The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-07-28


project of taking full charge of the
business of a whole town.
Every enterprise in Dexter, Iowa, is
under the direction, is being run ac-
cording to his ideas and the systems
he has installed, and he is entirely
responsible for success or failure.
The task Mr.. Pilkington has as
sumed is perhaps without parallel in
the business history of this country
succeeds its adoption is certain in
other communities.
Mr.. Pilkington starts out with the
idea that the application of city meth
DDS is what Is needed to stimulate the
business of a country town. He is
the editor of the Merchants Trade
journal and his headquarters are at
Des Moines.
For seven months he will be the
power back of the throne which will
dictate every business move that is
made in Dexter, and if at the end of
that time progress has not been shown
it will be an end of the experiment.
But if there is a big gain it will be
up to the town to go ahead on the
same lines.
In Dexter Mr.. Pilkington is repre-
men together control all the banks
and business houses. They spend the
money, formulate policies, superintend
the buying, authorize retrenchment in
some departments and expansion in
others, place the advertising, regulate
the employment of help. fix salaries
and in general show what ought to be
done to boost the town.
Successful So Far.
Mr.. Pilkington has been in COM
mand for nearly two months and the
early stages of the experiment indi-
cate possibility of big returns for the
courageous act on the part Of Dexter's
commercial leaders in being willing to
attempt a plan SO unusual.
In the five menths yet to intervene
before the contract is finished, Mr..
Pilkington hopes to increase the sales
of the various enterprises SO that the
profits will be doubled.
Thirteen business men, representing
all the stores in the town, and two
banks. agreed to place their business
under the direct supervision of Pix
ington and to abide by his decision
and his judgment in business matters,
They are:
G. A. Blohm, groceries and meats;
Crane & Son, general merchandise; j.
G. Stanley, druggist; F. H. Nolte, jew
eler and optician; ]. w. Bryant, har-
ness dealer; J. M. Besig, harness
dealer; F. C. Downey, general mer-
tician: C. r. Hunter, furniture and
funeral supplies; A. G. Bryan, novelty
and racket store; Harry E. Palmer,
hardware; f. B. Phole. druggist; Dex-
ter Savings bank and State Bank Of
Dexter.
Mr.. Pilkington is now putting into
practice an experiment that he has
long had in contem plation, and has
believed would be the solution of the
problem Of giving the country town
its proper business dues.
1t is an undOubted fact that there
are many minor towns in the country
which had all the natural advantages
of raw material and fuel, as we'll as
convenient railroad facilities. All that
has been needed is means of getting
their facilities before the world
The merchant in the big cities has at
his command all the modern organiza-
ton of business. The merchant in the
country town is hampered by lack
Of it.
The Pilkington plan was simply -
transfer such an organization into a
small town, and put it at the disposal
of all the merchants, so that the result
should be decisive on large scale.
In his confidence that he had the
right idea. and the profits would war
rant his in making the effort, Mr..
Pilkington is taking all the risks. and
Is bearing all the expenses of the
test.
His main contention is that a store
with up-to-date methods and fair
dealing to it's customers ought to sue
coed anywhere.
Population of $50.
Dexter is small town, with a popu-
lation of $50. 1t is five miles from
Stuart and IA miles from Linden.
Owing to his inability to leave his
business in Des Moines Mr.. Pilkington
has placed Guy Q. Pogue in charge of
the stores. Immediately after taking
charge the same business methods
were introduced in every store and an
invoice of stock and open book ac-
counts We're turned over to Pogue,
with a statement of the receipts. ex-
penditures and profits for the same
seven months last year. Sales slips
were introduced into every house and
where they were not already in use
they were furnished free of charge.
Every business is conducted Just as
before. except that Pilkington and
Pogue dictate the policies and the
buying.
Every evening at o'clock Pogue
goes to each store and collects the
sales slips. showing the business for
the day.
He takes these to his office. where