The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1914-12-25
GERMAN FARMER HAS DISCOVER
ED.

Hans Garbus, a German farmer OF
Iowa, has discovered the benefits
which appear on the surface a. attach
ing to mail order plan some times
spell disaster and has written very
interesting story Of his views in a
certain farm paper Here i part Of
his story:
I'VE farmers need awakening 70 the
fact that we have Enthusiastically reach
ed the period where We must think
and plan. I am one of the slow Ger
man farmers that had to be shown,
and I am now giving my experience
that others may profit, for knowledge
is more expensive now than ten years
ago.
Twenty-Five 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 cretonne by my
girl WIFE We rented eighty acres.
Being a boy Of good habits 1 got all
needed machinery and groceries Of our
home merchants on credit, until fall
crops were sold. The first year was a
wet season and did not make enough
to pay creditors. | went to each on
date of promise and explained condi-
lions, paying as much as possible, and
they all carried the balance over an
other year. They continued to &C
commodate me until I was able to buy
a forty-acre piece of my own.
las soon as I owned these few
acres the mail order houses began
sending me catalogues, and gradually
Y began sending my loose change to
Them letting my accounts stand in my
home town where ! had gotten my &C
commodations when | needed them.
we then had one of the thriftiest
little villages in the state-good line
OF business in all branches, merchants
who were willing to help an honest
fellow over a bad year, and a town
full of people who came twice week
to trade or on visit. Our little coun-
try town supported library, high
school, ball team, and we had big
celebrations every year
"A farm near a live town soon
doubles in value. I sold my forty
acres at big advance and bought an
eighty, gradually adding to it until
had 200 acres on the best land in Iowa
| then felt no need of asking favors,
and found il easy to patroniZe the
mail order agents that came almost
weekly to our door. I regret to say
that | was the first in the county to
make up a neighborhood bill and
send it to mail order house. Though
we got bit every once in a 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 a 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 ap-
preciated, and men of less energy
moved in. Gradually our town has
gone down; our business houses are
tacky' In appearance, a 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. Go
down to the depot when the freight
pulls In and YOU will see the sequel In
mail order packages.
Nine years ago nv farm was worth
s125 an acre; today I'd have a hard
matter to sell it at s167 an acre. 'It Is
too far from a live town-so every
farmer has said that wants to buy.
He wants place near schools and
churches. where his children can have
advantages. 7 have awakened to the
fact that in helping to dull the town
down it has cost me $500 in nine
wears"