The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1850-07-31

aspire to be any thing else rather than
merchant, for his own sake aud for that of
others. An incompetent doctor may live
though his patients should not; a poor law,
yer may damage his clients yet pocket their
fees; tlick-headed melchan, must inevita-
| bly, ruin both himself and bis trusting friends.
The chances that he may bunder on and
dodge bankruptcy for years, have grown less
and less until they are very nearly exin.
lguiShed.
II is idle and mischevous to hope for large
Iprofls henceforlh, save in iare, exceptional
instances. The general diffusion of in'elli.
gence and The improvement of the factlities
for direct exchanges between producer and
consumer, render extensive and regular trade
on the old basis of small sales and large pros
fits impossible. If the -four dealers Of New
England the coal dealers Of New York, thn
shoe dealers of Ohio, will not supply their
customers at moderate prices. tley provoke
competitors TO suppaut and destroy them; or,
this failing, they ncite consumers 10 combine
and buy at wholesaler cargo of flour, OF coal,
of shoes, for themselves. Any serious at
tempt 10 restore the old system Of sales on
llong credits 10 customers Of doubtful solyen
cy, but at such high prices as TO compensate
for the risk and delay OF payment, wonld only
serve to impel the consuming classes to
withdraw more and more of their custom
from traders as q class, and effect more and
more ofiher exchanges by agencies and are
engagements of their own. The practical
choice o(the mercantile class lies not between
large and small per centages on their sales,
but between small ones and none.
But small advances on cost do not imply
small profits. On the contrary, there never
was time when larger profits were realized
than may be now. Let us suppose, for ex-
ample, lnat New England consumes annually
ten thousand tons of western bacon, and that
[ the quantity so consumed is annually increa>
lsing, Now if any Boston merchant al home
can manage 10 become the channel of inter-
change between the producers and the con-
lsumers Of half those hams, at an average net
profit of two per cent. assuming the hams
Eo be worth $3.50 per ton, that merchant or
house would clear $4,000 annually on ba-
con alone. So with flour, groceries, and
every thing else.
These, then, are The essential basis of a
profitable and safe trade in the future - first
liability to supply the public demand on as
favorable terms as any one else can offer;
secondly, universal knowledge of the Iact,
and assurance that It may be relied on. Let
a Boston dealer in flour, or meats, or cIo'hs,
or anything else, be able To supply all New
England with whatever he deals in, at The
lowest possible rate, and let all New Ergand
be assured of the fact that he can and iviU
do so, and his fortune is made. No matter
though his average net profit should range
even below one per cent, bis annual income
must exceed his necessary expenses by thou
sands ofdoIlars. @ ...a ~.
The merchant, therefore, who aims to sue
coed in business must aim at these two points
first, to be sure that he can satisfy wide
demand for the articles he deals in, on the
lowest practicable terms; secondly, that ev.
eryDody within the proper scope of his bust
ness is made aware Of his ability and conf
dent Of his disposition to do so. These
points attained, he has only to do his bust
ness properly, as it comes in upon him, and
his fortune is made.
70 the merchant or dealer who is sure of
his ability 10 fill orders on the most favorable
terms. the attainment nj an adequate publci.
y is the matter of primary concern. Ii his
circle ofTade is properly the county in which
he lives, then he should take effectnaI meas
ures TO lei every family in that county know
what he sells, and on what conditions. Ii is
IDLE TO speak of The cost as an inpediment--
lie might as we'll object 10 the cost of shell
Ierng his goods from bad weather, protects
ing them from thieves or dealing them out to
customers. Alllhe other cost of his business
is incurred without adequate motive or return
SO long as this essential element of his bust.
ness is neglected or scrimped. IL his loca-
lion and his stock only entitle him to expect
the custom of his own township or neighbor-
hood, then ho should incur the expense of
fully informing that locality. Just so with
the wholesale merchant who aspires 10 Gus,
tom c0ex,ensive with his state, his section,
OF the whole Union. If he is prepared to
satisfy 50 wide demind on favorable terms,
the expense Of apprisng 'hose whom he de.
sires for customers ofthe nature of his busi-
ness, the character OF his stock, the range OF
his prices ana the reasons why he should be
dealt with, is one which he cannot refuse TO
Incur without gross incompetency and ruins
Gus prodgaity. BY thus refusing, he increa,
ses his expenses for rent, lights and fuel
clerk hire, &c. from half per cent to three
4 FIVE and in some cases ten per cent. on hi.
aggregate sales, and renders it morally i'm.
possible that he should sell at profit and a
The same time sell as cheaDly as his more
enterprising and capable rivals. In effect
he coniesses defeat and incapacily, and re-
treats 10 the rear Iank of his vocation
Some men who know enough 10 adyeriize
are yet so narrow as to conline their adVer
iisenents to journals Of their own creed o.
Iparty. II they do moi choose 10 trade will
any but men Of like faith, this is wise; but i
they deshe to have the whole public for Gus
TONERS, ii is otherwise. saa E3ar o.
! There is large cass who delight to shint
1 in newspapers and placnrds as wits or poets
and announce their wares in second hant
Jokes ia doggcrel I'll to set the teeth OF
Idull saw on edge. If their object is notorioly
or a laugh, this is The way TO attain It; but i
it be business, il would seem better TO use III,
language of business. Leave clowns Jest
to the circus, and let sober men speak ai
they act, with difectncss and decision Thr
, fewest words that will convoy the advertiser
) ideas are the right ones. ii 5st5 ase
II Men of business are partly aware Of ih,
: immense change which few years havl
!, wrought in the power Of The Public Press =