ONE BIG COMBINE
FORCE OF MAILORDER PRESS
AGAINST COUNTRY TOWNS.
ADVERTISING THAT COUNTS
How Money and Trade Are Central
ized in Great Cities to the Loss
of the People in Agricultural
Sections.
"These are the days of trusts and
this is an era of trusts," writes W. D.
Percival. late publisher of the Stan
ton (Neb.) Picket. "It is contended
that there are some good trusts, but
when the X-rays of investigation have
been turned upon them it has been
Impossible to locate the good points.
To-day the most menacing trust in the
world is the commercial combination
that is intended to destroy the retail
trade of the country, diverting it into
the great money centers. This has
reference to the catalogue houses that
have grown up in the large cities with
in the past few years. We can all re
member not long ago when there was
a country store at every cross-roads
and at the same time there were pros
perous towns every few miles along
every railroad. In each one of these
towns there were from two to half a
dozen general stores, besides the
other stores that were handling spe
cial lines. They all enjoyed a good
trade and sold goods at reasonable
profits.
"To-day, in every agricultural and
industrial section of the country you
can notice the results that have been
brought about by the catalogue houses.
The cross-roads stores have gone, and
in the towns business houses have
been vacated, their windows boarded
up and tlie former occupants driven
into bankruptcy or other occupations.
Not that the catalogue houses have
sold cheaper than the small mer
chants, but they have flooded the coun
try with catalogues and advertise
ments, alluring away the trade that
rightfully belonged at home. These'
catalogue houses are owned and man
aged by able business men, built upon
the broad gauge plan, who realize the
benefits to be derived from advertis
ing. They have organized an advertis
ing campaign and each year they are
spending fortunes, not only publishing
and sending out catalogues, but they
have built up a combination of news
papers that are nothing but mail-order
journals. It is shown that the com
bined circulation of these sheets ag
gregate 32,000,000 copies per month.
These they send broadcast over the
country at their own expense. They
do not stop at this, but go into every
magazine, agricultural, religious and
other paper that will accept their ad
vertising. They pay the top price for
this advertising and in this way they
are enabled to reach about every
farmer in the land. They set aside
each year millions of dollars for ad
vertising.
"Thus it will be seen that the cata
logue houses and certain classes of
publishers are in a combine that con
st, one of the most damnable
toasts ever known. So far the coun
try press, although frequently ap
proached, has turned a deaf ear to the
siren voice of these destroyers of
home trade. In return for this, the
country merchants should be liberal in
their patronage of the local papers,
which have demonstrated that they
are true friends in a time of need. The
mail-order houses are in the business
for money and the only way to com
bat them is to agree upon a line of
action. The country press and the
country merchants must get together
and start a campaign of education.
The country press is on the right side
and by ail working together and for
one purpose, the grip now enjoyed by
the catalogue houses can be broken
and trade turned back into its legiti
mate channels."
Frog Farming; A New Industry.
Frog farming is destined socmer or
later to become a very Important na
tional industry. I predict that within
a very few years few farmers will
neglect to utilize their waste swampy
land for the rearing of frogs for the
market. Already the United States
uses more frogs in six months, it is
claimed, than France does In a year.
The value of the annual catch in the
United States is fully $200,000 and the
gross value to the hunters Is more
than $50,000. There is not the slight
fist doubt in the world that were frogs
available the value of the annual catch
would leap at once to more than a mil
lion dollars. —Technical World.
He Was Also an Expert,
A strange story comes from one
of the Balkan states, where commer
cial morality is still in its infancy.
At a recent banquet given at the
home of the prime minister a distin
guished diplomat complained to his
host that the minister of justice, next
to whom he was sitting, had taken
his watch. The prime minister said:
"Ah, he shouldn't have done that.
1 will get it back for you." Sure
enough, towards the end of the even
ing the watch was returned to its
owner. "And what did he say?" asked
the guest. "Sh-h! He does not know
I have got it back," said the prime
minister.
No Slippers for Him.
Albert, who is five years old, was
accompanied by his grand
ma to select a birthday present for his
mother. He wanted "something use
ful" and, after many rejections, It
was suggested that they buy a pair
of opera slippers, when he promptly
«ald:
"No; mamma's got too many of
them now. I wouldn't mind getting
button boots, for they can't be taken
<•0 so easy." , /■; 3\j,
IMPROVING THE TOWN.
