The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1915-01-05
The Losing Side of Mail
Order Trading
HOW AN IOWA FARMER LOST OVER
$500.
Saved money end but killed the home town and lost
his property value the other-a striking testimonial
to the virtue Of preserving local merchants.

Hans Garbus, German farmer of Iowa, has discover
ed that the benefits which appear the surface as attach
ing to the mail order plan sometimes spell disaster and has
written very interesting story of his views in certain farm
paper Here is part of his story:
"Wc farmers need awakening to the fact that we have
unmsakabe reached the period where must think and
plan am of the slow German farmers that had to be
shown, and am giving my experience that others may
profit for knowledge expensive than years
ago.
.'Twenty-nine years ago began my farm career
had an old team and $50 Our furniture mostly
one-made-chars cupboard and lounge made from dry
goods boxes, neatly covered with en-cen cretonne by
girl wife We rented eighty acres. Being boy of good
habits got all needed machinery and groceries of home
merchants credit, until fall crops sold. The first
wet season and did not make enough to pay
creditors. Il went to each date of promise and
planned conditions, paying much possible and they all
carried the balance another year. They continued to
accommodate until able to buy fory-acre piece
of my own >t
Gas soon as owned these few acres the mail order
houses began sending catalogues and gradually began
sending loose change to em letting my accounts stand
in my home town where had gotten my accommodation
when 1 needed it.
'We then had one of the threst little villages in the
sategood line of business in all the branches merchants
who were willing to heip honest fellow over bad year,
and town full of people who twice week to trade
and visit Our little country town supported library
high school, ball team and had big celebrations every
year. .s..m
"A farm near live town soon doubles in value.
sold my forty acres at big advance and bought eighty
gradually adding to until had of the best land
in Iowa then felt no need of asking favors and found
easy to paronize the mail order agents that came almost
weekly TO our door regret to say that The first in
the country to make up neghborhood bill and send to
mail order house. Though 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 patronage Finally webegan to realize when we
needed bolt quickly for machinery clothing for sick
ness or death, had to wait send away for it. which
wasn't so pleasant One by our merchants moved to
where they appreciated and men of less energy
moved IN Gradually our town has gone down. our busi.
ness houses are acky in appearance number are empty
schools churches and walks are going down. we have
band library ball team There is no business done
the town. and therefore keep things up Hotel
closed tor lack of travel Go down to the depot when
pulls In and you will see the sequel in mail order
packages. sa y.
Nlne years ago my farm worth sfo5 an acre to-
ia have hard matter to sell it at si67 an acre II
100 far from live ownso every farmer has said that
70 wants place near schools ami churches
where his children have advantages have awakenei
tact that helping to pull the town down itas cost
& me IS s6 900 in nine years !. .2Ss a
ISSUED By /. sS s
HE National Wholesale Dry Goods Asso-
citation. ss jSS L
General Offices. Sos ARCH ST., PHIkA.
conn,srss and Cor1sreial Duiletn
1914 3. 3. (.
Cos