Part 27 (1/2)
”That's all right, Joe,” said the banker, ”but it's too heavy for many of the light jobs, and it would not pay to consume the amount of kerosene and oil necessary to operate it, so I think you had better include the engine.”
”All right,” said Joe. ”Let's have it then along with the others.”
”What about your electric lighting plant, Joe, with the new buildings coming along? You ought to look out for that.”
”Bettie and Bob have been looking up a lot of data on that subject and they've decided on putting in a water-driving unit. It requires more wire to bring the power up from the dam, but in the end will be cheaper as it costs nothing to operate.”
”How many electric lights do you want to use?” asked Mr. Patterson.
”We've figured that we ought to have about one hundred sixty-watt lamp capacity for the complete farm; that would take care of the small motor of the vacuum cleaner and sewing machine.”
”We don't make the outfit, Mr. Williams,” said the agent, ”but I'll arrange to get a good one for you and will not charge you any commission on it--taking such a large order as you are giving me, I'll be very glad to arrange this for you.”
”Well, here's a catalog of the make they have picked out and if you'll take it up with the manufacturers, I'll appreciate it,” said Williams.
”We'll want a detail drawing showing how to make a foundation for the wheel and generator. Bob's worked out an automatic starting and stopping device. The wiring, of course, we'll do ourselves.”
”How about an auto truck, Joe; don't you think you ought to have a good auto truck on the farm?”
”Not with a team of horses and a good live tractor. Of course, an auto truck would be an advantage in some respects, and I'll probably want one next year, but I think we can get along without that for the present. Speaking of making a complete outfit, Mr. White, Bettie gave me a list of some other things she wanted.”
”What are they?” asked the banker.
”Well, for one thing, she thinks we ought to tear down the old cider mill because it's too slow to operate. In former years, when labor was cheap, it answered very well, but the modern machines are much quicker and better.”
”I think you ought to have that, Joe,” said the banker. ”Have you thought of a power saw for the wood lot and cutting up the rails of your old fences? That's a 'Hidden Treasure' that you and Bob have probably overlooked.”
”There's where you're wrong, John,” laughed Williams. ”I've overlooked it entirely, I'll confess, but not Bob. He's figured out already how many cords of wood we'll get out of those old rails.”
”I tell you, Patterson,” said the banker smiling, ”there's a boy who's going to make things pay. I've plans for him myself that I'm not saying anything about. I don't want to take him away from you, Joe, but he's growing up and some day he's going to have a farm of his own.
If you get two years' work out of him at the rate he's going, I don't think you'll have any complaint to make though. By the way, how about a power was.h.i.+ng-machine and mangle for the laundry? Don't you think your wife will need those?”
”She was speaking about them the other day,” admitted Joe. ”I guess I'd better include them. Then, of course, we'll need some first-cla.s.s scales. Bob has been after me ever since he's been here to get a new platform scale and a good steelyard, for weighing bulky stuff, and we ought to have a new scale for the dairy also.”
”Those ought to be bought, Joe; you can't get far on a farm without good scales,” remarked the banker. ”Now, let's see what all this is going to cost. What do you make it, Joe?”
”Well, I figure the items that Patterson's company is going to furnish will come to $3000, and the other items that we have decided to get will make a total of $5000.”
”This ought to give you a splendid outfit, Joe, and make it possible for you to do the work of two or three men, and with less fatigue to yourself.”
”Get these tools here, Patterson, as soon as you can,” said Williams.
”We want the corn planter and cultivator first and the others just as soon as possible.”
”I've a planter and cultivator in the Pittsburgh warehouse now, and can have them here in three or four days.”
”That'll be fine,” said Williams, as he signed the order for the implements.
”What discount will there be for cash on an order of this size, Patterson?” he asked suddenly. ”We'll allow you seven per cent for cash on delivery, which is a little better than we ordinarily give, but we'll throw off a little in your case for advertising, Joe. We'll probably be troubling you some this summer sending your neighbors around to see the tools working.”
”That'll be all right,” said Joe smiling. ”Let as many come as want to. I think lots of them are getting jealous already, for I keep mentioning to them whenever I see them how Brookside is prospering.”
”Well, thanks for the order, Joe,” said Patterson, as he shook him by the hand. ”I don't mind saying this is the most complete order I've ever taken for a single farm in your section of the country. Our company ought to be proud to know they're going to have a farm so fully equipped with their implements.”