Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-10-01
nnnInesa HnbIls b Farmors.

As n rule, farmers have no system in |
conducting their business operations. |
They contract obligations without spec
ifying any exact time when they are TO
meet them. Many of them give notes
in very reckless sort of manner, and
make no memorandum of the time they
become due. When presented for pay
ment they affect considerable surprise
and resort TO various subterfuges to OBJ
tain an extension of the time of pay
ment. They generally object to giving
a new note, though they are well aware
that it is very difficult to raise money on
the old one, as few persons wish to in
vest in an overdue obligation to pay
money. Most farmers are offended il
person holding their note sells it. They
think such an act implies sort Of disre-
spect or furnishes evidence that the sell
er does not presume that it will be paid
at maturity. Some are angry if the
holder of these notes negotiates them,
for the reason, as they affirm, that they
do not want their neighbors TO know
that they have outstanding obligations.
In making contracts for labor it is
very unusual for them to specify any
definite time for payment. IL is for this
reason that women dislike to work In
farm-houses and men prefer to work
elsewhere than on farms. In city or
large town a woman who does cooking
or homework expects her wages at the
end of every week, and generally re-
ceives them. In shops, manufactures,
printing offices, commercial establish
ments, and in most other places where
men work in cities and large towns they
receive their wages in cash on complet-
| ing a weeks labor. Some railroads and
other corporations pay at the end of a
month, instead of at the end of a week,
but they have definite time for paying
for the services Of their employees.
These latter know what they are to ex-
pect, and when to expect it, and are sell
dom disappointed. This system of pay
| ing at the end of definite periods has
much to do in causing both men and
women to prefer labor in the city in
stead of in the country. Farmers are
| losers in consequence OF their method of
dealing with their employees. They
would get work done much cheaper if
they paid for it at regular periods.
They would also get better work. Amy
person will labor more faithfully, more
energetically, and more contentedly if
he is sure Of his pay at the end of day,
week, or month. Payday is a great
stimulus to exertion.
The hired help of farmers is some
times "accommodated,h as the express
sion is, with an order on the store where
the employer has a running account.
This order is, however, no equivalent for
cash. 1t allows the holder of it to
"trade it out" at a place he might never
patronize if he had the cash wherewith
to purchase goods. The holder of an
order on country trader is virtually
obliged to take what he can and in the
store at the price demanded for it. The
articles may not be what the person
wants, either in style or quality, but they
are the only ones to be obtained by
means of the order. Even if they suit
the purchaser, the price demanded for
them will ordinarily exceed the cash
price, for the time when they are to be
paid for is very indefinite. Men and
women employed on farms like to exer.
else their own taste and Judgment about
purchasing goods as well as other per.
sons do. 1t is for their interest no less
than their pleasure to have the money
they earn to spend when and where they
please. II they are offrugal habits they
are more likely to save money when paiC
their wages regularly. The farmer is
benefited quite as much as his employees
by prompt, regular payment of wages
The system of dealing with traders
and mechanics pursued by most farmers
is very Objectionable and unbusines
like. 1t consists in having a running
account kept by the latter of all the ar
ticles sold, made, or repaired. A dupli
cate is rarely kept by the former, who i
generally astonished at the amount o
every bill that is presented for payment
Accounts grow very rapidly, especial,
when different members of family ar
allowed to add to them. When good
or services are obtained on credit, tn
matter of price seems to be of secondar,
importance. Persons are careful abOu
how much they pay when they count Ou
the money for it, but if payment is to b
. delayed for an indefinite time they ar
; not very particular. In fact the persol
who obtains goods or services on credi
I is not in a condition TO have much TO sa,
about the price. He is receiving al
equivalent for money, but instead c
money he only gives promise of 1t
For the same reason he is debarred froI
making very thorough examination G
= the quality of goods or work. The lon
, and the short of the whole matter is,
: large amount of very poor goods is gen
! orally obtained when they are Charge
up in running account.
II farmer has not the capital /
! bridge over the time before crops o
stock are ready for the market, he wi
! be obliged to hire money or obtai
necessary supplies on credit. Undoubt
l edly the best course is TO hire the none
: II it can be obtained at a reasonsbl
4 rate. This will enable him to purchas
' goods at the lowest price they can b
obtained. 1t will also keep him fror
: asking any favors, IS obtaining none
from a capitalist is in the line Of regU
lar business. II he can not prOcuT
: money at reasonable rate of Interest
. he will be obliged to obtain goods o
credit. But in doing so he should cor
u form TO business principles. He shoul
!, inform the persons with whom he trade
of the probable time when he can pa
: the bills against him. II he trades wit
q grocer, butcher, or dry-goOds mel
!, chant, he should keep a pass-book an
! have the amount and price of ever
: purchase entered in 1t, with the date, I
q the same time 1t is charged in the boob
!, Of the seller. This arrangement, whic
requires but little trouble or expensI
will obviate all Misunderstanding an
enable the purchaser at any time TO 81
q exactly how his accounts stand.
y Uncertainty in the time of meetiD
obligations is one Of the leading cha
acteristics of the ordinary farmer
y ! ,,.akhnA 81 HDt,Cs < $780,.