Necessity for Sewer Systems and Oth
er Sanitary Measures.
Upon the hcalthfulness of a city
depends much of Its success and its
growth. Towns that are not reputed
to be sanitary places are generally
evaded by home-seekers. One is often
impressed with the fact that in small
towns typhoid and malarial fevers are
often more frequent and afflict great
er numbers according to population
than in the large cities. The simple
reason for this is the neglect of sani
tary improvement.
In the charter of many towns provi
sion for the building of sewerage sys
tems is overlooked, and years and years
elapse before any consideration is
given to the Importance of providing
a mr ans for draining away the un
wholesome increment that accumu
lates. Then it is found that there Is
a great amount of red tape before
funds can be raised by taxation or by
voting bonds for the building of a
sewerage system.
Small towns as well as large cities,
generally draw their authority for the
making of public improvements from
the state. While nearly all the states
provide for bonding and the raising of
funds for improvements in the larger
cities and towns, the towns of 3,000 or
5,000 population are neglected. With
in the past two years the state of Ne
braska, realizing the necessity of the
smaller towns having the privilege of
voting bonds and making assessments
against property for the building of
sewerage systems, enacted a state law
covering all the points involved. This
law has already been beneficial, a
number of the incorporated villages
and towns having commenced the
building of sewerage systems.
It Is always well when contemplat
ing the building of sewers to esti
mate that the town is likely to grow,
and that a system adequate to give
necessary drainage for a town of 3,000
would be inadequate for a town twice
the size, and as the town grows the
original plans are found lacking and
old sewerage lines of little utility, as
they must be replaced by new sys
tems. The economic value of perfect
drainage for a town cannot be over
estimated. The health of the people
is paramount to all other things, and
where there are unsanitary condi
tions a town cannot expect to enjoy
the greatest pr sperity, though the
doctors, who are residents of the place,
may have exceptionally good prac
tice.
BUYERS SHOULD BEWARE.
Infringements of Patents by Concerns
Doing a Mail-Order Business.
Recently the United States circuit
court for the southern district of
New York handed down a decision
which is of particular interest to
thousands of farmers throughout the
land. Two large manufacturers of
cream separators instituted a suit for
infringements of their patents against
one of the largest mail-order houses.
The decision of the court was in favor
of the complainants and a decree was
rendered granting a permanent In
junction and master's order on ac
counting in favor of the complainants.
This case has been before the courts
for the past two years. It Is claimed
that thousands of the separators, In
fringements upon the patents owned
by the complainants, have been sold
to farmers throughout the country.
The laws of the United States forbid
the using of patented machines, as
well as the making and selling of the
same. The court order means that
the mail-order concern will be com
pelled to pay an equitable amount
upon each machine manufactured and
sold, as well as the payment of other
damages on account of such manufac
ture and sales. It also means that the
two companies, who are the com
plainants, can prevent each purchaser
of the infringed cream separator us
ing the same, or to pay a royalty for
the using of the same.
The people should derive a lesson
from this. It Is not safe to purchase
any invention put out by a mail-order
concern unless there is positive proof
that it is not an infringement. An
other thing Is, were people inclined to
patronize home concerns there would
be little chance of being imposed
upon, and should trouble arise over
the validity of any patent, it is much
easier to adjust matters with the home
merchant than with some foreign
mail-order house.
Ohio-Mississippi Coal Trade.
The Ohio-Mississippi coal trade,
which exists to-day, is one of th«
greatest single movements of cargo in
the world. From Pittsburg to New Or
leans is 2,000 miles, all downhill. Coal
in 1,000-ton barges is rafted into fleets
and towed down this distance by pow
erful steamboats, at a cost of less
than 75 cents a ton, against a railroad
rate of about $4 .50—from Pittsburg
to Memphis for 43 cents, against a rail
rate of $2.70. Millions of tons of coal
have gone this way and always will
go this way, because the boats have
only to drift, and those that come
back, mostly empty, are not hard to
shove upstream.—Everybody's.
Ear Protection for Gunners.
