davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20
NAIL ORDER BUSINESS.
ENORMOUS STRUCTURES 10 BE
ERECTED BY MONTGOMERY
WARD AND COMPANY AND
OTHERS.

Suggests Question Nissther Giant
Catalogue Houses are Benefif or
Detrlment 70 the Farmer and the
Country Generally.
Chicago is to have the greatest build
ing the world ever constructed forcom-
mercial purposes. IL will have a floor
space OF so acreB-a good sized farm.
II is to be 10 stories high, including the
basement, and were 1t TO be all
stretched out on one floor It would
cover 13 Of the big city blocks In the
windy city. It win be 900 feet In length
and 270 feet wide and win be built Of
steel and concrete. The cost win be
$2,5O0,0O0. The present building oc-
cupled by Montgomery Ward and Com
pany is a huge affair, but is stated to
be entirely inadequate to the needs Of
this enormous mail order house, and
so this new pile is to be constructed.
Il seems to be the time OF big COM
merlcal houses In the great eenters OF
the country. Another big firm is to
erect a building on Chicago avenue,
which will contain a million square
feet-2O0 feet by 500 feet; Sears, Roe
buck and Company Is q big Chicago
business rival Of the Montgomery Ward
firm, and has just also been incorpor-
ated to do business In New York, with
a capitalization OF $4,000 900, paying
the State incorporation tax of $4,000.
TO BIC PROUD OF.
These are fine projects, and at first
thought may make one proud OF Amer
lean business institutions, but what is
the real effect of the success OF these
gigantic commercial houses upon the
countrys prosperity? How does their
business affect the country merchant,
the country banker, the country town
itself and in fact the country people
who are the patrons of the great mail
order houses. What creates the village,
the town, the thriving city? What
keeps it a live and busting center IA
ther than a dead congregation of few
houses with one or two miserable
stores? 1t Is the patronage and sup
port, is it not, of the surrounding coun-
try homes. Towns are butt up only
when they have support from an agri-
cultural territory, If agriculture is the
surrounding industry, which is the
case in nine out of ten instances But
conversely, the richness Of the soil
alone does not make the most valuable
farms.
THE MARKET FOR PRODUCTS.
There must be good market for the
farm product; if the farm is adjacent
to a live growing town supporting &C
tive and well-to-do-people, the market
for the farmers products will be ac'
tive and the prices good. II the town
be a dead one, he viii have to turn
elsewhere to dispose Of his products
and perhaps incur heavy transporta
ton charges in their shipment. This
fact is set forth Enthusiastically in the
last census figures which show that II
a small area of te United States, the
regions where factories abOund,-a dis
trict comprising but little over 10 pei
cent Of the United States--the value
of the farm lands Is over half that o
all of the arabic land in the entire
country. The farms in these regions
are located close to the factories
which afford a profitable home marke
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20

In the course Of ten years, thismeans
one and one-half million dollars. Aver
aging the profit on this amount at
twenty per cent, it means nat in ten
years tlme three hundred thousand
dollars profits are taken from the town.
Now, on the other hand, should the
farmer, instead of sending away his
money to the foreign place for goods
he requires, give all his trade to the
home town, its business would be inn
mediately doubled, and with twice the
employment for the people. Year af-
ter year, the profits made by the mer-
chants would be retained in the town,
would seek investment in starting new
industries, and at the end of the ten
year period, instead Of a town Of one
thousand, there would be lively city
of from two to three thousand, and
every acre of farm land within the
trade radius of the town would be en-
HANGED in value from ten to twenty
dollars.
ENRICHING THE BIG CITIES.
It can be plainly figured out that the
individual farmer who would divert
half his trade to Chicago, New York or
some other foreign city, in the course
of ten years would send away three
thousand dollars. If it we're possible
that he could save ten per cent on this
amount. in ten years. time he would
save three hundred dollars. His only
compensation would be a dead home
town, poor schools, poor home mar
ket, and no increase in the value of his
real-estate holdings.
On the other hand, by giving his
patronage to the home town, even
though he must pay the merchant ten
per cent more than the foreign house,
the result would be like this: On &C
count of increase in farm values, one
hundred and sixty acres of land worth
ten dollars more per acre, sixteen hun
bred dollars; or, thirteen hundred dol
lars better off in ten years than if he
gave half his patronage to the foreign
concern. His home town is lively
one, all public improvements, all mod
ern conveniences, high schools, to
which he could send his children
cheaply, good churches, good roads
and everything that can add to the com
fort and happiness of its residents
and those who reside near It. Not
withstanding, that the farmers land Is
enhanced in value, his taxation will be
] but little greater, as the business inter
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20

