The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-01-22
How An Iowa Farmer Lost
Over $500
Killed The Home Town And
Lost His Property Value
IN. Y. Journal of Commerce)


Iowa, has discovered that the benefits
which appear on the surface as attach.
ing to mail order plan sometimes
spell disaster and has written very
interesting story of his views in Ger.
tain farm paper. Here is a part OF
his story:
1--WE farmers need awakening to the
fact that we have Enthusiastically reach.
ed the period where we must think
and plan. am one of the slow Ger
man farmers that had to be shown,
and / am now giving my experience
that others may profit, for knowledge
is more expensive now than ten years
ago.
"Twenty-nine 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 COW
cred with ten-cent cretonne by my
girl-wife. We rented eighty acres. Be-
ing boy of good habits, got all need
ed machinery and groceries of our
home merchants on credit, until fall
crops were sold. The first year was
wet season and did not make enough
to pay creditors. went to each on
date 6 promise and explained condl-
tions, paying as much as possible, and
they all carried the balance over an
other year. They continued to accom-.
modste 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
sending my loose change to them, let
ting my accounts stand in my home
town where had gotten my accom-
mediation when needed it.
I'VE 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
week to trade and visit. Our little
country town supported library, high
school, band, ball team. and we had
big celebrations every year.
"A farm near a live town soon dou-
bles in value. sold my forty acres
at big advance and bought an eighty
gradually adding to it until had 200
acres of the best land in Iowa. I then
felt no need of asking favors, and
found it easy to patronize the mail or
der agents that came almost weekly
to our door. regret to say that was
the first in the county to make up
neighborhood bill and send it to 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 70 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 train pulls in and you will see the
sequel in mail order packages.
mine years ago my farm was worth
$195 an acre; today I'd have hard
matter to sell it at $167 an acre. 1t is
too far from 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 $500 in nine years"