Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1915-01-28
The Mail Order Business.

the establishment of tax npon mail or
der houses has found many active
workers among the merchants that is
more than gratifying. In connection
with this subject, Mr.. D, S. Hughes,
one of the most active merchants of the
Board of Trade submitted the following,
called from the Journal of Commerce,
This illustration. as Mr.. Hughes says,
illustrates the necessity OF taxation.
Hans Garbus. a German farmer OF
Iowa. has discovered that the benefits
which appear on the surface as attaching
to the mail order plan sometimes spell
disaster and has written very interest
ing story of his views on certain farm
paper. Here is part of of his story:
I'VE farmers need awakening to the
fact thatwe haye Enthusiastically reached
the period where we must think and
plan. l am one of the slow German far
mers that had to be shown. and am
giving my experience that others may
profit, for knowledge is more expensive
now than ten years ago.
"Tenty-nine years ago l began my
farm career. l had an old team and
$50. Our furniture was mostly hand
made chairs. cupboards and lounges
made from dry goods boxes. neatly COW
cred with ten cent creton by my girl
wife. We rented eighty acres. Being
a boy of good habits got all needed
machinery and groceries -of our home
merchants on credit. Until fall crops
were sold. The first year was wet sea-
son and | did not make enough to pay
creditors. went. to each on date of
promise and explained conditions, pay
ing as much as possible, and they all
carried the balance over another year.
They continued to accommodate me un:
til ! was able to buy 4o-acre piece of
my own.
AS soon as owned these few acres
the mail order houses began sending me
catalogues. and gradually began send
ing my loose change to them, letting my
accounts in my home town where | had
gotten my accommodation when l need
ed it.
We then had one of the thriftiert little
villages 10 the state. good line of bust
ness in all the branches. merchants who
were willing to help fellow oyer bad
wear, and town full Of people who
came twice week to trade and visit.
Our little country town supported liz
brary, high school, ball team, and we,
had big celebrations every year. q
"A farm near live town soon doubles
IN value. sold my forty acres at big
advance and bought an eighty. gradual.
~ adding to it until had 200 acres of
the finest laid IN Iowa, l then felt no
need of asking favors, and found it easy
to patronize the mail order agents that
came most weekly to our door. regret
to say l was the first in the county to,
make up neighborheod bill and send
it to mail order house. Though we got
bit 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 patron
age. Finally we began to realize that
when we needed bolt quickly for ma
chinerY, 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 houses are
'tacky in appearance; number are
empty; our schools. churches and walks
are going down, we have no band. DO
library nor ball team, There is no bus
mess done in the town, and Therefore no
taxes to keep things up. Hotels closed
for lack of travel. Go down to the de-
pot when the freight pulls IN and you
will see the sequel in mail order packa-
ges.
Nine years ago my farm was worth
$Io5 an acre; today I'd have hard mat
ter to sell it at $167 an acre, 1t is too
far from live town, so every farmer
has said who wanted to buy. He wants
a. place near schools and churches.
where his children can have advantages.
l have awaked to the fact that in help
ing to pull the town down it has cost me
SIS, GOO in nine years.