The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-01-21
MAIL ORDER BUSINESS
COSTLY TO FARMER
The following article, Clipped from
an Iowa paper, was submitted to the
Glacier by former Iowa resident:

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 wives in GER
tain farm paper. Here is part of his
story:
1--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 now 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 cretonne by my
girl wife. We rented so acres. Being
boy of good habits, | got all needed
machinery and groceries of our 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. | went to each on date
of promise and explained conditions,
paying as much as possible, and they
all carried the balance over sanother
year. They continued to accommodate
me until | was able to buy 40 acre
piece of my own.
"As soon as owned these few acres
the mail order houses began sending
me catalogues, and gradually | began
sending my loose change to them, let
ting my accounts stand in my home
town where ! had gotten my accom-
modation when ! needed it.
1--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 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 cele.
brations every year.
IA farm near live town soon doub-
les in value. sold my 40 acres at a
big advance and bought an 80, gradual.
y adding to it until had 200 acres Of
the best land in Iowa. then felt nc
need of asking favors, and found il
easy to patronize the mail order agents
regret to say that | wasethe first in
the county to make up neighborhooc
bill and send it to mail order house.
Though we got bit every once in g
while, we got in the habit Of sending
away for stuff.
Gradually our merchants Iessened
their stock of goods for lack of pat
rOnage. Finally we began to realize
that when we needed bolt quickly fol
machinery, or clothing for sickness oil
death, we had to wait to send away fol
it, which wasn't so pleasant. One by
one our merchants moved to places
where they were appreciated, and mer
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 ne
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. &c
down to the depot when the train pulls
in and you will see the sequel in mai
order packages.
mine years ago my farm was worth
$l95 an acre: today I'd have hare
matter to sell it at Sl65 an acre. 1t is
too far from a live town'-so every
farmer has said that wants to buy. He
wants a place near schools and church
es, where his children can have ad
vantages. have awakened to the fact
that in helping to pull the town down,
it has cost me S5, 600 in nine years. "