with In
formation regarding the state's prosperity
officials caylng that the farmer had raised
$17,000 worth of wheat on that land , had paid
off tbo $0,000 mortgage and had bought an
adjoining quarter section of land for $2COO.
Ho bad cleared , deducting expenses , $14,500
on his wheat , and bo bad $4,000 left after
making his purchases , wltd which to Improve
hla farm n < nd to lay aside for a rainy day ,
which In Kansas means another drouth.
Out In Thomas county , In the "abort grass"
country , lives a former member of the legis
lature. Ho bad a 350-ncro farm. Its value
was not more than $1,000 , The hard times
sorely pressed him , Ho went to Topeka , the
stale capital , and hung around his former as
sociates , fairly begging them to give him
some kind 6f n Job , even It was wcrtti only a
few hundred dollars a year. Ho tailed to get
a place and went homo discouraged. Ho put
In a crop of wheat on his land tbero was
nothing else for him to do and , almost hope-
lees , ho sat down to watch It grow. It did
grow , nnd when be had harvested It ho got
$9,000 for It That man Is no longer looking
for a political job.
In Sheridan county , adjoining1 Thomas ,
there Is a man who had a tialf section of
land , 320 acres , on which he owed $ SOO. Ho
put 300 acres of his faun Into wheat. He
raised 7,000 bushels , which ho sold at C5
cents n bushel , bringing him In $4,550. lie
paid off his mortgage , paid $2,500 for n whole
section of land adjoining his farm , and
had $1,250 for lmprov.cments and a
rescrvo fund. That man lias 150
acres of bottom land , and ho will plant
that tract with alfalfa , the wonderful liny
that resists drouth and that gives three
crops a year , the season's product being
worth , at present prices , not less than $25
an acre.
In Sumncr countj' , which was ono of the
banner wheat counties of Kansas last year ,
there Is a man who raised $30,000 worth of
wheat. Of course ho was a prosperous
farmer anj-way. Ho had a farm of 1,200
COMPAllATIVn TA11LC OF NATIONAL , I1ANICS IN NiniRASKA.
Doc IB. 1SWI 114K \ < ! "i ! 153 SfiiVl.l ! ! " 'J3 " " , Jll.7B1OO > | | l1'i77 ' S7 F" tlfi.'Dl.SII tl4SI | S41 BD$18,2 , * ,013 CT.
Oct. C , 1W7 I 104 | 2. 920,731 Oil C.430.3W 10 | 10,473,000 1.470.4W 71 | 20,292,0 = 8 2S | 47,4,17 74 | 44K9W2 01
NB11UASKA MOUTGAGB STATISTICS.
Another Indication of a prcaporous change
In Nebraska may bo found In a study of Ita
mortgage statistics. Kansas collects no
statistics of mortgages , but does collect
statistics of agriculture. Nebraska , on the
other hand , collects few statistics of agri
culture , but does collect statistics
of her mortgages. It Is dene tbiough the
Ilurcau of 1/Uior and Industrial Statistics In
the jear ISSO there were 17,528 recorded mort
gages on real estate In Nebraska , with a
\aluo of $ ,9,373,583 These tnoitgagcs did not
begin to Include all the Indebtedness. Those
were the days of the railroad "mortgages , "
or contracts , thousands of which were not
recorded the times of easy payments nnd re
newals. The loan company agent came along
nbout 1SS5 , offering lower rates of Interest
and liankr terms of final payment. Forthwith
the number of mortgages In Nebraska jumped
to 35,545 , with n valuation of $27,531,643. In
1S8C they numbered 45,303 , with a valuation
of $38,888,533. In 18S9 the number was 48-
041 , with a valuation of $45,057,550.
Then came c decline In the number and
valuation , oven though the hard times were
In full swing ard the boom times were over.
By 1S04 the mortgages numbered 32,927 , the
valuation being $31C90,054. For 1895 the fig
ures were 20,700 $25,753,301. Tor 1S9G the
figures wore 17.11G $10,477,600. The figures
for 1S97 had not arrived at the state capital
when I made my Investigation. The
avoiage life of the Nebraska mortgage Is 3 2
ycirs , and the average rate of Interest Is S.3.
The number of mortgages filed and those
satisfied , whether on f.rm or city property ,
is about equil In Nebraska from year to > ear.
The drop of 9,384 mortgages during _ 1895 ,
with a decrease In valuation of $9,273,75S ,
shows probably what Nebraska's big corn
crop of 1895 did for the state In one year.
The Influence of the prosperity for 1897 will
probsbly be shown in the mortgage statistics
for 1SUS.