ests Of the town win pay the burden
OF taxation, and the amount of each
taxpayer will be less in proportion 10
carry on government
Is THE SAVING A REAL ONE?
While the country household. IN
looking over one Of the big catalogues
and sending an order for $50 worth OF
goods, may be able 10 figure out an
immediate saving Of FIVE or six dollars.
even after they have paid the freight,
there Is no question as to the final out.
come. II the practice Is persisted IN by
all the people OF any particular local.
fly The home town will suffer. the
home market will fan 10 increase, II
Il does not decrease. as win also the
value OF the farm lands. Undoubtedly
the catalogue houses. can sell goods
cheaper than the average country
store, for they do a cash business
you send on your cash with yorr
order. There Is no risk In the cata-
logue or mail order house business.
Possibly II you arranged TO do business
on the same basis with your country
merchant-cash down with your pur,
chase-you could get almost as favor
able prices. But the country merchant
Is supposed to extend credit TO every
one; he has bad bills which Le never
collects and consequently must make
q greater percentage Of profit on the
things he sells.
Every community which is imbued
with the spirit Of building up its own
industries and Of supporting It's home
town with local pride, is sure TO be the
most prosperous; there can be no gain
saying this fact.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20

greatest good for the greatest number,
the farms Of each agricultural area
surrounding q town should support
that town TO their uttermost.
KEEP THE MONEY AT HOME.
Every dollar that the farmer spends
in the town indirectly comes back to
him IN the way Of benefits. The town
grows, II supports better stores, more
churches, better schools to which he
can send his children, furnishes bet
ter near-at-hand markets for his prod
ucts, and finally increases the very
value OF his farm land. AS a good IL
lustration, the Dry Goods Reporter as
sumes that such an agricultural town
has q population of 1000, its support
coming from the country tributary to
It The life OF the town is its retail
trade. If It secures the entire purchas-
ing business OF the farmers, it must of
necessity grow rapidly. But Mont
gomery Ward and Co, Sears, Roebuck
and Co., and others OF the enormous
mail order houses send out their great
four or FIVE pound catalogues describ-
ing everything under the sun. Suppose
that instead OF spending his $500 a
year In his home town, each farmer in
the community diyerts so per cent of
his trade from his town and sends $500
a year to the catalogue houses; 1t
means that half of the business Of the
town Is gone. On the basis Of one hun
dred or one hundred and fifty square
miles OF territory to support the town,
it can be estimated that there are five
hundred farmers in the district. Three
hundred dollars a year in trade from
each Of the farmers means that one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars
annually is taken from the home town.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20
GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH MOTHER EARTH

taking effort and constant care from
a boy of this age; encourage it but do
not compel it.
He can be taught by example all Of
the needs of plant growth but his hoe
ing and wedding may be superficial.
If you ask him he will allow you to dig
in his garden to loosen the soil deeper
than his strength permits. 1t is wise
to do this for there must be carrots
and cabbage to harvest or there will
be no play ground here next year.
If the boy of five has been allowed
the run OF a garden, if at eight he has
a garden of his own, at ten he will love
gardening and will have absorbed an
amazing store of knowledge, and to
him may be impaired at this age in a
way and manner that will awaken the
the purest and best that is in him, the
mystery of life.
A pumpkin plant on compost heap,
sending its vigorous shoots over the
weeds, climbing where it cannot creep,
TRUSTING it's snake like head through
the garden fence, is thing of wonder
to boy If he is but taught to see it,
and when its great golden blossoms
appear there is a still greater wonder
unfolded.
Boys Of twelve and fourteen may de-
sert the garden for the ball field or the
fishing rod, and it is well they should
for the serious time of life is coming
soon and play days should be as many
and long as school and home duties
will permit. But garden for boy at
this age may be a greater factor in his
training for life than at any other, for
by this time the "root of all evil" has
entered his soul; he has learned that
money is essential in order to procure
the many things boy must have, and
the garden, which to this time has
been a recreation field, place of won.
derful possibilities in the way of good
things to eat and pumpkins for jack-o'.
lanterns, may be q most fertile field
of revenue.
Whatever the crop the proceeds
should be wholly his own, If he has
produced the crop wholly by his own
efforts. There is but one way that he
can learn the value of money and that
is by earning it. The wise use Of
money must also be learned but that
is outside the sphere of gardening.
From address of Prof. Cranefeld,
Wise. Agr. College
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20
THE HONE GARDEN
The Story Of the Boy and His Little
Plot Of Ground

