Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-09-21
WHERE s7,ooo,ooo GOES.

An Iowa banker suggested to one Of
the IRIS travelling solicitors the 9th
er day certain reasons for the appar-
ent scarcity of money to loan. Among
the causes given by the banker We're
purchases of northwestern real estate
by Iowans the fact that nearly every
town of Importance is cursed with q
bucketshop from which thousands go
weekly to Chicago and Minneapolis,
and in local cases turnout the state
partial crop failures for the past two
or three seasons. TO these might have
been added the hurried flight outside
the state of certain capital disturbed
by tax ferrets and not least of any the
steady drain upon Iowa OF the cata-
log houses of Chicago. The gross
amount of cash sent from Iowa neigh
borhoois to the profit and and enrich
ment of the mail order stores outside
the state would, if it We're possible to
display it in accurate figures, prove
appalling. And this custom or habit
of buying by catalog SO detrimental to
the business interests of the state is
growing and gaining in fixedness year
by year.
A postoffice in one OF the smallest
villages of Marshall county issues
monthly from $500 to $500 in money
orders nearly all addressed to Chicago
catalog houses. 1t supplies scarcely
more than one township with mail, but
suppose for the sake of argument that
it supplies two townships. There are
few more than 1850 townships in
Guided in the area of the state. If the
postoffice referred to and it's patrons
are fair samples Of the patronage of
Chicago catalog houses by the whole
people of Iowa, 100000 flow monthly
from this state into the Golfers of OUT
side firms whose only interest or re-
sponsibilities toward it's upbuildins
and support seem to consist in getting
it's money. The amount for a year is
a question of simple multiplication.
Twelve times 100000 equals s7,44O,O0o.
Perhaps these figures are too low,
but the report of +. p. Coyne, post
master of Chicago, showing the effect
of the mail order business upon Chi
cago's postoffice corroboraftes them In
directly. when the money order de-
partment reports $4,000 transactions a
day. the postmaster knows that the
languor of summer has struck Ch1ca-
COS business; but when the transac-
tions approach 10000, Chicago houses
take $25O,oOo day out Of the postoffice
cash drawer, the postmaster knows
that Santa Claus is stocking up for
Christmas 1t is claimed by one Of
the big mail order houses that their
clerks were twenty-one days behind In
opening letters during last holiday
time.
The money order business of the
Chicago postoffice for 1902, made
showing of 6,52S,692 transactions, a.
mounting to $11O, ,544.5O; while the
year 1903 made a showing Of 1882, 29o
transactions amounting to $135,Oo9,-
42O.97, an increase in transactions OF
1,30S,59S, amounting to $24,44S,S76.47.
Thursday, the 18th day of April, 1904,
was the banner day, with 54,095 trans
actions, amounting to $1,323, 66ll6, ana
it is safe to say that no other office has
ever approached, it. And most of this
went to the catalog houses.
To be sure every man with the
money in his hand has the right to
say whether and where he shall spend
it. but a glance at these figures fol-
lowed by a period of honest reflection
should set the patron Of the outside
stores asking himself questions. 1t is
easy to send money away from home
but it comes back slowly. 1t is ques-
ton whether single millionaire in
Chicago is worth as much to the Iowa
and contented merchants who pay taxes
in support of Iowa institutions and
do their part toward making Iowa the
best state to live in. A number of
these merchants have told the T.-R.
that quality considered they are ready
to duplicate catalog goods for cash at
catalog prices. The T.-R. believes
them and believes also that Iowa men
should have the first bid on Iowa trade.
Seven millions sent out of the state in
a twelve month is a serious deficit if
they may be kept at home. 1t is a
patriotic duty to buy at home what
ever may be purchased at compara-
lively reasonable prices, and it is to
the interest of every citizen to do his
part to save these seven millions to
the state if he can doeo without SER