The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1915-09-09
Mail Order Buying
and What Il Cost

Hans Garbus, German farmer O
Iowa, has discovered that the benefit!
which appear on the surface as at
tached to the mail order plan some
times spell disaster and has writer
very interesting story of his views il
certain farm paper. Here is a par
of his story:
1--WE farmers need awakening to the
fact that we have unmrs takably reach
ed the period where we must think
and plan. I am one Of the slow farm
ers that had to be shown, and ! am
now giving my experience that others
may profit, for knowledge is more ex
pensive now than ten years ago.
Twenty-Five years ago l 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 80 acres. Being
boy of good habits got all needed
machinery and groceries Of our nome
merchant on credit, until fall crops
were sold. The first year was wet
season and I did not make enough to
pay creditors. I 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 continued to accommo-
date me until I was able to buy 40
acre piece Of my own.
"As soon as owned these few acres
the mail order houses began sending
me catalogs, and gradually began
sending my loose change to them,
letting my accounts stand in my home
town where I had gotten my accom-
mediation when l needed it. -....
1--WE then had one of the thriftiest
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 a library, high
school, ball team, and we had big cele-
brations every year.
"A farm near five town soon
doubles in value. I sold my 40 acres
at a big advance and bought an 80,
gradually 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 or
der agents that came almost weekly to
orr door, I regret to say that was
the first in the county to make up a
neighborhood bill and send it to a
mail order house. Though we got bit
every once in 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 bolt quickly for
machinery, or clothing for sickness or
death, we had to wait and send away
for it, which wasn't so pleasant. One
by 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,
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.
Nine years ago my farm was
worth $195 per acre; today I'd have a
hard matter to sell it for $157 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 churches, where his children can
have advantages. have awakened to
the fact that in helping to pull the
town down, it has cost me $500 in
nine years."
WRESTLING MATCH
ENDS IN BAD FIGHT