The Story Of the Boy and His Little
Plot Of Ground
At the age Of FIVE every boy is by
instinct a gardener. II guided by OPP
portunity, example and intelligent d.
rection he viii dig, plant and develop
an interest in growing things; lacking
these the call Of mother nature leads
to mud pies. Given a square yard OF
mellow ground, tiny hoe and a hand
full of beans, a healthy i've year-old
boy viii have a combination that ex-
cells anything yet designed in mature
study"
From i've to ten the world begins to
dawn. He looks up and out; he sees
and initiates, but does not reason. He
should play without hindrance. II the
square yard Of ground be enlarged to
a rod, the handful Of bechs to a collec-
tion OF seeds 1.-THE kinds for sale in the
grocery stores are best as these have
brilliantly colored pictures on the pack
ages and the boy learns thereby what
manner OF a thing he is to expect), this
square rod win be the play ground to
a surprising extent.
He may not plant the kinds you ex,
pect or want him to plant, as his view
point is different from yours. It Is un-
wise to insist on any given plan. Let
this garden be his own. II 1t has been
entirely to carrots or cabbage let it re
main carrots and cabbage, for they are
moro IN him than vnf1r nhOiea variety
1t is unwise to expect careful pains
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20
THE COMING People.

"Outward changes, economical and
political, more or less marked, are
always going on in the forms and or
CARNATIONS Of society. But to-day one
can make a specially strong argument
that great and radical changes are inn
pending. No one can believe that
existing conditions will continue in a
world where all things move and
change. Waste, extravaganza, political
corruption, fierce mercantile rivalries,
colossal monopolization Of wealth and
of the industrial plants Of the world,
masses Of dreary poverty, -these are
natural subjects for profound, patri-
otto and humane concern. Is not the
old social and industrial machinery,
the competitive or wage system, show
ing signs of breaking down beneath
its load?
'The question is quite fair whether
any system is just that permits indi-
viduals to roll up immense fortunes as
the result Of lucky speculations, or Of
the rise of land values about great
city, that permits other individuals to
inherit almost unlimited money power,
as men once inherited duchies and
kingdoms, while millions of working
men, with small wages, live close to
the danger line Of debt, or even Of cold
and starvation, and are liable to be
thrown out of employment for months
at time.
"When in the face Of natural wealth,
never so abundant, and forces Of pro-
duction augmented indefinitely by
science and invention, so many almost
fail to reap any benefit from the re-
sources which surely belong to the
race, it must at least be confessed that
our present system, both Of production
and Of distribution, is not intelIigently
or humanely managed. Its results do
not represent an ideal democracy, a
brotherhood of man."-F'rom '1The
Coming People, by Chas. B. Dole.
1t beho0ves everyone who has eyes
to see and ears to hear and brain
with which to think to study the ire
mendous social problems with which
we are face to face to-day.
Whether they are settled right or
wrong will affect every member of the
community. No one can escape the
evils that will result from a wrong
settlement and everyone will be bene-
fitted by & right settlement.
Nothing is more important than that
we should get started right. There is
guidance and inspiration in every line
Of "THE COMING PEOPLE" by
Chas. r. Dole.
In order to bring this book within
the reach Of all, popular edition has
Just been issued by the Homecrofters
Gid Of the Talisman which can be had
for % cents, postage included. Remit
by postal money order, express money
order or postage stamps to "THB
HOMECROFTERs, AS Main St.,
WATERFOWL, Mass"
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20

