The Coconino sun., 1915-05-07
MAIL ORDER BUSINESS
 KILLS THRIVING CITY

experience of an Iowa farmer, as printed in the journal of Commerce and Commercial Bulletin of New York, recently.
 We farmers need awakening to the fact that we have unmistakably reached the period where we must think and plan. I am one of the slow thinking farmers that had to be shown and l am now giving my experience that others may profit, for knowledge is even more expensive now than ten years ago.
 Twenty-nine years ago l began my farm career 1 had an old team and $59. Our furniture was mostly home were made from dry goods boxes, neat ly covered with 10-cent cretonne by my girl wife. We rented eighty acres. Being a boy of good habits, got all needed machinery and groceries of our home merchant on credit, until fall to pay creditors. l went to each on date of promise and explained condi- tions, paying as much as possible, and they all carried the balance over an other year. They continued to accom- modate me until 1 was able to buy a forty-acre piece of my own.
 AS soon as owned these few acres, the mail-order houses began to send me catalogs, and gradually I began sending my loose change to them Jet ting my accounts stand in my home town where l had gotten my accom- modations when needed.
 We then had one of the thriftiest lit tie villages in the state-good line of business in all branches, merchants who were 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.
 A farm near live town soon doubl- ed in value. l sold forty acres at a big advance and bought eighty and by gradually adding to it, had 200 acres of the best land in Iowa. then felt no need of asking favors, and found it easy to patronize the mail-order houses. l regret to say that was the first in the country to make up a neighborhood bill and send it to a mail-order house. Though we got a little at home every once in a while we got in the habit of sending away for goods.
 Gradually our merchants lessened their stocks of goods-for lack of-pat- ronage. Finally we began to realize that when we needed machinery, or clothing for sickness or death, we had to wait and send away for it, which wasn't so pleasant. One by one oul merchants moved to places where they were appreciated, and men of less en- ergy 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, no ball team. There is no business done in the town, ,and therefore no taxes to keep things up The hotel is closed for lack of travel Go down to the depot when the freight pulls in and you will find the sequel the mail order packages.
 Nine years ago my farm was worth $195 an acre; today I'd have hard matter selling it at $167 an acre. It is "too far from a live town"-so every farmer has said that wants to buy. He wants 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 $56O0 in nine years.
 Such a situation should be forced home to those responsible for it be. fore it becomes too late.
 If Attorney General Jones' opinior .~ lz.x. -...-,l l.