The figures I have given tell the general
prosperity story. They may bo too dry for
the general reader because they lack the
clement of human , personal Interest. In
that case , let me print some stories of the
prosperity that came to Individuals here and
there In Kansas and Nebraska. They
llustrato the amazing character of the profits
that some farmers In those stated received
last jcar.
A FAT ROLL
The manager of one of the largest coal
companies In Kansas told me that in Novem
ber last ho went Into the flour mill of an
acquaintance In Lamed , Pawnee county , be
yond the center of the state and almost on
the border of the "short grasa" country. He
met a fainier past middle ago coming out of
the mill. The farmer was tucking a little
piece of white paper Into his pocket. The.
man had been In such straits of poverty that' '
his trousers were patched with burlap. Ills '
boots were broken , and through the holes his i
bare feet bhowed. The man's attlro wus j
really that of a tramp.
"Did you sco that faimer going out ? " said
the miller to the coal man.
than ho. The county seat of Neas county ,
out In that dreary and almost desert-Ilka part
of the clato Iiaown as the "short grass" coun
try , U Ness City. It U a place of about 459
Inhabitants and It has a etato bank. It Is Mr.
lireldenthal's duty to go there occasionally
and examine that bank. Ho said that In Neiia
City there Is en agent for a company that
soils top buggies. Since the good times camu
Idat agent sold In that town 400 top bugglea ,
Of course that would mean ono for almost
every man , woman and child In the place ,
which would be pieposterous. The buggies
\\ent all over the county , but I ventureto
aay that no eastern village ever could show
* uch a record of prosperity In the buggy
trade ,
OND CHOI' A FOKTUNK ,
Tbcro U a farmer In a town near ( bo cen
ter of the state I am not at Jlbcvty to give
his name who bad a section of laud , CIO
ncres. Mr. Breldenthal telln me that that
farmer Is putting up a $20,000 residence on
his place.
GAVE UP TOO SOON.
Here Is a story of a man who really be
came discouraged Just as sunshine began to
mellow the lot of many a weary man. Tills
man had a farm of 100 acres In Barton
county , In the center of the state. Ho owed
$1,500 on the farm , and the local bank held
the mortgage as security. Ho put 100 acres
out In wheat , but thought It would bo the
same old story of hot winds and no rain , and
early In the season ho went to the bank nnd
said ho was going to give up. The officials
tried to persuade him to continue , but ho
said ho would not. All he asked of the bank
was that It should give him $200 , enough for
him to get back east with his family , anj
It could have the farm. That meant that
for $1,700 It could got a farm of 100 acres.
It took the farm , and the farmer went away.
The bank sold the wheat that was raised on
the 100 acres for $1,600. In other words , the
bank got that man's farm of 100 acres for
Just $100.
Hero Is a story told me by State Sena
tor Hessln. the leader of the republicans In
the upper branch of the legislature In Kan
sas , and one of the most prominent can
didates for governor at the next convention.
Mr. HcEsln met an old soldier on the cars
ono day. The man was going to the National
Grand Army encampment. Ho had made
money at last on his farm. That man and
his three sons had a 1.000-acre farm. It
was worth at the outside $7,000. They owed
on It a llttlo more than $3,000. They raised
on It 20,000 bushels of wheat , for which thcj
got probably not less than $13.000 at 63 cents
a bushel.
Nebraska has a story to tell similar to
that of Kansas. One of the best known men
In Lincoln told mo that he bad a son In a
bank In the western part of the state. That
bank had been "hanging on by the eye
brows" for month after month. Every time
thn young man came homo be would tell
his father that the bank surely would co
down the next month. It held $30,000 of
worthless nos , or notes that seemed worth
less. The young man. who was cashier ,
finally quit the place to avoid the crash
that was Inevitable. Hut the crash did not
pome. The crops were enormous , and all
those notes were paid. That little bank Is
now a most prosperous Institution , and it
will bo a long time before It gets caught in
another such , predicament. Its condition was
typical , ono might ray , of probably a hun
dred other banks In the state.
WHEAT AND SILVER.
Hero Is a story of a man who was con
verted to populism by hearing Mr. Bryan
speak. Every detail Is vouched for to mo
by men of the highest standing. A re
publican who had always been true to the
party faith was In the crowd when Mr
Bryan spoke In the 1890 campaign In his own
state. Ho heard Mr. Bryan say : "All , my
fi lends , let me call your attention to one
fact that atando out clearly beyond ccatia
dlcllon. It Is that wheat and sliver stand
Inseparably joked together. If cae falls thn
other falls , and then wo fall , Look at their
prlco today ( It was something over CO cents )
They arc within ono cent of each other. I
toil jou they are together now. Inseparably
yoked. "
That republican was converted right there.
