Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1911-07-01
PATR0NlzE HOME MERCHANT
A Word Picture From a Farmers
Viewpoint.

| sASWtS"
The CHRONICLE has time and again
published articles and short paragraphs
urging its readers to patronize the home
merchant in preference to the mail
order houses. A few days ago Uncle
George heard Of an incident that forms
the base for good talkfest on that sub
ject-from a farmers viewpoint.
A gentleman, who for short, we will
term John Haysesd, was for number
of years commercial traveller and is as
familiar with this western country as
every reader Of the CHRONICLE is with
the path that leads from his own door
step to the post-ofice. Some four or
Eve years ago Mr.. Hayseed's health be-
gan to fail. In looking around for a
healthy place to reside he found ranch
that appeared to him an ideal location
in an adjoining county, Is or 20 miles
from Custer. He bought the ranch, gave
up his position, sent to an adjoining
State for his family and was soon DOM
iciled thereon. Since living on the
ranch his health has improved and this
climate Just suits him. His family are
delighted with their surroundings-but
that's another story.
The wagon road to Custer being in
better condition than roads 10 other
nearby stations, he made Custer his
trading point-believing in the policy
Of pstronizing home merchants. Dur
ing the few years the family have been
on the ranch he has spent for farm ma
chinery and necessary family supplies,
$4,000; almost every dollar going into
the Golfers of our home merchants.
One day this week when ready to
come to town for supplies, his wife sug-
gested he bring few pounds Of butter
with him to exchange for groceries, as
they had surplus on hand.
Can you imagine his surprise when
Mr.. Merchant informed him they didn't
buy country butter. 1t certainly Jared
his equilibrium. He then tried another
merchant who at first demurred, but
after friendly discussion pro and con
about patronizing the home merchant,
Second Merchant took Hayseed's prod
uct to save him carrying it home again.
It would have been money in either
merchants pocket In the future to have
paid Hayseed cash price for his butter,
even had they thrown the product out
doors as soon as he left the store.
We all know that sometimes butter
brought to market commercially Is not
worth cent and may not be fit for axle
grease, yet as a trade holder it would be
worth some price. However, in this in.
stance, the product was prime article,
for your Uncle George knows the party
that made it and can vouch for its being
cleanly and of first quality. Mrs. Hay
seed coming, as she did, from a State
noted for its dairy products, would send
nothing but the best to market.
Another instance. A short time ago
he desired to buy canned goods by the
case but could not get even sc reduction
from the price quoted per single can.
Hayseed was in the canning business
himself several years and was as we'll
aware as the merchant, that a small re-
duction by case could be made with
profit, and hold the goodwill of the
consumer.
Is it any wonder that thousands Of
dollars is sent to the mail order houses
from this station every year, that ought
to be spent at home.
What is the sequel OF this transac-
ton? Hereafter Mr.. Hayseed will take
his produce elsewhere and exchange for
groceries, even though the road to the
next railroad station be rougher one
than the road to Custer and the distance
five or six miles more. When Mr.. Hay
seed is compelled to spend the whole day
shopping an additional 10 miles travel is
matter of little consequence to him.
For his canned goods he will send to
the mail order houses where he can buy
cheaper, instead of patronizing the
home merchant, as he has done in the
past. To use Hayseed's own language,
the country merchant must wake up and
take the farmers produce in exchange
for his commodities, and make some re-
ductions on large bills of shipping stuff,
or Mr.. Hayseed will seek other marts OF
trade. This is a phase the merchant
may not have heretofore thought Of, but
from trend of events it is a perplexing
problem liable to confront Mr.. Merchant
in the future.
| A few such transactions as above
noted, and the CHRoNICLE's raillery
against the mail order houses will have
no more effect upon its readers than q
dog barking at the moon in hailstorm.
|
Filings In Rapid City U. 8. Land Once.
Copied from Rapid City Journal.
Homestead
O263l3-Clara B. Marine, Folsom, nea
nwt WI net set net Sec. IA, T 3s, R l0e,
026334-William Nevin, Custer, metef
and bounds, Sec. 8, 7 As, R4.
026S35-Myrtle B. Scott, Custer, metes
and bounds, Secs. IA, Is. 2S, T 4s, R4.
026361-William D. Vestal, Custer,
metes and bounds, Secs. 6 and 2, T 3s,
r 4e.
Mineral Application
026370-We Westinghouse Electric Man.
ufacturing Co., by James w. Sweeney,
attorney, Custer, White Spar Mica and
White Spar Mica No. 2, Sec. "a, 3s,
R. 4e.
Isolated Tract
02635l-Clara B. Marine, Folsom, se3
q. ID ~