The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1915-01-29
HELPED DESTROY
He NOW REPENTS


reformed, Mr.. Hans Garbus, was re
Gently published in the Philadelphi;
Farm Journal:
"We farmers need awakening to th
fact that we have unmistakably reach
eel the period where we must thinl
and plan. | am one of the slow Ger
man farmers who had to be showr
and | am now giving my experience
that others may profit, for knowledge
is more expensive now than it was
ten years ago.
Twenty years ago I begar
my farm career. | had an old team
and $50. Our furniture was mostly
homemade chairs, cupboard anc
lounge made from dry goods boxes
neatly covered by ,en-cent cretonne
my girl wife made. We rented 80
acres. Being a boy of good habits /
got all the machinery and groceries
Of our home merchants on credit, un-
til fall crops were sold. The first
Year was wet season and | did not
make enough to pay my creditors. /
went to each one on the date of prom
ise and explained conditions, paying
as much as possible, and they car
ried all the balance over another year.
They continued to accommodate me
until | was able to buy a forty-acre
piece of my own. AS soon as I owned
these few acres the mail order houses
began to send me catalogues and
gradually l began sending my loose
change to them, letting my accounts
stand in my home town, where | had
gotten my accommodations when
needed them.
We then had one Of the thriftiest
villages in the state, good lines of
business in all the branches, mer-
chants willing to help fellow over @
bad year, and a town full of people
Who came twice week to trade and
visit. Our town supported a library,
high school, band, ball team and had
a Dig celebration every year. A farm
near a live town soon doubled in value.
Il sold my forty acres at a big ad-
vance and then bought eighty, grad
ually adding to it until I had 200
acres of the best land in Town. | then
felt no need of asking favors, and
found it easy to patronize the mail
order agents that came almost weekly
to our door. Though we got bit every
once in a while, we got in the habit
OF sending away for stuff.
Gradually our merchants lessencd
their stock of goods for lack of pat
ronage. Finally we began to realize
that when we needed bolt quickly
foE machinery, or clothing for sick |.
ness OF death, we had to wait and
send away for it, which wasn't so
pleasant. One by one our merchants y
moved to places where they were an
and men of less energy
moved in. Gradually our town has
gone, our business places are "'tacky"
N appearance, number are empty.
OUR schools, churches and walks are
gong down, we have no band, no lib
'ary, no ball team. No business is
lone in the town, and therefore no
axes to keep it up, hotel is closed for
ack of travel.
GO down to the depot when the
leight train pulls in and see the Sc
luel in the mail order packages.
Nine years ago my farm was
Worth S195 an acre, today I'd have
lard matter to sell it for $165 an acre.
It's too far from live town so saws
very farmer who wants to buy. He
wants a place near schools and
where his children can have 6
| have awakened to the !
act that in helping to pull down the i.
own, it has cost me $4,000 in nine >
ears; like the majority of farmers |
ldn't figure far enough ahead. {
This sort of business means the r
olng away with the country towns. =
y
What will it mean to farmers to have =
My few large cities at distance
500 to 1000 miles? What are we :
DING to do with our children who are i
even better advantages G
1an we had? ... n
These cities we help build return Y
favors; they take our money but !.
fer no credit in time of need. If y
e want high schools, etc., we must y
alse the money and build them near
III farm homes or send our boys and d
lrls to the cities at great expense f
midst temptations of which our farm !,
fe has no equal. :"
Neither am / the only awakening u