The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-02-24
Losing Side of Mai, Order Trading.

| Hans Garbus, 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
tain farm paper. Here is a part OF his
story:
1--WE farmers need awakening to the
| fact that we have Enthusiastically reach
ed 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 now than ten years
ago.
"Twenty-nine years ago began my
farm career had an old team and
l$50. Our furniture was mostly home
made-chairs. cupboard and lounge
made from dry goods boxes, neatly
covered with 10 cent cretonne by my
girl wife. We rented so acres. Being
a boy of good habits, got all needed
machinery and groceries from our
home merchants on credit, until fall
crops We're sold. The first year was
| wet season and l did not make enough
to pay creditors. ] went to each one
on date ofspromise and explained con-
ditions, paying as much as possible.
and, they all carried the balance over
another year. They continued to ac'
commoJate me until I was able to buy
q 40 acre piece Of My own.
LAS soon as owned these few acres
the mail order houses began sending
me catalogues, and gradually l began
sending my loose change to them, let
ting my accounts stand in my nome
town where had gotten my accommo-
dation when needed it.
1--WE then had one Of the thriftlest
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 a
week to trade and visit. Our little
country town supported library, high
school, band, ball team and We had big
celebrations every year.
"a farm near a live town soon dou'
bles in value. I sold my forty acres al
a big advance and, bought an 80, grad
ually 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,
l regret to say that was the first in
the county to make up 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 fo1
machinery, or clothing for sickness OF
death, we had to wait and send away
for it, which wasn't so pleasant. One
lby one our merchants moved to places
where they were appreciated 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, church
es 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 train
pulls in and you will see the sequel In
mail order packages.
| "Nine years ago my farm was worth
sl95 an acre; today I'd have q hard
time 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 church
es, where the children can have ad,
yantages. have awakened to the fact
that in helping to pull the town down,
| it has cost me $500 in nine years. =
Des Moines Capital.