Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-06-30
LET US REASON TOGETHER.


senting as comprehensively as possibl
the innumerable benefits to be derive
from such procedure, but whether O
not its sermonizing on this theme ha
been productive of good, only thos
who traffic in commodities can def
nitely determine. The facts in tn
case are incontrovertable. Every dol
lar spent in Dallas comes back to hin
who lets go of it, either directly o
indirectly. The town grows, it sup
ports better stores, more churches
better schools to which he can senc
his children, furnishes better near-at
hand markets for his products, anC
finally increases the very value Of his
land. As good illustration, let lis
say that Dallas has a population OF
$500 and that the town s life depends
largely upon its retail trade. If it
secures the entire purchasing business
it must of necessity grow rapidly.
The enormous mail order houses send
out their great four or five-pound cat
alogues describing everything under
the sun. Suppose that instead of
spending, say 5000 a year in Dallas
each person in the community diverts
fifty per cent Of his trade from his
home town and sends 5000 year to
the catalogue houses, it means that
half of the business of the town is
gone
Suppose, for the sake of illustra-
ton, that there are $50 families in
Dallas. Three hundred dollars a year
in trade from each means that $685.
900 annually is taken from the home
town. In the course of ten years
this means $2,250,000. Averaging the
profit on this vast amount at twenty
per cent, it means that in a decade s
time $450,0O0 profits are sent to con-
Germs who have no interest whatever
in us or our town. Now, on the
other hand, should the 750 families
used as an illustration, instead of
sending their money to foreign places
for goods, give all the trade to Dal-
las its business would be Immediately
doubled, and with twice the employ
ment for people in the commercial
field. Year after year the profits
made by the merchants would be
retained in the town, would seek in
vestment in starting new industries
and at the end of the ten-year period
there would be a remarkable change
for the better and all lands would
be materially enhanced in value.
Calculating on the same basis, it
can be plainly figured out that the
individual farmer who would divert
his trade to some other foreign city
in the course of ten years would
send away $4,000. If it were pos
sible that he could save 10 per cent
on this amount, in ten years time
he would save 5000. His only com
pensation would be a poor home mar
ket and little increase in the value
of his real estate holdings. On the
other hand, by giving his patronage
to the home town, even though he
must pay the merchant 10 per cent
more than the foreign house, the re-
suit would be like this: On account
of increase in farm values 100 acres
of land worth so more per acre,
$1,000; or, $1,000 better off in ten
years than if he gave half his pat
ronage TO foreign concerns. His home
town is a lively one, all public i'm
provementS, all modern conveniences,
high schools TO which he could send
his children cheaply, good churches |
and everything that can add to the
comfort and happiness of its resi-
dents, and those who reside near it. |
Notwithstanding, that the farmers
land is enhanced in value. his taxation
will be but little greater, as the busi- |.
ness interests of the town will nav
the burden of taxation. and the
amount of each taxpayer will be less
IN proportion to carry on government. |
While the country household. in
looking over one of the big catalogues
and sending an order for $50 worth
of goods, may be able to figure out
an immediate. saving of s. or So. |
even after they have paid the freight. |
here is no question as to the final