CYRUS HALL McCORMICK 



and therefore he had supplies of machines stored 

 in various parts of the country. By 1849 he 

 had nineteen of these agencies. 



His plan, with regard to these agents, was 

 to fasten them to him by exclusive contracts, 

 which forbade them to sell Reapers made by 

 any other manufacturers. Each agent was 

 given free scope. He was not worried by detail 

 instructions. He was picked out for his aggres- 

 sive, self-reliant qualities, and the whole respon- 

 sibility of a certain territory was put upon him. 

 Once a month he made a report; but he stood 

 or fell by the final showing for the year, which 

 he made in October. This plan of leaving his 

 men free and putting them upon their mettle, 

 developed their mental muscle to the utmost. 

 Also, it made them intensely loyal and combat- 

 ive a regiment, not of private soldiers, but 

 generals, each one in charge of his own prov- 

 ince, blamed for his defeats and rewarded for 

 his victories. 



The fifth factor in the McCormick System 

 was the Customers 9 Good-Will. For the good- 

 will of other capitalists or for the applause of 



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