Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-06-26
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
BUYING AT WHOLESALE, cHEAI

the farmer, by better financial man
agement can save 800 in a year, is
1T not just as we'll as though he had
made 500 moro from his farm
directlyf Will he not be 800 bet
ter off in either caseg (It is seldom
that he cannot do better at his farm
ing than he now does. How many
farmers do the very best they know
howl Iheard this question asked
a large audience of progressive
farmers more than once, last winter,
and not a man raised his hand
But never mind that pointjust now.)
Let US consider this matter of finan-
cial management. The middleman
is a necessity, at least to the great
majority of farmars, but may there
not be such thing as depending on
him too muchs May we not buy
from fist hands, oltcntimes, for con-
siderably less money, and would not
this business contact with the out
side world be of advantage to us
We farmers are too helpless-too
afraid of anything that smacks of
business. Why, we ought to be
able to write a letter just as easily
as we would feed pig, or to order
barrel of sugar from New-York,
and send draft or money order to
pay for it, and find it no harder
work than to get trusted for dollar
at our country store. A little of this
kind of work would do us good; it
would take our minds outside of our
line fences for time. We should
get a glimpse of the prompt habits
and methods of successful city men.
We need just these same habits and
methods to succeed on our farms.
And then we should save money by
this way of buying.
You can save probably from one
to two cents a pound by buying a
barrel of granulated sugar at once,
directly from first hands. That is
not great deal-S3 to Sc but a
few minutes writing and trifle for
freight and draft is all it costs. You
can save 50, perhaps, on a piece of
cotton cloth-I saved 1852 on a
piece last week, being the differ
erence between the price asked here
and what it cost me. You can save
largely on agricultural implements
by buying of the manufacturers
direct, as a rule. Some years ago |
wanted new horse dump-rake. /
got the lowest price, for cash, of
agents about here. Then | wrote to
the Higganum Manufacturing Cor
poration, whose advertisement was
in your paper, and bought one from
them, and saved several dollars
There are very few tools that the
farmer cannot buy from the mann
facturers at a saving of 10 to % per
cent. over agents prices, if he man
ages wisely. If one manufacturer
Will not sell to you because he has
an agent in your place, write to
some other one who makes similar
tool but has no agent there. If you
show that you mean business, and
have the cash, and are not afraid to
write and see where you can do
best, you will get what you want,
nearly always. and at a fine dis
count from retail prices. Often you
can buy just as we'll of your home
dealer, il you manage rightly. Do
not buy half pound Of tea, two
pounds of coffee, three bars of soap,
a pound of raisins, and a dollars
worth of sugar. No, no! Buy enough
of all bookkeeping articles to last a
year. A barrel of sugar will just
about last small family a year,
and graduated sugar will keep
nicely for that time. Get box of
raisins at once; they will keep, if
you have not too many children
If you do not use box of soap in a
year, it grows better the older it
gets. Your grocer will charge you
10 cents, perhaps, for cake ofivory
soap, but mine sold me 100-pound
box for 81, and it will last us, with
an average family of six persons, a
good deal owe: year. There is no
fussing with teaches and soap grease
on our place, when enough choice
soap can be bought for say So, and
last a year. / can make it easier by
using little skill in buying. But
do not so haggling around when
purchasing. You can buy low and
keep your selfrespcct, and not insult
your dealer. Do not ask his price
and then try to get the article for a
little less, but go right straight to
the point, and treat him like man,
and act like one yourself. Say !:
Here Mr.. So and So, have the
cash; times are hard, and Iwant to
make it go as far as possible. l
will buy the quantity in barrel, box
or package, and take them right at