American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-04-30

~ ~ sV'h'' h'ssoc
In this issue appears the annual statement of the
county auditor showing the financial condition of Power
County on the date of filing, March 31st, 1914, and cover
ing a period of about thirteen months dating from the
creation of the county. Those who are familiar with the
workings of county government will see at a glance that
the affairs of the county have been administered with
economy and, by comparison with other new counties,
with marked efficiency. The statement shows that the
total net debt of Power county March 3lst was $66, 52743,
but of this amount $4,000 is represented by bonds as
sumed from the old counties from which Power county
was created, so the net debt, incurred during the year
amounts to $8S1743, and against this amount should be
figured a credit for delinquent taxes and half year taxes
due the county of $11, 806S6. When this credit is given
the showing is that we have com out of the first year of
the county's history with a credit balance of S2989 43.
Besides this, during the past year expenses have been
incurred through the creation of a new county amount
ing to between 100000 and 100000, that will be wholly
eliminated in the future. Some of the larger of these
items of expense are represented in transcribing the
records, which cost upwards of 100000, new furniture,
fixtures and supplies, including typewriters, adding ma
chimes, Vaults, etc. cost the county over 81. 100000, and new
records, mostly used for the transcription of the records
of the old counties, cost at least $2,500O0. Taking
all these things into consideration, and making a COMPARE
son with any other county in the state, it must be admit
ted that the showing is a creditable one.
Instead of the regular article, number five of the "Sin-
ming Against Your Home Town" series, the space is Occu-
pied this week by a letter received at this office Wednes-
day. The letter is published for two reasons: First, it is
a concrete evidence that the subscribers of the Press are
GF|o W
the subject, and second, because from it our local mer-
chants may learn how the question is viewed by the aver
age Of their customers. The Press believes sincerely in
the trade at home" policy, but it must be admitted that
there are two sides to this question, as well as all others.
1t is a question that offers many perplexing problems, and
they will never be solved with justice to the home mer-
chant until the home merchant makes the same effort to
secure and to hold business that the mail order houses do
Whenever the local business man keeps as closely in touch
with his customers, and with prospective customers, as
does the mail order house, the question will solve itself and
the solution will be in favor Of the home man every time.
The mail order house doesn't send out a big catalogue to
John Smith at American Falls, and then go for the next
four or five years without making any further effort to
interest John Smith in their business. The big annual
catalogue is supplemented by numerous smaller ones, and
he is beseiged throughout the year with from letters and
all kinds of advertising matter. And the result usually is
that John Smith falls for the mail order house and sends
his money out of the country. The writer has faith in the
loyalty of the people and in their good judgment. He be-
lieves that any man would rather do his trading at home if
he can be shown shat he can buy his goods and wares as
cheaply as he can by sending to the city mail order house,
and furthermore, he believes that about ninety per cent of
the people are open to conviction on this subject. Even
though his home paper breaches continuously against the
practice of buying away from home, John Smith is very
apt to think that his business is of no very great impor-
lance to anyone if the home business man doesn't do a lit
tie preaching for himself.