The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1915-02-26
Stick 70 Your Home Merchant.

Hans Garbus, a German farmer OF
Iowa, has discovered that the bene-
fits which appear on the surface AZ
attaching to the mail order plan
sometimes spell disaster and has
written a very interesting story VI
his views in certain farm paper
Here is a part of his story:
I'VE farmers need awakening To
the fact that we have unmistakably
reached the period where we must
think and plan. L am one Of the
slow German farmers that had to be
shown, and | am now giving my ex-
perience that others may profit, for
knowledge is more expensive now
than ten years ago.
'Twenty-nine years ago began my
farm career. I had an. old team and
$50. Our furniture was mostly
homemade chairs, cupboard and
lounge made from dry goods boxes,
neatly covered with ten-cent cretonne
by my girl wife. We rented eighty
acres. Being boy Of good habits |
got all needed machinery and gro
ceries of our home merchants on
credit, until fall crops were sold. Th5
first year was wet season and ]
did not make enough to pay creditors
1 went to each on date OF promise
and explained conditions, paying as
much as possible, and they all car
ried 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 4 owned these few
acres the mail order houses began
sending me catalogues, and gradually
A began sending my loose change to
them, letting my accounts stand In my
home town where I had gotten my
accommodation when 7 needed 1t.
I'VE then had one Oh the thriftiest
little villages In the state-good line
of business in all the branches, mer-
chants who we're willing To help an
honest fellow over bad year, and a
town full of people who came twice
a week to trade and visit. Our little
country town supported library, high
school, ball team, and we had big
celebrations every year.
80 farm near 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 OF the best land In
Iowa. II then felt no need of asking
favors, and found it easy to patron
ize the mail order agents that came
almost weekly to our door, + regret
to say that ! was the first In the
county to make up a neighborhood
bill and send ii to a mail order house.
Though we got bit every once in a
while, We got III the habit OF sending
away for stuff.
Gradually our merchants lessened
their stock OF goods-for lack OF
patronage. 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 IL, which wasn't
80 pleasant One by one our merch-
ants moved to places where they
we're appreciated, and men OF less
energy moved i'm. Gradually our
town has gone down; our business
houses are ftacky' i'm 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 il closed for
lack of travel. Go down to the depot
when the freight pulls in and you
will see the sequel i'm the mail order
packages.
Mine years ago my farm was worth
$195 an acre; to-day I'd have hard
matter to sell IL at $167 an acre. ~
~ too far from a live town'-so every
farmer has said that wants to buy.
He wants q place near schools and
churches, where his children can
have advantages have awakened
To the fact that III helping To pull the
town down it has cost me $500 in
nine years"