The British admiralty have given at
tention to the question of ear protec
tion during heavy gun firing, and it
has been decided to use plasticine,
with the addition of cotton wool, but
the form of ear protection to be used
Is to be left to the indivlflual choice
of officers and men. Plasticine may
be supplied to ships and gunnery
schools if specially demanded. The
addition of 50 to 60 grains of cotton
wool has been recommended to insure
perfect safety. It is pointed out that
the cost of the material is very small
4ad use Is deslrabl* lit Riftny ewu.
CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, JUNE n, 1908.
Picked Up in~#w#"#wf-
Pennsylvania
MERCERSBURG.— The three-year
old daughter of William Starliper wan
stung by a bee and died from blood
poisoning.
KITTANNING. Charles Deliass,
Walter Curren and Merill Shotts,
charged with dynamiting fish, were
fined SIOO each.
JOHN ETTA. Dissolving match
heads in a glass of water, Mrs. Peter
Demar drank the poison. A physician
revived her and she may live.
GREENSBURG.— John C. White, a
farmer of Liver more, while plowing
in a corn field, was struck by light
ning. His recovery is doubtful.
PHILADELPHIA. —Dividend and in
terest disbursements by railroads, in
dustrial and public service corpora
tions in June will amount to nearly
$74,000,000.
GREENSBURG. —George Hutton, a
farmer of Salem township, captured a
burglar in his home and marched him
at the point of a shotgun to Justice
P. J. Minister's office in Delniont.
GREENSBURG. Karl Funk, 54
year old, an inmate of the Westmore
land County home, committed suicide
by hanging himself to a tree in the
rear of the home with a clothesline.
HARRISBURG. —Mayor Meals an
nounced the appointment of William
W. Caldwell, assistant resident clerk
of the house of representatives, to be
city highway commissioner. Mr. ("aid
well will accept.
UNIONTOWN. Fish and Game
Warden Maurice T. Maitland ami J.
T. Ross, a deputy, attempted to arrest
a crowd of fishermen near Brownsville
and were forced to flee under a lain
of bullets from a Winchester repeat
ing rifle.
BUTLER. —OId-time oil field excite
ment has captured the Mcßride field,
where Harry X. Hoffman struck a
gusher. Thousands visited the well
on the Mary Dodds farm. Big sums
are being offered for leases in the
vicinity.
ERlE. —Trying to cross in front of
an approaching West Eighth street
car with a big steamer touring car
will cost the life of one of the mem
bers of a Franklin, Pa., touring party.
Four others are seriously injured and
are in hospitals here.
WASHINGTON —WiIIiam Wesley
Knight, ait one time one of the most
prominent school teachers of Wash
ington county and now the oldest resi
dent of Jefferson township, this coun
ty, celebrated the ninetieth year of his
birth at Eldersvllle recently.
OIL CITY. —A locomotive* hauling
the private car of D. T. Murray of
Youngstown. 0., division superinten
dent of the Lake Shore railroad,
crashed Into the rear of a freight train
at Reon. Engineer J. Malone of Ash
tabula sustained a broken collarbone.
BUTLER.- —Five passengers were
slightly hurt and 40 others severely
jolted when a northbound limited
Pittsburg and Butler street car ran In
to an open switch at the Mars car
barns, striking a local car which had
taken the siding to give a clear track
for the limited.
ALLENTOWN. —AII Allentown was
thrown into a state of excitement re
cently by what is believed to have
been an earthquake shock. The shock
was severe enough to rock buildings,
rattle windows, clatter crockery, tum
ble down two or three shaky chimneys
and upset small children.
P U N XSUTAWNEY.— AIthough in
a fight a coal pick was driven through
his chest two inches above his heart,
the point coming out at his back, John
Jamatta, 20 years old, a miner in the
Powers mine at Wilslow station, will
probably get well. Tony Valasco, who
used the pick, is being held.
UNIONTOWN. —Incited to take a
life under the threat of forfeiting his
own Nicola Mondillo, a 17-year-old
Italian, who has been in jail here sev
eral months, has made a confession
clearing up a puzzling murder and at
the same time implicating five others,
including Mrs. Pasquale Mondi, widow
of the murdered man.
