Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-01-28
the LOSING SIDE OF
MAIL ORDER TRADING
iowa Farmer Lost Over SIS,
Saved Money on One End
But Lost on Other.

Hans Garbus, a German farmer of
Iowa, has discovered that the benefits
which appear on the surface as attach
ing to the mail order plan sometimes
spell disaster and has written a very
interesting story of his views in a GER
lain farm paper. Here is a part Of mis-
story.
I'VE farmers need awakening to the
fact that we have Enthusiastically
reached the period where we must
think and plan. l am n of the slow
farmers that had to be shown, and 1
am now giving my experience that 9th
ers may profit. for knowledge is more
expensive now tina 10 years ago.
Twenty-Five years ago I began my
Our furniture was mostly home made
chairs. cupboard and lounge made from
dry goods boxes. neatly covered with
Decent cretonne by my girl wife. We
rented so acres. Being a boy of good
habits / got all needed machinery and
groceries OF U home merchants on
credit, until fall crops We're sold. The
first year was a wet season and ] did
not make enough to pay creditors. I
went to each IN date OF promise and
explained conditions. paying as much
as possible, and they all carried the
balance over another rear. They con-
tinued to accommodate me until I was
49, " R1SNG " IL SWAi.
las soon as J. owned these few acres
the mail order houses began sending
me catalOgs, and gradually I began
sending my loose change to them, let
ting my accounts stand in my home
town where ! had gotten my accommo-
dalton when I needed it.
w then had one of the thriftiest
little villages in the ~state-good line OF
business In all the branches, merchants
who were willing to help an honest fell
low over a bad year, and a town full
OF people who came twice a week to
trade and visit. Our little country town
supported a library, high school, ball
team, and we had big celebrations ev-
cry year.
bles In value. 1 sold my 40 acres at q
bic advance and bought an 80. gradu-
ally adding to It until I had 200 acres Of
the best land in Iowa. ] then felt no
need Of asking fRvors, Inc found 1T easy
TO p~atronize h mai order agents that
came almost weekly to our door. l re-
greet to say that / was the first in tho
conrtJ 70 make up a nefghborhood Gill
and send 1t to a mai order house.
Though we got bit every once n q
! white, nc set y. the habit OF sending
away for stuff.
Gradually our merchants lessened
their stock OF g~oods-for lack of pa
tronage. Finally we began to realize
that when we needed a bolt quickly
for machinery. or clothing for sickness
or death, we had to wait and send away
for 1t, which wasn't SO pleasant. One
by one our mechants moved to places
where they were appreciated, n mel,
OF less energy moved in. Gradually our
! town has gone down: our business
houses are ttacky' In appearance, a
number are empty. u schools,
churches and walks are going down,
we have nc band, no library. nor ball
team. There III no business done in the
town. and therefore no taxes to keep
things up. Hotel II closed for lack OF
travel. G. .down to the depot when the
freight pulls In and you viii see the
sequel In mali order packages.
mine years & my farm was worth
4le6 m acre; today I'd have q hard
matter to sell It for 1867 an acre. 1t Ii
too far from : live town-so every
farmer has said that wants to buy. He
wants u place car schools Int
churches where his children can have
advantages. 1 have awakened to the
tact that III helping to. pull tho towr
down. II hascost mo $500 In nine
IESFFS1 4&4f5 rH5RtIa