The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-06-22
F|GGER|N' FARMERS

A railroad lawyer buying a right
of-Way for his line through a North
Texas county d few years ago start
ed out on his trip with a big Walle
stuffed full of bills Of small denomi-
nation. 1t was his habit to approach
farmer through whose land he
wanted a right Of-Way, hold a deco
out in one hand and a roll of bills in
the other and offer TO close the dea1
at once.
His estimation Of human nature as
found In the country, was that tc
hold a handful of bills in front of a
farmers eyes was more eloquent
tran any other kind of conversation.
The farmer could count the bills af-
ter the lawyer had obtained the sig
nature and was On his way.
The railroad man found the plan
a success, with some exceptions.
Whenever he encountered a farmer
who would pull out a stub lead pen
Gil and an account book and begin
asking questions as to how and why
and what for the smooth right-of-
way man would brace himself for a
real augment and would never try
the simple trick of bill flashing The
stub lead pencil told him palmer
than words that he had run up
against a 'fisgerin farmer and that
he would have to pay for the right
Of-Way privilege what that privilege
was really worth.
It is 3 fact that every kind of bust
ness man. no matter what his call
ing, has a wholesome respect for the
farmer who figures. He knows that
such a farmer is one who estimates
expenses, as we'll as profit. who sees
in his fields the cost of ploWing as
we'll as the price he is is going to get
for his crops after they are made.
Did you ever know figuring
f8rnfer to so bankrupt? Doubtless
some have, out although there are
exceptions to every rule such an oc-
currence is rare. The man who puts
down in a little book his outlays and
incomes and who strikes off some
kind of a balance al the end Of the
year is the man who slowly but sure
ly forges his way ahead. gets past
the stage Of being somebody's hired
man, gets to be a renter, gets to
where his credit is good enough for
him to buy little piece of land on
time, gets to where the land is paid
for, bes ms to get a bank account and
usually finds himself in old age en-
jOying the fruits of his life's labOrs
and the respect and confidence Of his
Running a farm may be a science
as the book farm erS tell US. but The
has whole lot more
confidence in the farmer who doesn't
know the science of it. but who
knows how to keep record of his
expenses and income, than it has in
the college graduate who knows all
q bout the science but can't figure
the interest on a ninetv-day note.
The farm, first Of all, is a business
proposition. After that it may be
anything from a drudgery to a pas
time. depending upon how much
money the farmer gets out of it. He
won't get the money out Of it he
ought to get unless he is a figuring
farmer, SO it all comes back to the
first proposition.
Any man who can read can learn
arithmetic. There is no use sitting
down and saying u havn't time to
study" Many a man has gotten
an education between the plow han |
dies or at a work bench. Until
\ farmer has gotten to the stage
where he can take lead pencil and
q piece of paper and tell whether his
farm is making him money or not,
there isn't much wonder that such !
farmer will be the prey to the de-
vices of designing people who want
to run his business for him.
Give the South more hgurln |
farmers and the result will be re-
prosperity more comfort in the
comfort because OF their toll.
The farmer is business man. IL
he doesn't realize il himself and take
advantage Of it, it's his own fault
We need more figurers.
Co-ODerator.
If man wants q hard job. let him |