Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1910-10-19
THE FARMER AND HIS AUTO.
One-Third of All Motor Cars in
Iowa, Typical Agricultural
State, Belong to Farmers.

banks in each of the ninety-nine
counties of the state shows that with
hardly an exception the farmers
who are buying automobiles are
prosperous and well able to make
the expenditure. Of eighty-one ma
tional banks Intercepted as to
whether or not they would hesitate
to loan money to a well-to-do farm
er, knowing that it was his inte1-
ton to purchase an automobile
seventy-two replied through their
cashiers or presidents that they
would not hesitate, while only three
of the number replied that they
would hesitate.
Early in the spring the Boston
News Bureau, financial paper, pub
lished the following statement:
Bankers of Kansas City and the
Southwest who are depndent on the
Kansas City banks, have agreed to
loan no money to anyone who in
tends to use it to buy a motor car.
Thirty-two million dollars was in
vested in automobiles in Kansas
last year. In one Kansas bank are
fifty-two real estate mortgages, the
money for which went for automo-
biles."
/ The publication aroused quite a
| furore in money and automobile
circles and was speedily contradict
ed in most emphatic terms by the
bankers of Kansas City and the
Southwest Many of these bankers
called attention to the fact that
while the farmer is buying the au-
tomobile in large numbers, he is
much better able financially to af-
| ford the investment and has much
more practical use to make of the
car than the city man. One promin-
ent Kansas City banker expressed
the situation aptly when he said ::
When the city man buys a car, he
sometimes has the cash to spend for
the luxury, but frequently he mort
cages his home. When the farmer
buys a car he almost invariably has
the ready money and pays cash.
Even in the few instances where he
buys on credit, the farmer does not
have TO worry, because his money is
growing up out of the ground. What
is luxury to the city man is prov
ing to be a necessity and a time and
money saver to the farmer"
In order to find out what the
situation was in Iowa, which is con-
sidered to be a typical agricultural
state, the Iowa Homestead address
ed inquiries to representative
national banks in each of the ninety
nine counties of the state, asking
candid and unbiased replies to the
following questions:
please give your estimate of the
number of automobiles now owned
| by farmers in your county" -.
What, in your opinion, was the
average cost of these machines?"
Apart from the pleasure deriv-
ed from an auto, does a farmer find
his machine of any substantial COM
mercial value to him? Would you
hesitate to loan money to well-to-
do farmer, knowing that it was his
intention to purchase an automo-
bile?"
Does the use of autos by farmers
in any way stimulate business in
your town.
Replies have been received from
/ practically every county. They
show an average of seventy-nine
cars to the county, a total of 1921
automobiles owned by farmers in
Iowa. The entire number owned in
the state the middle of September
was reported by the state auditor
to be approximately $4,000. so that
one-third of all of Iowa's automo-
biles are the property of farmers.
The replies show that the average
| fatin nf he Kill
owned by farmers is $1,000. The
number of farmers cars to the
county ranges from one-half dozen
to $50, while the cost ranges from
5000 to $3.50.
That Iowa bankers are not hest
tating to loan money to farmers fol-
the purpose of buying automobiles
but that they are not only willing
to make these loans but are solicit
ing such business is shown by the
replies of the national banks inter
rogated. One banker underlined
mo" to the question and then add
ed: 1--WE purchased several thousand
dollars worth of farmers automo-
bile paper over one year ago and
it was all paid before maturity
Another banker declared: I'VE have
extended many short time loans to
our farmer friends for the purpose
of buying automobiles and can use
more of the same class of paper at
the present"
The concensus of opinion is that
the automobile has a practical use
to the farmer as well as being a
vehicle for transportation and pleas
ure. The general verdict was that
the farmer found the car useful for
making hurried trips to and from
the city in case of sickness or acct
dent or when the necessity arose to
secure repair parts for broken ma
chinery which would otherwise de-
lay operations in the busiest season.
Many banks replied that the auto
mobile was prime factor in keep
ing the farmer in touch with the
town and city market and enabled
him to take advantage OF the rise in
prices when he had grain or produce
for sale, and the bargains offered on
sale days at the town and city
stores. One Iowa banker declared
that quite a number of farmers in
his vicinity are using their automo-
biles to take eggs and butter and
cream to market. The saving OF
time and of horse flesh Is comment
ed on by practically every banker.
The effect of the automobile In
enlarging the trade territory OF
towns and cities, and particularly of
the county seat towns, was pointed
1 La. M