The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-05-02
Commercial Agencies.

The commercial editor Of the Ir.deDender
understood to be a merchant of characte
and standing thus enumeratcs what he con
ceives to be the advantages of commercial
agencies:
No mercantile firm, however well it ma,
be acquainted with its customers, can affort
to deprive itself Of the important informa
ton to be obtained at these agencies Eve
ry step taken independent of them is dan
gerous. We should as soon think of sail
ing ship full freighted into New York har-
Dor without pilot as to continue business
without the every day knowledge they i'm
part. Not protesting to be infalible, they
| possess advantages superior to any other
! system yet introduced
! a commercial agency is business record
office, where all the details are gathered in
regard to character. capital, capacity, and
social standing Of business men in all Sec
tons of the country. These institutions
are valuable for the following reasons:
They frequently warn the city creditor
OF danger to his interests in some distant
part Of the country, and furnish him with
/ facilities for protection.
They warn against irresponsible and
fraudulent traders, often tracing them from
State to State, and recording their move
merits in each locality.
They aid the solvent country merchant in
giving him credit, and the city merchant
in selecting his customers, thus acting as a
valuable means Of introducing buyers and
sellers to each other.
They are disinterested rCt5rences for the
country merchant, for it is impossible to find
any business in which honesty and interest
are more thoroughly blended.
They throw difficulties IN tho yyav of rash
speculation and overtrading.
They tend to keep down the cost Of goods
to the customer, as without their advantages
a larger percentage would necessarily be
laid upon goods to leave margin for bad
debts, delays, and extraordinary expense in
making collections.
They reduce the cost as we'll as the risk
of doing business with distant parts Of the
country, as the information they furnish
would cost probably ten times as much if
sought through any other channel.
They tend to produce greater sOlyency /
and prosperity among city merchants and /
business men generally.
They aid sound country merchants, for
they throw obstacles in the way Of the ire
SponSible and dishonest who attempt to buy
goods with no reasonable expectation or in
tention Of paying for them-thus protecting
honorable dealers from unfair competition.
Commercial agencies, therefore, may be
Justly called one Of the chict ais to com
nerce. They are not local in their influence
)r benefits, for they extend over the whole
country. They are not confined exclusively
o merchants. Banks, insurance companies
md business men in every department Of
rade can alike participate in their benefits.
These institutions. however, are yet in
heir infancy. The time will come, we be-
ieve, when each of them will be obliged to
Employ al least one travelling agent constant
y in each State, to arrange and keep in per-
cct order system which shall, on the
wings of the telegraph, keep this great
commercial emporium promptly and thor
'ughly posted in regard to every important
,hange or event in all business circles
They should know everything that can he
mourn about everybody in trade They :
houId point out wrong doing in every quar- i
er. They should act as detective police. {
hey should periodically report, by crcu- Z
+ business. They should carefully rport
condition ct tie crops. They should I
thoroughly canvass every subject which |
an influence the commercial prosperity of ,
he country.
We advise every merchant to subscribe ;
o these Institutions, imperfect as they yet
re. for arc &Hosc Of their value by actual er.
erieHce. And we urge upon each agency (
. perfect the system they have adopted, un-
j they occupy position which shall cam
,aT-t the favor and support of the entire
uSiness community.