HARRISBURG. —The state railroad
commission lias received word from
the Pennsylvania railroad that it will
on June 1 adjust its schedule of trains
between Philadelphia and Bustleton !
to conform to the recommendation of
the committee to the Pennsylvania
and Reading regarding changes In
their schedules upon the petition of
the citizens of Bustleton.
UNIONTOWN —A few hours after
reproaching an Italian for killing a
song bird, Lee R. Dunn, a merchant
of New Salem, was shot at from am
bush while driving with his little son,
and a bullet barely missed his head.
FRANKLIN. —Gov. Stuart granted a
reprieve until July 14 to James N.
Strall, wife murderer, sentenced to die.
July 14 is the date set for Mike
Holka's execution, and Strail's re
prieve is due to the desire of Franklin
residents to have oßly one execution
tor.
SHAMOKI N.— The United Tele
graph & Telephone Co.'s operators
went on strike for a 10 per cent wage
increase, tying up the service.
HARRISBURG. —The state will have
money left over after paying the cost
of uniform primaries, as only $390,000
j has been paid out for this object so
far.
K ITT AN NlNG. —After swimming
half way across the Allegheny river,
Joseph Chuttura, a Slav, became ex-
I hausted and sank in sight of scores of
persons.
TYRONE. —WhiIe at work in a pa
per mill Councilman J. A. Malooney
was caught in machinery. His whole
body was cut and bruised and one ear
was taken off.
G R E ENSBURG. —The McCormick
Lumber Co. of Faircliance was award
ed a contract for the erection of two
school buildings, the total cost of
which will be $75,000.
BEAVER.—A livery stable, three
small stables and a carriage factory,
with part of their contents, including
four horses, were burned here, entail
ing a loss of $4,700, covered by insur
ance.
MONESSEN. —With arms thrust
deep into soft mud that had held him
a prisoner, the body of Samuel Con
way, 18 years old, who was drowned
in the Monongaliela river, was recov
ered.
ROCHESTER. —Jacob Javens, 42
years old, was found wandering the
streets in Vanport. When taken to
the Beaver County hospital he died
in three hours. He had taken rough
on rats.
LANCASTER. —Judge Smith, in the
orphans' court, handed down an ad
judication in the estate of Tablas Bru
baker, deceased, of Providence town
ship, distributing 50 cents, 17 cents
going to his wife.
ALTOONA. —PhiIip Trovata, an
Italian butcher, was found dead along
the railroad near Mt. Union. He had
two bullet holes in his head. Trovata
carried considerable money and his
pockets were rifled.
IRWlN. —Because the Irwin borough
ordinance relating to stray animals
says nothing about sheep, Burgess E.
P. Shotts and J. L. Frick were held
for court by Justice Naley of Manor
on a charge of larceny.
PUNXSUTA WNE Y. —Although one
of their number was fatally shot,
three foreigners secured $450 from
Mrs. James Rico after she had re
ceived a bullet wound. The woman Is
the wife of a boarding boss at Cham
bers vllle.
HUNTINGTO N. —E x anil nation
showed that Flllipo Travato, an Ital
ian, whose body was found decapi
tated on the East Broad Top railroad,
was murdered. Morris Terrazi and
Antonio Georgiana are in Jail accused
of the murder.
HARRISBURG. —Payments to pub
lic schools out of the increased ap
propriation granted by the last legisla
ture will begin immediately. The leg
islature increased the appropriation
from $13,000,000 to $15,000,000 for the
two years, beginning June 1.
►&R RISBURG. —The deputy factory
inspectors in the Schuylkill valley
towns are stirring up the owners of
buildings which are not properly
equipped with fire escapes. In several
towns every hall has been closed be
cause of the lack of escapes.
WASHlNGTON. —Washington coun
ty officials are hunting for thieves
who stole three horses belonging to
William Dunn of Blainesburg and
Thomas Lllley and Thomas Elliot of
California. Two of the animals were
found hidden in a clump of bushes.
GREENSBURG. —Mrs. Frank Klob
ner of near Scott Haven, going to tho
cellar of her home, found her husband
hanging from a rope. He had been
dead more than an hour. Klobner,
who was 32 years of age, sustained an
injured head two years ago and was
afflicted mentally.