That was something ho had never thought
of. Ho had an 80-acro pleco of land , and
ho reascned that If Hrjan was elected sil
ver would go up to $1.23 , nnd wheat would
go with It. Ho owed nearly $2,000 on the
land , and If wheat should go to $1.25 , ho fig
ured , how ccsy It would b& to pay off that
moitgago. Well , Hryan was not elected , but
the man went cm with Ills winter wheat
sowing because he had made ail preparations
for It , but his heart wa4 heavy. Ho dIJ not
see how ho was going to pay off thaf mort
gage at balf-ratea. Ho raised 3.200 biuhefs
of wheat and got $2,200 for It. Ho sold Juit
Lelow 70 cents , and then he went to look
at the priceof ellver. It was something
like 47 cents , and that man saw a great
light. He lost on Mr. Bryan's prophecy rod
election , but ho won on the wheat. He
made enough to pay off hU mortgage , and
has now gone back to the republican party ,
as have thousands of others , which accounts
for the fact that IceteaJ of having only
about one-third of thu voters of thestnto ,
as was the c-aan threu > ears ago , the repub
licans came within 15,000 of winning last
year agaliut a fusion of democrats and
populists.
"WHAT FOOLS THESE MORTALS BE. "
Hero Is a story of half a dozen wlso popu
lists , well known In political affalra through
out the atato of Nebraska , who planned a
coup against that greatwt of all enemies
to the farmers , that representative of the
grinding capitalist , the elovutor-man. Thc o
farmers read In the populist newspapers
early In 1897 that wheat was surely going
down. Silver was going dona , end of courio
wheat must follow. They decided to make
a deal with the- elevator agent. They know-
that he read the capitalistic newapapera of
the eatft asid west. These papera eald that
not only was there to be a large crop of
wheat , but that Its prlco was to bo high ,
They knew better than that their own pa
per told 1hem so , and they know a thing or
two tliemselvso and so tboy went to tbo
elevator mm and offered to cell out their
entlro wheat yield at 45 cents a bushel.
The elevator tnan told them that they were
foolish , that wheat was going up. They Bald
they were wllllrg to take the chanced , but ,
upon the elevator man's suggestion , with
drew for a conference. They whkpered
among themselves , That elevator man was
Imply trying to fool thotu. They understood
the phllotophy of wheat and wheat prices
i / '
Your /Opportunity / Now.
Our clearance sale of odd fuaniture pieces is now on in earn
est Many- are taking advantage of these our greatest reduc
tions In some cases we've only one piece of a kind , while in
others three or four while the prices have been reduced so as
to sell them quick early Monday morning buyers are sure of
the best selections ,
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
A quarter sawed oak Hall Tree nnd Chest , < 5 flkT
hcavyplito mirror , elegantly maslve , wusJSJA I
* fl
. damaged * r
UC.OO , but slightly , at
Onk Combination , polished French pinto
glass , bric-a-brao china top , was $22.50 , ono
only , now ,
Natural curley birch combination cab'net
top , plnno polish , plate pattern , four
drawers , with locks , was $23.00 , now ,
' combination , polished1 quirtcr oak ,
3 drawers , has been -200.
clearing prlco
Solid Mahogany nook Case , six. adjustable.
shelves , always been $10.00 ,
now tit
Light and narrow $10.0
Oak Hook Case ,
only
Oak , polished Serving ) Buffet ,
reduced from $9.50
to
<
Very fine quarter sawad Buffet , l | A A <
fluted legs , wns $10.50 , II I III
now * * <
10-foot solid Mahogany Dining" Table A A tffcA
wo'vo sold them nt $42.00- JU I III <
now ther'ro * * * ' WU
<
Select quarter sawed top , French leg- iff ft A '
Dinlmr Tnble , S-foot , Ig ) 1111 <
* * WU
was $2200 , now
A ? 3" solid Jlnhognnjiwcll front and tA AA J
end Sideboard , i educed Jfill IB 11
to . . . . . * . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . * * . * " U\ &
Solid iMahognny Indies' Desk , | A ft A i
v.us $1G.OO , now reduced I la IIII .
