The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-01-28
THE LOSING SIDE OF
mail ORDER TRADING
Iowa Farmer Lost Over 1000
Saved Money on One End
But Lost on Other.

Hans Garbus, q 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 mis-
story
I'VE farmers need awakening to the
fact that we have Enthusiastically
reached the period where we must
think and plan. 1 am one OF the slow
farmers that had to be shown, and
am now giving my experience that 9TH
ers may profit, for knowledge is more
expensive now than 10 years ago.
Twenty-Five 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
10-cent cretonne by my girl wife. We
rented so acres. Being a boy OF good
habits I'got all needed machinery and
groceries OF our home merchants on
credit, until fall crops were 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 another year. They con-
tinued to accommodate me until was
able to buy 4o-acre piece of my own.
AS soon as l owned these few acres
the mail order houses began sending
me catalogs, and gradually 1 began
sending my loose change to them, let
ting my accounts stand in my home
town where had gotten my accommo-
dation when needed IL.
I'VE 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 q 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.
"A farm near a live town soon dou-
bles In value. sold my 40 acres at a
big advance and bought an 80, gradu-
ally adding to II until / had 200 Acres OF
the best land in Iowa. ] then felt no
need OF asking favors, and found II easy
to patronize the man order agents that
came almost weekly to our door. / re-
gret to say that / was the first in the
county to make up a neighborhood Dill
and send II to a 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 pa
tronage. Finally we began to realize
that when we needed bolt quickly
for machinery, or clothing for sickness
or death, we had to wait and send away
for ii, which wasn't so pleasant. One
by one our mechants 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, n
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 is closed for lack of
travel. Go down to the depot when the
freight pulls in and you will see the
sequel in mail order packages,
Mine years ago my farm was worth
$196 an acre: today I'd have a hard
matter to sell II for 1857 On acre. 1t is
too far from live town'--so every
farmer has said that wants to buy. He
wants a place near schools and
churches, where his children can have
advantages. have awakened to the
fact that in helping to pull the town
down, 1t has cost me $500 in nine
years g..E ~ .