HARRISBURG. —The balances in
the state treasury at the close of busi
ness for May, as reported by State
Treasurer Sheatz, were: General
fund, $11,731,886.04, with $464,521.19
held in what is known as a suspended
account because of the closing of the
Allegheny National bank; sinking
fund, $2,455,706.42 with $58,955.99 in
the suspended account. The total is
$14,711,600.41, the largest so far this
year.
BUTLER. —John Dapo of East But
ler says he would rather stay in jail
a month than pay his board bill. Dapo
is said to have money, but denies it.
He was taken before Justice W. F.
Lytle for jumping a board bill.
WASHINGTON.—Stricken with par
alysis while alone in a coal mine, U.
L. Greene of Morrisville, Greene coun
ty, was found by a searching party
after he had been missing 24 hours.
His condition Is critical. One shoulder
was literally cooked by coming la con
tact with a miner's lamp. >
You Read fho
Other Fellow's Ad
%
jj H You are reading this one. I
!y That should convince you I
| that advertising in these
I columns is a profitable prop-
H osition; that it will bring
i business to your store.
I The fact that the other
I fellow advertises is prob
ably the reason he is get
ting more business than is
falling to you. Would it
not be well to give the
other fellow a chance
To Read Your Ad
In These Columns
Your Stationery
Is your silent representative. If
you sell flue goods that are up
to-dato In style and of superior
quality it ought to be reflected
in your printing. We produce the
kind that you need and will not
feel ashamed to have represent
you. That is the only kind it
pays to send out. Send your or
ders to this office.
*■"» The Buyers'
Guide
The Anns whose names are repre
sented in our advertising columns
are worthy oi' the confidence of every
person in the community who has
money to spend. The fact that they
advertise stamps them as enterpris
ing, progressive men of business, a
credit to our town, and deserving of
support. Our advertising columns
comprise a Buyers' Guide to fair
dealing, good goods, honest prices.
V V
G.SCHMIDT'S/ —
... HEADQUARTERS FOR
If'** ' FRESH BREAD,
A popular " L z„,
Stiff r> mui
i| #
CONFECTIONERY
Daily Delivery, All orders given prompt and
skillful attention.
■ «
Don't Use a Scarecrow
tTo Drive Away tha
Mailorder Wolf
You can drive him out
quickly if you use the mail
order houses' own weapon
• —advertising. Mail order I
thousands of dollars every
week in order to get trade
from the home merchants.
Do you think for a minute
they would keep it up if
they didn't get the busi
ness ? Don't take it for
granted that every one
within a radius of 25 mile*
knows what you have to
sell, and what your prices are. Nine times out of ten your prices
are lower, but the customer is influenced by the up-to-date adver
tising of the mail order house. Every article you advertise should
be described and priced. You miust tell your story in an inter
esting way, and when you want to reach the buyers of this com
munity use the columns of this paper.
A MOST TOUCHING APPEAL
—.. falls short of its desired effect if ad
dressed to a small crowd of interested
\ 112 listeners. Mr. Business Man, are
1 ■v-p you wasting your ammunition on the
I ■ sma 'l crowd that would trade with
\ v you anyway, or do you want to reach
L \x those who are not particularly inter
ested in your busings? If you do,
" make your appeal tor trade to the
largest and most intelligent
"""""" * _ . audience in your commun-
ity, the readers of this I
,y _ r rtdF paper. They have count- j
£ >S \ less wants. Your ads will
/' be read by them, and they
. will become your custom*
JJ ' ers. Try it and
S The Place to Buj Cheap i
P J. F. PARSONS' /
iCIIfiESI
IRHEUMATISMI
1 LUMBAGO, SCIATICA!
■NEURALGIA and!
gKIDNEY TROUBLE!
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■ DR. 8. D. BLAND ■
SS Of Rrewton, Ga., wrlteai
B bad been a sufferer for a number of years M
U with Lumbago and Khcumatlsm ID my arm*
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H «M>ROPB." I shall prescribe It !n my praotloe H
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I FREE)
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■ Large aire Battle, "S-DROPS-(80# DO.M) ■
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■ BWARSOS RHEUMATIO OURE COMPABY, 1
H Dept. 80. ieo Lake Street, Cfcloago.^H
3