to * * * S
In Tabourettci wo are showing
the ? a.50 lijzantlnc
for
The white enamel , with decorations ,
slightly Imperfect , was $10 ,
now *
A Byzantine Bowl , tabourctto finished ,
In Mnlchlto I
green
t-nrge quarter oak Tnbourette Table , ( CTA T
with work bo\ and Ynle lock , j
cut In half , now "
Vcrj- large natural finish , Tabouretto
or Tea Table , cut from
} 900 to i - - - n
f > irgo Turkish Arm Chair , upholstered In f A ( TftfTS 9
corduroj' damaged slightly hence the . 18 * BullEI i
great reduction from $13 to
0 0 O 0 O O 0 O O 0 O O O O O 0 O O 0 O 0 O-
ns well as he. After a ( line they came back
and said , as they nudged one another , that
they believed the elevator man was right ,
but that they thought "a bird In the hand , "
etc. , and BO they wouM sign contracts to de
liver their wheat at 45 cents a bushel. The
agreements were signed with solemn faces ,
and then the populists stalked out. When
they got around the corner they fell to slap
ping ono another on the shoulders nnd had
a riot of laughter. Their laughter was all
gone when they carted several thousand
bushels pf wheat to the elevator In the fall
at 45 cecits a bushel , while their neighbors
were getting from C5 to 70 cents for their
wheat. Now these conspiring populists are
known all over Nebraska , and the story of
their deal with the elevator man has been
published in that state. I simply glvo It
wider circulation to present a humorous side
to these prosperity stories , nnd not In any
spirit of criticism of populists or the popu-
llstlc faith. Whatever may bo raid of the
populist leaders , the eastern visitor will ted
the rank and file of the party composed of
loyal Americans , honest In their beliefs and
lovers of good government.
SNUG PROFIT.
One of the largest banking firms In Omaha
had to take a farm of several hundred acres
of land In the western part of the state cm
a mortgage foreclosure. It was land thought
to bo nt only for grazing cattle. Quo of the
members of the firm told mo that they
learned with regiet that ninety acres of
that land had been ploughed. They feareJ
that the high winds would blow the gritty
soil all over the rest of that land. A farmer ;
from that region wrote to the bankers , offerIng - '
Ing to glvo them cne-thlrd of the profits If j
they would allow him to raise wheat on the |
ninety-acre tract. The bankers agreed with i
alacrity. They heard no more from their ton- |
nnt for mcnths. The land was worth at the :
outsldit$3 50 an acre. The ninety ncres could
have been purchased for $300. Late In No
vember the bankers received a check for
$522 for their one-third of the wheat ralseu
on that $ " ! 00 piece of pioperty. Out of their
share the farmer had deducted C ctnts a
bushel for hauling the w-hrat sixteen miles
and for other expenses. The bankers said
they had not sought to veilfy the farmer's
accounts ; they were satisfied as matters
stood. While I was talk.ng with ono of the
firm there came two letters to the house.
One was from a man who had borrowed
$1,800 from them , which was duo In 1899.
Ho asked to be allowed to pay $1,200 on It
at once. The other lettr vv.s . from a man
who owed them $1,200 , due in 1900. That
man wanted to pay $ i00 ! on his debt.
I'eiihaps ono of the beat Illustrations as to
the way the farmers look upon the prosperity
of the jear 1S97 was shown by the carnival
that took place In the Uttlo-town of Manhat
tan , the homo of Senator Hcssln , and the
seat of the Agricultural college around
whose faculty there wa so much political
strife last year. The business men of Man
hattan and the farmers round about thought
there should bo some ade'qllato celebration
nf the arrival of good tilnUB. They therefore
held a carnival on NiwmVer 13 , for which
there was contributed , nearly $700 In cash
prizes , There was a great parade of the
four clashes Into which'the ' competitors were
grouped The prizes jverp for all sorts of
things. There wore prizes for the best horses
and mules ; beat driving ; Ikiu man and wo-nan
horseback riders ; the Wet cattle , calves , hogs
and lambs ; the 'best ' woman blcyclo rider ;
best decorated farmer's .buggy best brass
band ; best decorated busln&p Inusa ; "largest ,
"
freshest and heaviest llvx > dozen hen eggs ;
best country clown ; favnfers' foot race for
ages between 50 and 80 ; heaviest baby over
8 months and undor-l y * r ; best loaf of
bread , farmers' wives and daughters only
to compete ; "tho most eccentric , grotesque
and humorous vehicle , team and driver In the
parade ; " the beat looking farmers' slnglo son
and single daughter In the parade ; the
largest number of loada of corn from any
township ; the largest load of com drawn
by tvvo horsea or mules , and a lot of other
things , to say nothing of the $750 worth of
fireworks that went off In the evening.
Surely that was a glorious day for any
farming community. Any person who can
read over the 1'ut of prlics and say there was
not an entire lownful of rejoicing must have
llttlo soul In him , or know nothing about
the fun farmers have when they get together.
