The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-01-22
HOW MAIL ORDERS
SOMETIMES WORK OUT
DECLINE OF VILLAGE MEANS DE-
CLINE OF FARM
Story Told by Iowa Farmer Who Saw
Town and Country Go Steadily
Downward

mans GarDuS, herman farmer OF
Iowa, has discovered that the benefits
which apyear 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 farm
paper. Here is part of his story:
"We farmers need awakening to the
fact that we have unmistakably reached
the period where we must think and.
plan. | am one Of the slow German
farmers that had to be shown and am
now giving my experience that others
may profit. for knowledge is more ex-
pensive than it was ten years ago.
"Twenty-nine years ago l began my
farm career. had an old team and
$4,000 Our furniture was mostly home
made-chairs. cupboard and a lounge
made from dry-goods boxes, neatly COW
cred with ten-cent cretone by my girl
wife. We rented eighty acres. Being
boy of good habits, got all needed
machinery and groceries of our home
merchants on credit, until 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, pay
ing as much as possible, and they all
carried the balance over to the next
year. They continued to accommodate
me until was able to buy forty-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 stand in my home town
where | had gotten accommodations
when needed it.
"We had one of the thriftiest little
villages in the state-good line of busi-
ness in all the branches, merchants who
were willing to help an honest fellow
over bad year. and town full of peo-
pie who came twice a week to trade
and visit. Our little country town sup
ported library, high school. band, ball
team, and we had big celebration
every year.
"A farm near live town soon dou- )
bles in value. | sold my forty acre
farm at big advance and bought an
eighty, 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
order agents that came almost weekly
to our door. regret to say that | was
first in the county to make up neigh
borhood bill and send it to mail order
house. Though we got bit every once
in while, we got in the habit of send
ing 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 no pleasure One
by one our merchants moved to places
where they were appreciated, and meu
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 bali
team. 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
Sl95 an acre-today it would be hard
matter to sell it at Sl67 an acre. 1t is
too far from a live town--so every
farmer has said who wants to buy He
wants place near schools and
churches, where his children can have
advantages. have awakened to the
fact that in helping to pull the town
down. has cost me $5, 900 in nine years.