Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 2, Number 45, DeMotte, Jasper County, 23 March 1933 — DeMOTTE [ARTICLE]

DeMOTTE

LOUISE McGLINN

At the annual meeting held at the Court House the manager Arthur E. Arnott of the Jasper county Farm Bureau made the following statement: Early in the spring of 1930 a large group of interested farmers met in the Makeever Hotel in Rensselaer to discuss plans for starting and conducting a business institution that would protect the interests of the farmer. A limited liability bond was circulated and signed by 189 farmers of the county in the amount of $18,000.00 by which the directors could borrow money and start and operate this business, but with definite instructions that the indebtedness should not reach over $9,000.00 that they could be held responsible for. Those intructions have been very closely adhered to and we have come to the first annual stockholders meeting. Although your association has been in operation for twenty-seven months this will be the first report given to the stockholders by the manager. You are well aware of the fact that your association started in business in the beginning of the worst financial panic the world has ever seen. Despite the fact that banks, farmers and other business men have failed by the hundreds and we have been met on every hand by the most severe opposition, yet we have gone steadily forward and made a small profit. Your books are being audited every three months by a Certified Public Accountant and records are on file in the office and open for your inspection at any and all times. The entire liabilities of your association, excluding common stock, at the close of the business year were $11,906.71 and your assets $20,205.57. There were 238 owning stock amounting to 563 shares; and, after making soine deductions for depreciation, we believe, that the common stock of this association is worth $10.00 for each share of $5.00 par value.

Without anyone investing a dollar, you have done $150,495.27 worth of business, excluding the fertilizer almost entirely. Because of the condition agriculture finds itself in, prices have been held very low. Yet, your organization has made a net profit of $5,195.74. Auditor’s reports are kept on file in the office and are your property and subject to your inspection. As your manager, I would recommend that if a suitable location could be gotten uptown at a reasonable rental, you would be able to increase your business to a considerable extent and extend the service it would, perhaps, be a good investment.

ARTHUR E. ARNOTT,

Manager In view of the fact that certain money’s borrowed by the association had to be paid back before we had time to accumulate enough reserve namely $1500.00 borrowed from Keener Twp. Dairy which has been paid in full) we have been handicapped for capital to operate on. Mr. and Mrs. Frank M . Hart, Sr., of DeMotte, will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary at their home here Sunday, April 2. Mr. Ray Van Meerten, Fred McGlinn, Victor Van Meerten and wife Jean motored to Chicago Friday on business. A great number attended the Epworth League party Friday which was held in the school house. Fred McGlinn attended the Farm Bureau directors meeting at Rensselaer Saturday at which county officers were elected for the coming year. The work on Josie Hanaway’s new garage is now progressing very rapidly. The work was temporarily held up while Carl went to get a ruler to measure his car. Helen Curtin has returned from her visit in Chicago. A number of base ball players from Englewood and Harvey, Ill., were reported to have signed up with the DeMotte A. C.’s for the coming baseball season. A dance is being considered in the near future for the benefit of the base ball team to be held in the largest barn in the county one and one-half miles north of DeMotte. Ed. DeVries has a force of men planting onions for seed this week. Now must be the time to plant maple trees judging from the amount of business being transact-

ed at the Kooy Maple Tree Nursery north of DeMotte. Mr. Van Ginkle went to Hammond Monday and drove back a model A Ford truck to be used in. his marketing business. Several from this community have been called back to Gary to work as the Steel mills again Monday after being closed one week. William Burns is moving to the Obenchain farm north of DeMotte in the river timber in that section where the Hoot Owl bid the Devil good night. Mrs. Fred McGlinn and daughter Shirley Ann visited Mrs. Thomas McGlinn of Gary Monday. Stuart Hoffereth and Laurence Knopinski were callers in the home of Miss Amy Grunwald and Katherine Segina last Saturday night. Miss Blanche Sigler, Mrs. Grace Grunwald, Harold Struble, and Bert Struble motored to the show at North Judson Sunday evening. The Five Hundred club met with Miss Jean Summers last Thursday evening.

Miss Frances Hockelberg returned home from her work in Crown Point last Thursday with the flu. She returned again Sunday evening. “Hans Von Smash”, a play sponsored by George Denny, will be given at the DeMotte Community meeting Tuesday evening. The play was given at the last Kniman meeting and made a big hit. Mrs. Grace Grunwald, Mrs. Florence Walstra, Mrs. Harry Betterton and Mrs. Neil Sekema called on Mrs. Jenny Crawford Friday afternoon. Mrs. Charlotte Shephard and daughter Harriet of Hebron were visitors in DeMotte last Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. John Morgan of Hebron was also a caller.