I doubt If any town In tbo west over had
a better tlmo than did Manhattan on that
Joyous November 13 , Ono team hauled eight
wagons , which contained 338 bushels of
corn , and which , with the wagons ,
weighed eleven and one-half tons ; the
load was worth , at the prices then
v o a o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o-
Two largo Turkish Hookers one green.
one mahognny corduroj' cut from
$22.50 to
An elegant $2300 Morris Chair ,
corduroy upholstered ,
for . . . .i
Ono Settee , In satin dntnask , has "
been held nt $123-to sell It H
* *
, quick
2-plece Parlor Suit settee nnd arm chair ,
solid mihogMiiv. Ininiil with satin wood ,
reduced from $52.50 to ,
pleco Solid Mahogany Pnrlor Suit , ' ( "A.
upholstered In dnninsk. In this sale ill !
cut from * * *
$71 to
1,2-plcco , Parlor Suit , solid mahogany settee flK ftft
t nnd arm chnlr , cut In this clearing Jig ] I 111
" " " * *
> aalo
fiom $ to
' An odd piece from Parlor Suit , over
! , stuffed Setteo. no arms , worth nil of $1850 ,
slightly soiled makes the prlco
>
| Lnrco upholstered mahogany IA C.S\
> rocker , n $30.00 value In fill
* * w
, for
> Uoekcr , upholstered In corduroj' , loose
cushion , rig-ulnr $1S 00 ,
now
)
Be.iultful mnhonanv Pnrlor Table , IB ?
'artistically ' Inlaid , elegant , but too I fa
, high cost at $30 , now " *
> Wo hnvo eight bedroom nnd tea Tables ,
vvhlto ennmpl nnd hand decorated. These
' are line poods nnd have sold at from $10.00
i to $15.00 , now nil at
i nltd'B eye maple Parlor Table , with tvvo A
Hholvi'H a good seller nt $12.50 onlj' n IBID <
* * * * * *
one , nt
1 Bird's eyp Table , Inlaid Lima mahoganjn trura (
was $1200 , H yy
now
Ilnndsome natural svcamore Dresser ,
landscape , French plate , was $37.50 ,
only one , now
Trench pinto mirror , Sj'camore
Chiffonier , cheap nt $2J.OO ,
but now It Is
1
ICIegnnt bird's eye mnplo Dressing-
c
Misses' Dressing Table , quarter sawed jj * jS ! J
oak , birch and mahog-anj' , reduced
from $1000 to
Very heaiy oak chamber suite , 3 "Wg fbffb 1
pieces , was $11000 , now down IU Oft IE 1(8 ( J
10
Fine curlv birch Bedroom Suite , IPlTft ( fftlTS
3 pieces , from $0350 3iLJ ! Rfl&o {
t0
c
O 0 OO 0 O 0 O O O 0 O O 0 O O O0 O O 0 I
prevailing , $ C7.CO. The prize for It wns $30.
The .nearest competitor had 303 bushels In
his load.
A PRI55E LOAD.
Such Is the prosperity that has como to
Kansas and 'Nebraska. ' Of course the stor'cs '
I have told and there Are hundreds like
them , jes , thousands represent the unusual
and exaggerated type of good fortune , but
they serve to point out that the prosoperlty
which could furnish such extreme cases ,
scattered here and there through the states ,
must have been general and far-reaching.
They albo serve to show the enormous i > refit
that came to the farmers last year. What
other ibuslness In the United States , or In the
world , could produce such results ? Does
anyone know of any business venture that
upon a capital of bay $1,200 , and labor of a
similar amount , will return from $15,000 to
$20.000 , as was the result In hundreds of
cases In Kansas nnd other western states ?
It Is true such n condition of affairs nuy
never occur again. It has occurred once ,
however , and It has enabled the states In the
central west to get out of debt. They will
borrow hereafter only as other states borrow ,
and even If no such good times romc again ,
they have money laid up and are ready to
do farming on ordinary profits.
It was Interesting to watch the effect of
this prosperity upon the farmers. So far as
I could observe and learn , there was little
elation. That carnival at 'Manhattan ' was
the only case of open rejoicing that I heard
of In the state of Kansas. The Joy that came
to thn thousands upon thousands of homes , ,
bringing gladness , especially to the women , !
on whom the hard times fell with almost j
crushing foreo as they battled to help their ]
husbands and f.thers , Is the kind that ox-
pi esses Itself oftenost In tears. With the I
money that they made last jear the farmers
purchased the necessities they had gene
w Ithout , and the luxuries that their wives '
and daughters craved , nnd then they went I
home jeady to face the problems of this' '
and the coming years of plenty , but pre
pared 'with their surplus oirn.ngs and their
experience In economy and In Improved
methods of farming to meet fearlessly an
other drouth of ono or oven moro ycnra.
The lean years have passed. Perhaps sev
eral years of plenty arc to follow.
