Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-12-04

s ~ - w.
Hans 0azhus, . German farmer of
love-, has discovered that the bene-
Cts which appear ON the surface rs
attaching to the mail order plan
sometimes spell disaster and has
written very interesting story of
his views in q certain farm paper.
Here IL Q part Of his story:
I'VE 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 ex-
perience that others may profit, for
knowledge is more expensive now
than ten years ago.
"Twenty-nine years ago ] began
my farm career. ] had an old team
and $50. Our furniture was mostly
home ade-chairs. cupboard and
lounge made from dry goods boxes.
neatly covered with ten cretonnc
by my girl wife. We rented eighty
acres. Being a boy Of good habits.
got all needed machinery and gro
ceries Of our home merchants on
credit, until fall crops were sold. The
first year was wet season and '
did not make enough to pay credi-
tors. I went to each on date Of prom
Use and explained conditions, paying
as much as possible. and they all ear
ried the balance over another year.
They continued To accommodate me
until was able to nby forty-acre
piece Of my own.
As soon as owned these few ac-
res the mail order houses began
sending me catalogs, and gradually ]
began sending my loose change to
the, letting my accounts stand in my
home town where ] had gotten my ac-
commodation when ] needed il.
I'VE then had one Of the thrifties'
little villages in the state-good line
Of business in all the branches. mer-
chants who were willing to help all
honest fellow over a bad year, and a
town full Of people who came twice
week 10 trade and visit. Our it'll"
country town supported library.
high school. band. ball team. and we
had big celebrations every year.
"a farm near live town soon dou-
HES in value. I sold my forty acres
nj n big advance and bought an
eighty. gradually adding to it until
had 200 acres Of the hest land in
Iowa. then felt no need Of asking
favors, and found il easy to patron
ize the mail order agents that came
almost weekly to our door. ] regret
70 say that I was the first in the
county to make mp n neighborhood
hin and send it to a mail order house.
Though we got bit every once in y
while. we got in the habit of send
ing away FOR stun.
"Gradually the merchants lessened
their stock Of goods-for lack 1T
patronage. Finally we began to real
ize that when We needed bolt Quick
" for machinery. or clothing for
sickness or death. we had to wait and
send away for it. which wasn't :"
pheasant. 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 ar"
facky' in appearance. number mr. :
cmptv. our schools. churches aud
walks are going down. we have -"
hand. no library nor ball team. There
i no business done in the town. ard
therefore. no taxes tn keen ihW.-
I'm. Hotel j. closed for lack ~ "" %
81. Go down to the d"po' when 'h'
train pulls in and you will see the
seoncl in mail order packages.
"Nine years ago my Farm wn"
worth 1895 an acre: today I'd ha'"
n hard time to sell il ut Sl6I an acre.
II is too far from live town."
every farmer has said that wants TO
bnv. Tie wants place near schools
and churches. where his children can
have advantages. have awakened
TO the fact that in helping to mil the
town down. il has cost me $4,000 in
nine years"