The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-11-02
CENESEO'SNOVEL
home TRADE PLAN
Bringing People to Town Was
the Object Sought.
HOW THE METHOD WORKED.

Local Interest In Business Stimulated
by Monthly Public Auotions-Special al
Attractions offered to Farming Folk.
Cost to Each Merchant Small.
The life of Geneseo Is much like
that of other small western New York
towns, and 1t was decided to soc II
something could be done to develop
more local interest In trade. A num-
Der Of the merchants Of Geneseo de-
cided 30 combine aud form a business
mems association to advertise the
town and help the community, says
the New England Homestead
A large number of the men decided
that the thing to do was to arrange
some method for bringing the people
to town. 1t was decided, therefore, to
try holding a free auction each month
Any farmer could send in anything be
desired to sell and the business men
would advertise Il, catalogue 1t, pay
for an aucdoneer to sell 1t and turn
over the proceeds without any expense
to the farmer.
At this tme the dtffer>eat merchants
arranged special pricos on certain
HINES of soods-thns: &owoA oa.kns Of
soap for &S eeas o. Reneeesa pounds
OF sugar fSr 81. OAe emterprlatns
tswessr on tise arst pab4s auction day
sold 800 solid silver thinbIes at IT
sents Zach.
ers busT-horSes, cows, tscas and fAxn
products attracted several hundred
men. People who would not come to
town fer any reason came on market
day, ana those who did not como to
purchase came 10 discuss things and
SOC what was going on.
The first market day was a decided
success. The cost to the merchants
was made up by 4 levy Of 81 each on
the members OF the association. 1t has
since been decided that they win con-
tribute 81 each month and try the sys-
tenn for a year. The seoond auction
was hold under unfa favorshle climatic
conditions, but was eItremaly profit
able to the merchants, and some Sc, 900
worth Of farm stock was sold, nearly
double that sold at the nrst auction.
At the third auction It was decided
to add a new feature. Three weeks
before the event notice was sent TO all
the county papers that q seed 6istri-
button bureau would be asta blished by
the association. A committee outlined
the following plan: All farmers having
farm seeds for sale anywhere in the
vicinity were invited to send samples
with the amounts they wished to sell
and the price. In tho ease of seed
corn they could bring ten ears or half
a peck shelled, half a peck of oats or
beans and ten potatoes; also samples
Of grass, clovers and alfalfa seeds.
First, second and third prize cards
were awarded in each class, the judg-
ing being done by DR.. Gilbert of the
State College of Agriculture at ithaca.
The fact of placing samples in eompe-
tition added interest
Since the auction was not to be until
after dinner the morning was devoted
to an institute, DIR. Gilbert giving an
address on the Importance of good
seed. This allowed time to discuss
the samples shown and to give In de-
tail methods for their improvement.
The exhibit and address were held In
the village hall. On a bulletin board
were posted the names Of all people
having produce to sell and of any per-
son who wanted to buy, and the COM
mittee sought to bring the parties to-
gether
In order that the farmers might SEQ
whether their soil conditions were
similar a soil map of Livingston coun-
ty was hung in the room, an advance
copy having just been received from
the United States department of agri-
cultura