Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-12-17
THE LOSING SIDE OF MAIL
ORDER.
How an Iowa Farmer Lost over $500.
Saved Money on One End But
Killed the Home Town and
Lost His Property Value
On the Other.

Hans Garbus, a German farmer OF
Iowa, has discovered that thdnenefts
which appear on the surface VAS at
taching to the mail order plan somex
times spell disaster and has written
a very interesting story of his views
in certain farm paper. Here is a
part of his story:
"We farmers need awakening to
the fact that we have Enthusiastically
reached the period where we must
think and plan. / am one of the slow
German farmers that had to be shown
and am now giving my experience
that others may profit, for knowledge
is more expensive than ten years ago.
"Twenty-nine years ago began my
farm career. | had an old team and
$50. Our furniture was mostly home
made-chairs, cupboard and lounge
made from dry goods boxes, neatly
covered with ten-cent cretenne by Eay
girl wife. We rented eighty acres.
Being boy of good habits / got all
needed machinery and groceries of
our home merchant on credit, until
fall crops were sold. The first year
was wet seaso and | did not make
enough to pay creditors. | went to
each on date of promise and explained
conditions, paying as much as pos-j
sible, and they all carried the balance
over another year. They continued
to accommodate me until | was able
to buy forty-acre piece of my own.
GAS soon as / owned these few
acres the mail order houses began
sending me catalogues, and gradually
| / began sending my loose change to
them, letting my accounts stand in
my home town where had gotten my
accommodation when l needed it
eve then had one of the thriftiest
q, little villages in the state-good line
of business in all the branches, mer-
chants who were willing to help an
honest fellow over bad year, and
town full of people who came twice
week to trade and visit. Our little
country town supported a library,
high school, ball team, and we had
big celebrations every year.
"a farm near live town doubles in
value. l sold my forty acres at
big advance and bought an eighty,
gradually adding to it until had
200 acres of the best land in Iowa. |
then felt no need of asking favors,
and found it easy to patronize the
mail order agents that came almost
weekly to our door. / regret to say
that I was the first in the country to
make up a neighborhood bill and send
| it to mail order house. Though we
got bit every once in while, we got
in the habit of sending away for stuff.
Gradually our merchants lessened
their stock of goods-for lack of pat
ronage. Finally we began to realize
that when we needed bolt quickly
for machinery, or clothing for sick
ness or death, we had to wait and
send away for it, which wasn't so
pleasant. One by one our merchants
moved to places where they were APP
preciated, and men of less energy
moved in. Gradually our town has
gone down; our business houses are
tacky' in appearance, number are
empty; our schools, churches and
walks are going down, we have no
band, no library nor ball team. There
is no business done in the town, and
therefore no taxes to keep things up.
Hotel is closed for lack of travel. 90
down to the depot when the freight
pulls in and you will see the sequel
in mail order packages.
Nine years ago my farm was
worth $195 an acre; today I'd have a
hard matter to sell it for $167 an acre.
1t is too far from live town'-so
every farmer has said that wants to
buy He wants place near schools
and churches, where his children can
have advantages. / have awakened
to the fact that in helping to pull the
town down, it has cost me $4,000 in
nine years"