The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-03-17
THE LOSING SIDE OF
MAIL-ORDER TRADING
An Excellent Sermon for Circulation
by Retailers to the Farmers

E1dHS GdIOuS, herman farmer OF
Iowa, has discovered that the bene-
fits which appear on the surface as
attaching to the mail-order plan
sometimes spell disaster and has writ
ten very interesting story of his
views in a certain farm paper. Here
is part of his story:
1--WE farmers need awakening to
the fact that we have Enthusiastically
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 expensive now than ten wears
ago;
my farm career. had an old team
and $50. Our furniture was mostly
home-made-chairs, cupboard and
lounge made from drygoods boxes,
neatly covered with 10-cent cretonne
by my girl-wife. We rented eighty
acres. Being boy of good habits l
got all needed machinery and gro
ceries of our home merchants on
credit. until the fall crops were sold.
The first year was wet season and |
did not make, enough to pay my Gre
ditors. 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 accommodate
me until l was able to buy forty
acre piece of my own.
AS soon as / owned these few
acres the mail-order houses began
sending me catalogs, and gradually
began sending my loose change to
them, letting my accounts stand in
my home town where | had gotten
my accommodation when | needed it.
Eve then had one of the thriftiesi
little villages in the state-good line
of business in all the branches, mer'
chants who were willing to help ar
honest fellow over a bad year, town
full of people who came twice weel
to trade and visit Our little country
town supported library. high school
ball team, and we had big celebrations
every year.
"A farm near live town SCOT
doubles in value. sold my fort,
acres at a big advance and bought &c
gradually adding to them until hal
200 acres of the best land in Iowa.
then felt no need of asking favors
and found it easy to patronize tn
mail-order agents that came almos
weekly to our door. | regret to sa
that was the first in the county t
make up neighborhood bill and sen
it to a mail-order house. Though W
got bit every once in while, we &c
in the habit of sending away for stuff
Gradually our merchants lessene
IL Il H., 60 ton L. as ,ni
ronage. Finally we began to realiz
that when we. needed bolt quick
for machinery, or clothing for sicknes
or death, we had to wait and sen
away for it, which wasn't so pleasan
One by one our merchants moved
places where they were appreciate
and men of less energy moved i
Gradually our town has gone dow
our business houses are 'tacky' in al
pearance, a number are empty; OF
schools, churches and walks are g
ing down, we have no band, no libral
nor ball team. There is no busine
done in the town. and therefore I
taxes to keep things up. Hotel
closed for lack of travel. Go down
the depot when the freight pulls
you. will see the sequel in mail-ord
packages.
Nine years ago my farm was wor
SOS an acre; today I'd have a ha
matter to sell it at $16 an acre. 1t
too far from hive town-so eve
farmer has said that wants to buy. /
wants a place near schools al
churches, where his children can ha
Advantages. / have awakened to t
2 fact that in helping to pull the to,
down, it has cost me 5000 in nj
years. stEE9 &yA