Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-03-27
THE JOHN M. CANNON LAND AGENCY.
What 1t is Accomplishing for Crescc
and Howard County.

Among Cresco's most thriving and
business institutions, the John M.
Cannon Land Agency easily takes the
lead, as a visit to that office and few
minutes conversation will show, and
which the results in land sales con.
clusively proves. Mr.. Cannon, the
proprietor and manager, established
the land agency department. in con.
nection with his law practice, about
three years ago, and from small be.
ginning in which only local men were
brought together in making land
sales, this agency, last year, disposed
OF several thousand acres of Howard
County land, mainly to eastern Iowa
and Illinois purchasers.
Some idea of the business transact
ed by the Cannon agency may be has
In the amount of postage paid, which
runs from 50 to IS per day, while eacf
mail brings from 20 to 40 letters from
their various sub-agents or prospect.
I've buyers. But better index of the
business transacted is the actual land
transfers they effect. Last year they
listed about 10000 acres of Howard
County land, over 5000 acres of which
was sold and the transfer completed
truly a remarkable record. A remark
able feature of this is that the sales
were so conducted that every man
who contracted for land last year
comes up to the scratch at settlement
time, and that all deeds were closed
with perfect good feeling by all
parties. This year they already have
listed about Is, 900 acres of land in this
county and about an equal amount
in Mitchell county and Mower county,
MINI. With their increased facili-
ties, added experience and hundreds
of sub-agents, last year s enviable rec
ord bids fair to be badly shattered
this season. Among other farms, they
have control of the sale OF the big
Taopi farm of $500 acres.
Mr.. Cannon's early experience in
the business taught him that the tide
of immigration from the states east
Of US was following the main lines Of
railroad to points west and south Of
us and that our farm lands were not
receiving the attention they demand
ed and that il their merits and cheap
ness were made known, a part of the
stream could be diverted to this Sec
tion, and to this end his advertising
and efforts have been mainly directed.
At present his advertisements are be-
ing published in over SO of the leading
newspapers Of Illinois, Wisconsin,
Indiana and Iowa, and an army of
400 agents, with whom he has con-
tracts, in these states are, by cores
poadence, keeping him in constant
touch with prospective buyers in their
localities.
One Of the reasons for the popular
ity and success Of this agency lies in
their liberality and fair dealing with
agents, and with those who are buy
ing and selling property. Mr.. Can
mons contracts are liberal in that
they do not provide for an exclusive
contract of agency, but merly gives
him authority to arrange for a sale at
stated price and conditions, and the
payment Of commission If the sale
is made. He also deducts the cost of
railroad fare paid by the land seeker
from abroad from the purchase price
of lands sold.
Another element of success lies in
the publicity he gives to the farms
given to him for sale. Mr.. Cannon
has always been known as a liberal ad-
vertiser, and he does it by every meth
cd he thinks feasible. His newspaper
advertising he supplements: with a
quarterly edition of the "Iowa Land
List" and the famous "Red Book, 81
containing over 60 views of business
houses and farms in Howard county,
and by personal solicitation and cor
respondence by himself and assistants
with those who are mentioned to him
as in the market for lands. During
the past winter Mr.. Cannon has spent
most Of his time travelling through