for all the agricultural products. So
that the greatest factor in land value
is the nearness to good markets. 1t
becomes plain, therefore, that the bet
ter the home town can be made, the
more valuable is the farm land tribu-
tary to it. In the purely agricultural
sections, the average country town is
located in the center Of from rs to $50
square miles of territory; that is the
town is supported by the trade result
ing from that area of farms. Accord
ing to federal statistics the average
farmer spends $627 year for supplies
Clothing for his family, household
utensils, food that he does not grow
himself, farm implements, etc.
Now it must be evident that If plan
were to be followed looking to the
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20

"The slums and tenements OF the
great cities are social dynamite, GER
tain to explode sooner or later. The
only safeguard against such dangers
Is to plant the multiplying millions of
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20

our fast increasing population in In
dividual homes on the land-home-
crofts, however small, owned by the
occupant where every worker and his
family can enjoy individual Industrial
independence" George II. Maxwell.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20

Of IL
wi
minging La the
nsana as Fingers
Ike
million gathered IN place Ike stand
ven fact that the cities
tion of local infereaa.
Locales
With
and
and the utfynE private
merchants receiving
by
his POSSIBLE
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20

"Ts threshold family
n and
l. and
A eEhauHA"-Hegry ~.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20
CONTROL AND USE OF rHH
GRAZING LANDS.

s. That all INDICATED public lands
not otherwise reserved shall be re-
served from location or entry under
any law except the Homestead Law,
and shall be embraced In Grazing Re
serves under the control of the Secre-
tary OF Agriculture, who shall be en-
powered to issue annual Licenses to
Craze stock In said Grazing Reserves,
but such licenses shall never be issued
for a longer period than one year on
agricultural lands or FIVE years on
grazing lands, and all lands classified
as grazing lands shall be subject to
Redistribution at the end Of every FIVE
years; that no leases of the public
grazing lands shall ever be made by
the National Government, and that
the area of the homestead entry shall
never under any circumstances be en-
larged to exceed 100 acres.
RESERVE STATE LANDS FOR
HOMESTEAD SETTLERS.
9. That the public land states shall
administer the state lands under a
system similar to and In harmony
with the national public land system
above outlined, and that each state
shall enact a State Homestead Law
for the settlement Of lands owned by
the state, and that state lands shall
be disposed Of only to actual settlers
under such law, and that all state
lands shall at all times remain open
to Homestead Entry.
UNITED OWNERSHIP OF LAND
AND WATER.
10. That it shall be the law Of every
state and of the United States, that
beneficial use Is the basis, the meas
ure, and the limit Of all rights to
water, including riparian rightr, and
that the right to the use Of water for
irrigation shall inhere in and be APP
purtenant to the land irrigated, so that
the ownership Of the land and the
water shall be united, and no right to
water as a speculative commodity
ever be acquired, held or owned.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20
EDUCATION u I'll H0NECR0FTS /
OPPORTUNITY IEH COOPERATION /

THE FIRST BOOK 1 q. HOMECROFTERS
HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED AND AMONG ITS CONTENTS ARE
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES OF ABSORBING INTEREST
The Brotherhood of Man
Charity that Is Everlasting
The Secret of NippOns poDeF
Lesson OF a Great Calamity
The Sign Of Thought
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20
PLANT FORESTS AND CREATE
FOREST PLANTATIONS.