There nro those who declare that mich
prosperity as that of 1897 Is not a blessing ,
In that It encoupigea those who experience It
. to false expectations. Many think that the
| farmers this year will go Into wheat raising
on a disastrous scale. 'It ' Is difficult to bo-
Hove that a people as Intelligent as the ipco-
plo of Kansas can make such a mistake as
that.
cjossii * tiuouT M > Tin IMJOPI.E.
Speaking of Congressman Dlngley's char ,
actcrlstlcs a correspondent of the Boatan
Transcript cajsi "Ho loves to get some
poison aside and fill him up with Informa
tion respecting the tariff schedules. For
ono personal attribute ho Is especially fa
mous , and that Is his overcoat. Ho baa a
notion , apparently , that the best way of
avoiding physical Ilia of oil sorts Is to keep
ono's self wrapped up like a mummy. At
| all events heIs seen burled In the Inevitable
garment oven when thn atinwphcre In the
bouseIs considerably above summer beat , "
The discoverer of Mount Blschoff , tlin
greatest tin tnlnp In the world , which ban
paid $7,500,000 In dividends , died n short
time ago practically penniless. "I'hlloio-
pher" Smith , as ha was called , had a pen
sion of $1OQO per annum from the New
South Wales government , but It did not in.
able him to make provision for bin wife.
The Now South Wales parliament was ac
cordingly asked to continue half the pen
sion In her favor , which It did by a large
majority When Mount Illeclioff was made-
Into a stock company Smith took a largo
number of shares , but , losing confidence In
his own discovery , sold them for a eong.
Richard Crokor , the Tammany bosu , Is
rigidly temperate , and his private Ufa Is
purity Itself , It Is related of him that on
the occasion of a "scratch" dinner to which
a dozen or so of men had been Invited he
listened with disgust while ono of the
gueits related with glee the fiction ho had
sent over the telephone to his wlfo as a
reason for not dining at home. The guest
was a famous member of Tammany at thu
time , but Croker said of him ; "That settles
him. The man who will He to hla wlfo will
Ho to everybody , " Never from that day
would Croker have anthing to do with him ,
Annual Rug Sale rw (
Never at this season have wo had $
greater variety a larger stock at ea
reasonable a price as right now Beginn *
ing with the largo room rngs wo show
the reversible Kensington Art Squared
in all the now designs and colorings.
2x3 yard ttugs $4.80 3x4 yard KuKi $ 0.7.1
2J.x3.vnrd Utiga . . . . 0.00 3xl } yard llujja. . . . 11.25
3x3 yard Rugs 7.2 ; > 4x4 yard Kiijj * 1 ± SO
3x3fyard Uugs. . . . 8.COl.3 yard KiifM Ifl.OO
The popular Taiko Japanese Rugs host
quality
0x0 feet 37.00 7xUfoot 510,00
Oxl2fcet 12.501x7 Delft Dluo 3.0J
Smyrna in room sizes both sides alike
7-0x10-0 $12.00 O.U2 Sltl.OU
j Knlah Smyrna very desirable
i 7-0x10-0 $18.00
Bromley's Smyrnas known to everybody
0x0 S12.f > 0 0x12 J2l.ro
7-0x1(1-0 ( $18.00
Axminslor Hugs
i 8-3x10-0 $25.00 0x12 827.00
i Small Sizes nowhere else as cheap as in
j > our rug department
'
Smyrna
'
18x3(5 ( inch $ .75 30x00 inch $2.00
21x15 inch 1.20 3lix72 inch , 'l.i'i
' 2ix5Jinch ( 1.05)8.S1 ) inch fi.OO
, Moquette
, 18x30 Inch 1.00 27x03 inch 2.50
30.\72inch 81.00
| Wo make all carpet remnants into lings
and you can save big money in these
ii'we have your si'/.e
[ S-3 < dO-0 Brussels. . Sll.OU 10-0x12 Brussels. . . $15.50
, 8-3x12 Moquotto. . . 1750 10-0x12 Wilton. . . . 25.00
8-3x10-0 Moquuttc. 1000 10-0x12 Urtiss-oh. . . . LVD
(
llxll-0 Brussels , . . 13.50 11-3x13-0 Brussels. . 22 50
' 1U-0\-12-9B usscls. . 10.00 11-3x10-0 Brussels. . 20.00
)
j 0 O O O O O O O O OO O O O O O O 0O O
I4I4-I416-I4I8 DOUGLAS STREET ,
I and the relater of fiction was boon cast out
of Tammany.
