The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1850-07-27

characteristics, let him aspire to be any
thing else rather than a merch ant for bis
own sake and for that Of others. An In
competent doctor my live though bis
patients should not; poor lawyer may
damage his clients yet pocket their fees;
q thick.headed INGREDIENT must inevitably
ruin both himself and bis trusting friends.
The chance, that he may blunder on
and dodge bankruptcy for years, have
grown less and les, until they are very
nearly extinguished.
Il is idle and nischievous 10 hops for
large profits henceforih, save in rare, ex-
ceptional instances. The general diffu-
sion OF intelligence and the Improvement
Of the facilities for direct exchanges be-
tween producer and consumer, render ex
tennve and regula. trade on the old basis
OF small sales and large profits impossible
If the -four dealers of New England, the
coal dealers Of New York, the shse-dsal-
ers Of Ohio, will not supply their custom
ers at moderate prices, they provoke COM
petlter' 10 suppI.at and destroy them; or,
this failing, they inclte consumers to
combine and buy at wholesale a cargo of
flour, Of coal, OF shoes, for themselves.
ANY serious attempt to restore the old
system Of sales on loss credits to CUSTOM
ers Of doubtful solvercy, but at such high
prices as to compensate for the risk and
delay Of payment, would only serve to
lmpel the consuming classes to withdraw
more and more OF their custom from tra-
der, as = class, and effect more and more
OF their exchanges by agencies and ar
engagements OF their own. The practl-
cal choice Ut 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 i'm
ply small profits. On the contrary.
there never was a tune when larger prof
its were realized than may be now. Let
US suppose, for example, that New Eng
land consumes annually ten thousand
tons OF western bacon, and tina. the guam
thy so consumed il annually increasing.
Now, il any Boston merchant at home
can manage to become the channel OF in
ter change between the producers and
the consumers of half those hams, At an
average net profit Of two per cent, assn.
ming the hams to be worth $3.50 per
ton. that merchant or house would clear
$4,000 annually on bacon alone. So
with -four, groceries, and everything
else.
These, then, are the essential bases of a
profitable and safe trade IN tho future
first, ability to supply the public demand
on as favorable terms as any one else
can offer; secondly universal knowledge
Of the fact, and assurance that it NAV bs
relied on. Let 4 Boston dealer IN -four,
or meals, or cloths, or anything else, be
able to supply all New England with
whatever he deals in, al the lowest pos-
siele rate, and let all New England be as.
sured of the fact that he can and ~,ll do
30, and hls fortune Is made. No matter
though his average net profit should
range even below one per cent. his an
nual income must exceed bis Necessary
expenses by Thousands Of dollars.
The merchant, therefore, who airs to
succeed IN business must aim at these
two points-frst, 10 be sure that he can
satisfy q wide demand for tn. artclss he
deals in, on the lowest practicable terms:
secondly, that everybody within the
proper scope Of his business is made aware
OF his ability and confident Of his di.po
sition to do so. These points attained.
he has only to do his business properly,
as it comes in upon him, aud his fortune
is made.
To the merchsnt or dealer who IL sure
Of his ability to fill orders on the most
favorable terms, the attainment Of an ad-
equats publicity is the matter Of prlma-
ry concern. IF his circle OF trade is
properly the county in which he lives
then he should take effec.ual measures to
lei svery family in that county know
what he sells, and on what conditions.
I, is i'd. to speak Of the cost as an ir,-
p.diment-he nigh. q we'll object to
the cost Of shel:erng bis goods from bad
weather. protecting them from thieves or
dealing them out to customers. All the
other cost Of hM business is incurred with
out adequate motive or return so long As
this essential element Of bis business Is
neglected or crimped. If his location
and his stock only enti,le him to expect
the custom Of his swn township or neigh
borhood, then he should incur the ex-
psnse of fully informing that locality.
Just 80 with the wholesale merchant who
aspirss to cuttom co-extensive with his
state, his section, or the whole Union.
II he is prepared to satisfy 20 wide de-
rnand on favorable terms, tn. expense Of
apprisine those whom he desires for Gus
TONERS OF the nature Of his business, the
character oil bis stock: the range Of his
prices and the reasons why he should
be dealt with, is one which be cannot re-