The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-03-01

It has been said that the farmer has no
friends in the business world 1t was not
meant that he may not be liked socially,
or that his trade may not be sought for
eagerly by business men. but that his
business methods. or lack of them. are a
source of annoyance in the business
world. The farmer often comes into con-
| tact with men who are engaged in trade,
and If the impression made bv the
farmer is not pleasant one he is the
| loser. II this was matter that affected
the individual alone it might not be so
much matter OF concern, but the pre-
! vailing impression OF the habits of farm
ers is working harm to all. May it no! be
| true that some OF the wrongs, OF which
| much complaint is now being made, are
made possible. and even to a degree ex-
| cusable. by traits of character fixed in us
BY false methods and habits of thought?
The middlemen are reaping a too great
portion of the results of the farmers
! labor, but is not the latter intrenching
/ the former in their position by failing to
/ educate himself TO be able TO transact bus
mess with them-to be able to deal direct
! with first parties in a business way; or
| does he not require dealers 10 charge high
prices to cover expenses, for which the
/ farmer is responsible? Ii a farm imple-
ment is needed the average farmer will
wait until day or two before
it is needed IN the field, ex-
pecting the local dealer to carry
in stock any Implement or machiae ne
may require. He requires him to guar
antee that it will work, whether the
farmer knows how to work it or not; il it
| is a complicated machine the dealer is eX-
| pecied to hire q livery team, 90 TO the
| farm, set il up, aud start it, and also TO
| charge enough 10 hire a second team and
| pay wages to n man if there should be 8
mitch IN the working after the machine is
started; he requires the dealer TO add
! enough TO tue purchase price TO cover the
interest for Elk months. although the pur-
| chase price NAV be promised in six weeks
aud may be paid then. Al. these things
| are done by go many farmers that dealers
are compelled to set the prices of machin-
ery several dollars higher than they should
and would be under better business meth
oGs, and this extra charge is burdensome
10 the farmer.
One dag will usually find satisfactory
machine working within easy reach OF the
woGld-be purchaser. There the machine
| should be studied. When satisfied the
farmer should buy outright OF the dealer
| Tor cash, relieving him all responsibility
except the enforcement OF the manu-
facturer's guarantee as TO the perfection
of the various parts. If the purchaser
| knows what he wants, orders it of the
.ala h.f- Il. a.
money trying 10 sell 10 him, pays the cash,
aud makes 10 further demands upon the
dealer except to replace faulty parts of the
machine, the dealer can and will sell 10 or
| 10 per cent. cheaper than he can afford to
do when sales are made in the usual way.
Much OF the fault now lies with the farmer,
and he can make change for the better in
the price of his supplies and have the CO.
operation of dealers, ii he will only change
his business methods.
1t will not be understood that all far
mers are lacking in these ways. Many are
shrewd business men, but even they are
handicapped by the methods In vogue,
which are the results of some thought
lessness and carelessness on the part of
the majority.
Then too, in selling, the farmer finds
himself at a disadvantage. Too many do
nicely OF representation of their products
when offered for sale. The miller in the
East orders a carload of wheat from a
western grain dealer, and knows most
exactly what he will get. Moreover, if
the grain is not what was ordered the
miller knows that the dealer is RESPONSE
bic, and all is done in business-like way
The miller will not give q producer as
much because, no matter what the stock
is, the farmer often refuses to stand any
cut in the price, holding that his wheat
is as good as his neighbours, and falling to
realize the necessity of furnishing the
standard grade if he wants the market
price.
In the matters of selling and buyin2
there are yet too many farmers who are
too loose In their business methods to
permit them to sell at the highest price
and buy at the lowest
Every farmer should know how to write
a business letter in the best form, how TO
make checks and drafts. and all the usual
| methods that obtain in the business world.
They should be fully posted on the cost OF
transportation, on charges for handling
produce in market, and on prices.
There are manv farmers, and the num-
Der is increasing rapidly, who have good
standing in the business world. but some
who are worthy the esteem of ali, appear
badly and suffer loss through ignorance or
carelessness OF business ways. THE SEM
| TINEL FARMER urges this matter upon the
consideration of it's readers, believing it is
highly important.
Observers NOTES.-The. 7.
War prices for hogs 1t is the unex-
pected that always happens. Had these
prices been expected there would have
been supply of hogs sufficiently large to
depress prices below a profitable point.
But we didn't expect them and we sold of
our brood sows when corn was scarce and
high, and we said that there was no
money in hogs and-we got LETT By I'VE
/ mean just tour farmers out OF FIVE who
failed 10 have their usual number OF hogs
last fall. After prices get low and We lose
some money We sell out and quit. Then
| prices 90 up and we fail to reap any OF
| the profits. What chasers we are TO be
sure, always just one year behind, and the
| high prices are obtained by those who
have 3 plan and stick to it,
Eight cents pound on foot for hogs.
| How IL arouses ones interest in swine.
Said one gentleman: 81 cold my hogs ut
cents pound and felt that l had
robbed some one. Now that prices have
gone up TO s cents j am sick because |
have no hogs to SELL" There is money
in hogs" is the cry OF course there is,