In a recent speech In the South Carolina
senate Senator Aldrlcb remarked : "I once
' Earna man first at a prajer meeting ,
i accldentallj"Was my friend at a
1 prajer meeting by accident ? " Inquired
henator Henderson. "Tho next time I saw
| the man ho was plajlng poker , " continued
[ Senator Aldrlch , not noticing the Interrup
tion. "Was my friend accidentally at the
poker game ? " put In a third senitor. "Yes ,
accidentally , " replied Senator Aldilch , "as I
] < lldn't know how to play , and second , I was
broke , "
Thackeray and the late Dean Llddell were
. boys together at the famous Charterhouse
' school , and they sat next to oich other In the
form , the bojs of which were called the
I "Emeriti. " No one was promoted from
this form who could not repeat from memory
the Kclogucs and the Georglcs. This feat
was accomplished toy Llddell , but not by
Thackeray. In giving Oheso reminiscences
some jcars ago at the speech day of the
Oxford Boys' High lichoM , Dr. Llddoll added
that Thackeray accused him later of having
been the Dobbin who wrote his Latin verses
for him , an Impeachment the dean would not
own , though ho admitted that Thckeray
could not have written them himself.
Representative Sperry of Connecticut IH
probably the last survivor of the gentlemen
who were closely associated In the construc
tion of the famous Monitor that fought with
the Merrlmac In Hampton roads. The three
builders of the "yankoe cheese box" were
John 'Erlesson. ' a Swede , known the world
over as the Inventor ; Cornelius S. iHushnell
of Now Haven , and John A. Qr'swold of
Troy , N. Y , the last two being Interested
with Mr. IJrlcHson as part owners Mr.
Buslincl ! and Mr. Sperry were close friends
ind the latter went on Mr. llushneH's bond
for $200,000. It should be iborno In mind
wliat Is not generally known to students of
American hlstorj' that the Monitor was
owned 'by ' private parties and not 'by ' the
government 'when ' she fought the historic
battle.
'Mrs. Cornelia Walter Richards , who recently -
contly died at 'tho ' ago of 85 , was the slstor
of the founder of the Boston Transcript , and
woo thu editor of that paper for a time
after the death of her brother. It was con
cerning her that K'dgar ' Allan Pee vvroto the
following1 In the Broadway Journal In the
autumn of 18J5 : "Our excellent friend ,
Major Noah , has suffered himself to be
cajoled by that most beguiling of all be
guiling llttlo divinities , Miss Walter , of the
Transcript. Wo have been looking all over
her article with the aid of a taper , to
see If wo could discover a single syllable
I of truth In It and really blush to ncknowl-
odgu that wo cannot , The adorubla crea
ture bus been tolling a parcel of fibs about
us , by way of revenge , for something that
wo did to Mr. Longfellow ( whOadmires her
very much ) and for calling her 'a pretty
llttlo witch' Into the bargain. "
At the dinner given In his honor the other
evening In Philadelphia , Dr. McVlckar , the
now bishop-coadjutor of Rhode Island , told
this characteristic anecdote of the late
Phillips Brooks : "I remember a few years
ago I was traveling with ono of the grand
est bishops and ono of the grandest men of
the century. I was sauntering with him
from church In Luzorno , In Switzerland ,
and he said something so boyish and fresh ,
just as ho was over wont to do. I stopped
and looked at him , and said : 'Brooks , It
eepms so otrango that you should be a
bishop. ' He looked at mo with almost a
startled expression , and lie said : VMcVidtar ,
It nc-ems so strange to me that sometimes ,
when I am putting on my clothes , I have to
stop and laugh , ' It was just the freshness
of that man which always kept him young ,
and which I am sure you will understand as
I give It , for I venture to say there has
never been such a bishop In our or any
other church , "
Arnold's Broino Celery cures bnadachej ,
lOc , 25c and fiOc. All druggists ,
Hrnvy Snow Slorni In Jiiiiui. |
NKW YOniC , Feb. I2.-Tho central cable
olllco of the Western Union Telegraph
company sent out the following notlco this
morning : : "Advices from Nagasaki , Japan ,
say that a heavy snow storm has Inter
rupted telegraphic communication with all
jKJlnts In the Interior except ShlmonseUl. "
Kii.irious.
The total sales of the two Mothodlnt Kpls-
copal publishing- houses nt New Yorlnnd
Cincinnati since 1S4S have amounted to $00-
C71I.371) ) 94.
Pope Leo save 20.000 fr.incs In nlms to the
poor at Home nt Oulstmas time , and dui-
Ing the lost llftcen years jravo dowers to
11 > pool maidens.
The Baptist Home Mission society will
send two mlsslonailps , u minister and .a
phjslclan to the Klondike. The. estimated
cost will be $1,000 n jeur.
The Catholics of Pot Hand , Ore. , are milc-
Ing pii'pir.itlons to celebrate the silver
cplscopil jiibilco of Archbishop Gross ,
which will occur April C7.
Mgr. Dussticrro , aichblshop of Alglen ,
who has recently died , entered the Homiti
Catholic church fjom the armj- , being a pi I-
vale In the zouuves , uml before that a fuc-
toij' boy.