Z. That the Timber and Stone Law
shall be repealed, and that all pub
lie timber lands shall be included II
permanent Forest Reserves, the title
to the land to be forever retained by
the National Government, stumpage
only Of matured timber to be sold
and young timber to be preserved for
future cutting, so that the forests will
be perpetuated by right use; and
that the National Government shall
by the reservation or purchase Of ex-
listing forest lands, and the planting
Of new forests, create In every state
National Forest Plantations from
which, through all the years to come,
a sufficient supply Of wood and timber
can be annually harvested to supply
the needs OF the people OF each state
from he Forest Plantations In that
state.
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20
BE A HOMECROFTER
Learn by Doing Work Together.
Give every Man Chance.
THE SLOGAN on THE HoMEcRoPTERs IS

Every Child IN Garien-BVery Mother
PfdGa, Industrial Independence for Every Worker
Home Of on the Land"
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20

"A little croft We owned plot Of corn,
A gFdsn stored With PEAS ard mint ana thyme.
And flowers iof poziez, of on Sunday NOM
Piucksd Wills the church bells rang their earliest chi
Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-07-20

lands rsalnimsa. a. rcqulred 81 Abe
National Irrigation Act
SAVE THE PUBLIC LANDS LOB
HoMEMAKERS.
Q. That not another acre Of the putS
lie lands shall ever hereafter be
granted to any state or territory for
any purpose whatsoever, or to-any one
other than an actual settler who has
built his home on the land and lived
on It for Ave years and that no more
land scrip OF any kind shall ever be
issued, and that the Desert Land Law
and the Communication Clause OF the
Homestead Law shall be made to con-
form 10 the recommendations OF the
Public Lands Commission appointed
by President Roosevelt ane OF the
Message OF the President to Congress.
The Washington times., 1906-10-02

those of only fifteen years ago, to
further compHcate the situation.
Dartmouth's experience is being
matched, in kind, all through the
small colleges of the East. Every
one of them is growing handsomely,
and the sign is an excellent one. 1t
shows that the college training is
much more general than a genera
ton or two ago, and that the value
of the small college as a peculiarly
powerful factor in the making OF
a man is more thoroughly recog-
nized.
These minor institutions are now
almost without exception growing
at a more rapid proportional rate
than the larger institutions, and the
day is not far distant when some
of them viii "catch up" not only
in numbers but in all the other es-
sentials that make a college strong.
There is room enough and glory
enough for them all.
The Washington times., 1906-10-02

II IS not going beyond the bounds OF
moderation TO say that last nights per
formance of "Cymbeline" at the Ma
tionaI is the most artistic Sha-oes-
pearean revival that present-day the
atergoers have seen; It IS not overpraise
OF an actress to say that Viola Allen s
Imogen is by far the best the modern
stage has known.
There have been few serious pTesenta-
tlons OF the play within the recollection
OF even the Oldest followers Of Shakes
nearean revivals. Nearly ten years have
nassed since the country saw Margaret
Mather's Imogen, and the famous
twenty thousand dollar production"
that surrounded her. Miss Aliens por-
travail OF Imogen is so immeasurably
better that a comparison is not to be
considered: the new "Cymbeline" sur
passes the other in every detail Of stage
art.
I cannot recall another occasion where
an audience has apDlauded "a drop.
yet twice last night enthusiastic recogni-
ton of scenic beauty was manifested at
the elaborate mountngs prepared for
two scenes that are mere episodes IN the
play This determination 20 slight no
detail is manifest in every act and
scene. Each stage picture presented is
worthy Of separate mention. The strik-
ing contrast between the rugged
grandeur of the British forests and the
beautiful bright ooloring of the italian
gardens gives one an even stronger ap-
probation of the beauty Of each. The
first scene Of the play shows Cymbe-
lines palace. The audience sees only
the crude stOne construction OF the
period which IS reproduced and the dark
forest beyond. The scene would be
sombcr were it not for the ~-'nr intro
duced by a profusion of wild flowers
Then comes the beautiful blue skies and
almost barbaric splendor of beauty WoF-
Shipping Rome. Philario's house IS
shown. and here again one sees the IueI-
ity to minute details. Even the tapie
ornaments are historically accurate.
Although Miss Allen. her father ana
her brothers have been indefatigabie
workers in this notable stage produc-
tion. and deserve large need or praise
for its success, It is Frank Vernon who
scores the greatest single triumph MS
hand is apparent in many scarcely no
ticeable bits of stage craft that add to
the scenic illusions His unerrlng good
taste is shown In scenes where he must
have been tempted strongly TO over
paint the picture, yet refrained. although