The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-02-03
Farmer Gives Tfeso
Good Advice
Editor The Blackfoot Optimist.

Editor The Blackfoot Optimist.
Dear Sir: There are few truth.
that because of their time proven
worth have become valuable maxims
and one is: Example is more potent
than precept.' Another is: "Reform
works from center to circumference
outward, not from circumference to
center inwards.' So it is with Editor
Trego's reform and efficiency campaign
among the farmers. He is making the
mistake of working from circumference
to center, instead of from center TO
circumference. He is also making the
mistake of offering precept instead of
example in the solving of the farmers
problem, "The adding of a dollar an
acre to the profit Of the farmers of
Bingham county. This little summing
up of truths brings Editor Trego back
to his office, to his own back yard,
squarely face to face with Byrd Trego,
farmer, or as he terms himself, reform
er.
From Mr.. Trego's back window each
day of the year he can see one of the
most God forsaken spots in Bingham
county, "no man e land" where farm.
ers are compelled to tie their horses
while loading up with goods from the
stores. If woman from the country
drives in here, by hook or crook, she
may find place to tie her horse. And
then literally speaking, holds her nose
with one hand and her skirts with the
other while making her way to one or
the other Of the business houses. Back
doors, back alleys, mud holes and filth
are the reward Of country woman or
farmer when alighsing in your town. IT
one place in Bingham county needs
grass flowers, shrubs and dry, clean
footing, it'4Ahe IND kaaa's lsnd't just
eaeK ~ thsA Rtpubl lean 0nlSe4. The
balance Of the hitching racks of the
Town are kept on . par with these.
Clean them up, Mr.. Trego, and start
che reform in your own back yard, and
let il work out, out to the farmers.
Have you noticed the tons 6f paper
that is burned in your back yard by
the me,ehantss Have you mentioned
the fact to them that paper is valuable
and should be baled and sold and the
proceeds placed on the credit side Of
their ledgers, reducing the prices of
goods to the customers in like proper
tions Did you ever l0bk out Of your
back window and see the merchants
delivery wagons blocking the al1eyss
Did you ever ask the merchants why,
and the cost thereof; also, who pays
the cost9 $4,000 a month 10 low
estimate Of the city's delivery expense
Of the merchants Of Blackfoot. The
city customers order by phone: ten
cents worth of cheese, pickles fifteen
cents, and a spool of thread, all to be
sent out to the house by delivery, din
lance Of possibly half mile.
The farmer or his wife gives their
order over the counter and carries the
heavy box to their rig. The bill Of
each customer il rendered at the end of
the month exactly alike, except that
the farmer pays more for his goods in
order that the city customers goods
may be delivered at their doors. This
is going On in your back
yard year after year. Clean it up, MI
Trego. Help the farmer add dollar
All acre TO his profit.
You say enough apples are going to
waste in the fan to vinegar Bingham
county. Yes, it il true, and there's
enough Payette and Weiser apples and
Iowa vinegar bein gsold over the count,
ers Of Biackfoot stores, while home.
made vinegar and apples rot in orch
ards and cellars TO sour two counties
The size Of Bingham. ] have a neigh
Dor who takes great pride in his gar
lon; his onions were very fine but they |
we're never taken from the cellar. l /,
'aw another neighbor with large hin
II cabbage and ne way feeding it to the
COWS. ] asked these men why. They
both said, 1--WE tried TO sci, in Black
foot, but the stores were stocked with |
Utah produce" An injustice, Mr..
''rcgo. Clean it up, and help the farm
AZ Al n dol
II his farm.
In one part Of your paper You carry
me bankers ad Of four per cent offered
or money on tune deposit. The bank |
y considers this the worth OF money ia
Transmitting business toa profit. Yet in
'hot"er part Of your paFey you carry
ne notices Of some, poo, unfortunate !
afmcr who has tried and failed. It'4