The duke of Norfolk , who Is an ardent
Iloninn Catholic , In u recent letter H.ilil :
"Thank God , tvvo of my sisters are nunn ,
and , thank Goil , ono of my wife's last acH
was to found a convent. "
The homo mission board of tbo Presby-
U'llnn church has Issued
an earnest ap
peal for increased donations. It Is stated
that Hlnce October the receipts Imvo fallen
oft veiy much , especially In the castcin
synods.
lU-v IMwnrd Allen , a clergyman of fie
Church of Kngland , recently celebrated hh
100th birthday. Ho .speaks twelve tin-
KU igcs and has seim four monarch on the
ICiiKllsh throne. It Is Htated that bo enjoys
the bent of health.
Leslie M Shaw , governor of Iowa , who
has served conxecutlvcly twenty full voarH
ns mipprlntemlent of the Methodist Kplsco-
pal Stuidnj Hdiool at Dunlson , In , bin
severed Ills Lonnectlon with the soVnl In
consrnucMice of his removal to the capital ,
Den Jlolnes.
The Chinr'liirin. In nlludlnp to the hatred
against the JOWH which exists in foreign
countries , and to Homo extent In our own ,
"reminds Christians that Jcmis wns u Jew ,
n nil that Peter , and John , and Paul were
Jews , and tint the HalntH anil heroes , tin
poet4 nnd leaders of the tuio Tcitumcntu
w > -rc > Jews. "
Pope Leo received glftfl valued at $1,200-
WO on the ofc.tHlon of the sixtieth iinnl-
verwaiy of bin ordaliunent IIH a prle.st.
Among the cinh gifts wore a ch k for HO , .
CO ) fiotn the duke of Norfolk , $3)OV ) In KDld
fjom the queen logenl of Spain , $12,500 from
Kaiser Wlihelm. $40COO from the AuHtrlini
blHhops and $10,000 from the Hung-arlun pil-
tnatp.
Tno Central Prenbyteilnn church nf Hiltl-
more. for Us last communion hirvlco h id
to Hecuro a jneaeher from another 'clly
because ) Hov I3r Joseph T. Smith , jmHtor
emeritus of the church , who H temporarily
filling the pulpit , as the piptorato U vacant ,
aliHolutely refuses to otllclato or even ti >
assist nt a communion sorvlco at which ,
nnfennentod wine IH usoil ,
An iiKllnh ! paper Hnj-s that lilnliop n ! l-
cott of Olourester enJoyH fie privilege of
liolnx allowed to travel on liny railway In
Kngland free of chaige. This unusual favir
wns conferred upbn him In recognition of
bin beiolc rxurtloiiH In admlnlsteilngfplilt -
ual coiiHolntlon to the dying vIctlniH In a
railway incident near Tottenham , tmtwlth-
Htnnilliifr his own very nprlouH Injurl t.
This was whllo the bls'iop waH ntlll a j-viin
man.
An eloquent llothodlHt revivalist nt OsVn-
lees i , Kan , produced a powerful effect on
numbeiH of yiiuiig pojplo of the nluue but
they couldn't tiulto bilng theniHofves to K"
to what Salvation / Army culls the pern-
tent form , on the front benches , | i rin i
tiny weio Jolly youny iioiplp and cnloj-ed
frequent dances. An Kphrop.il clergy' ' " in ,
neolntr a way to Inciram * bin congrigallon ,
preached a Hermoii In which bo nmdo It
clear that bis church did not regard danc
ing as 11 sin. When the MCUH upreid the
young pejple permitted thunselvr-H to 4 >
converted at the revival services , and thru
Joined tbo EplHcopal church Iho rovlviil-
ItU thereupon accused the Episcopal brother
of unfalrnesH Tluy mot In a newHpipT
ofllce and had a warm tilt , but , IIH the looil
editor said , only their spiritual bodies wtru
harmed.
Thcrrj are three llttlo things wnifh .la moro
work than any other three little things ere.
ated they are tbo ant , the ben and DuU'ltt's
Llttlo Harly Hirers , the last being tbo faniouj
little pllln for Htoraach and liver troubleo.
SulclilfH rolliMV Kulrulii
INDIANAPOLIS , Tub. 12. Mrs. Lizzie W.
Huffman of DrlKhtwood In dead from the
effects of a narcotic polnon taken with
KUlcldnl Intent. Several -weeks aeo her
daughter , IMIth. committed suicide.
Previous to IMIth's death her lever , Hurry
Phillips , killed lilniHeir. The daughter was
despondent over her lover'H act and tha
mother could not stand her Borrow over tut
daughter's death.