Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-02-19
rIe LdsAia Side St Mali order
Trading.

certain farm paper. Here is a |
part of his story:
I'VE farmers need awakening
TO the fact that we have un-
mistakably reached the period
where we must think and pan.
am one of the slow German
farmers that had to be shown,
and am now giving my ex-
perience that others may profit,
for knowledge is more expensive
now than ten years ago.
"Twenty-nine years ago be-
gan my farm career. l had an
old team and $50. Our furniture
was mostly homemade chairs,
cupboard and lounge made from
dry goods boxes, neatly covered
with ten-cent cretonne by my
girl wife. We rented eighty
acres. Being a boy of good
habits l got all needed machinery
and groceries of our home mer-
chants on credit, until fall crops
were sold. The first year was a
wet season and l 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 &C.
comnodate me until l was able
to buy forty-acre piece of my
own.
AS soon as l owned these few
acres the mail order houses be.
gan sending me catalogues, and
gradually l began sending my
loose change to them, letting my
accounts stand in my home towr
where had gotten my accom-
mediation when l needed it.
We then had one OF the
thriftiest little villages in the
state-good line Of business il
al! the branches, merchants who
were willing to help an hones'
fellow over bad year, and Z
town full of people who came
twice week to trade and visit
Our little country town support
ed library, high school, bal
team, and we had big celebra
tions every year.
"A farm near a live town sool
doubles in value. l sold IN,
forty acres at a big advance ant
bought an so acre farm, = raduall,
adding to it until l had 200 acre
of the best land in Iowa. l the
felt no need of asking fayors
and found it easy to patroniz
1.-THE mail order agents that cam
almost weekly to our door.
regret to say that l was the frs
In the county to make up
Ineighborhood bill and send it t
a mail order house. Though w
got bit every once in a while
We got in the / abit of sendin,
iaway for stuff.
| Gradually our merchant
lessened their stock of goods
for lack of patronage. Final
we began to realize that whe
needed a bolt quickly for ma
chinery, or clothing for sickness
or death, we had to wait an
isend away for it, which WASH
$50 pleasant. One by one on
merchants moved to places wher
they were appreciated, and mel
of less energy moved in. Grad
ually cur town has gone down
our business houses are tack il
appearance, a number are empty
our schools, churches and walk
are going down. we have n,
band. no library nor ball team
There is no business done in tn,
town, and therefore no taxes t.
keep things up. Hotel is CLOSED
for lack of travel. Go down t.
the depot when the freight pull.
In and you will see the sequel il
mail order packages.
Nine years ago my farm wa.
worth $195 an acre; to-day II
have a hard matter to sell it al
Sl67 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. l have awak-
ened to the fact that in helping
to pull the town down, ii has
cost me SIS, 800 in nine years.
Quarantincd Area Extended.