Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-22
Letter from Baltimore.

Eprrc.ponJ.u Ne. "t III, N.uni. ~ Go-ctt..
BMrIgoRr, March l9.-Ip 30 IT," prrseu,
time the trade If lbi, city, this season. is
very light. hear but one complaint tsome
few houses excepted. and that is, unusual
dullucss in all branches Of trade. The adj
vantagcS of Canal navigation over the Rail
road, for all heavy goods, i, inducing NOR
chants from the Cumberland region to 30
from this 10 your city this season. for the ex
press purpose Of buying groceries, salt. fish.
&c. have known of several cases myself
and | suppose there are others of whom |
have not heard. One merchant from Cum
berand who told me he expected to 20 10
Alexandria to buy such good, a. spoken of,
gave rs his reason for So doing, first, the
cheapncss Of freight, IL compared with the
Railroad, and second, that he found the Al
exandria merchants so clever and accommo-
dating he did not like to pass them by alto
gether. Such is the voluntary report of this
man, and 80 it should be with every man
who goes to Your city to deal. II is the opin-
ion OF those whose experience and obscrya-
ton should make them competent 10 Judge
that the country merchants cant fare better
any where than in Alexandria. - far a they
have the stock TO supply them. More work
Is done there for the same money. and more
done for noiLing. merely thanky jobs, than
i'll any other city. Greater indulgence Is
expected and received than in any other COM
mercial place. and from necessity, if for no
other reason, the business is done mostly ar
small profit With your merchants the ct-
fort is TO stop the trade, and I" do 50 they
must accept Of moderate rates compared
even with prices i'll larger cities. Were a
country merchant, as "A mattnr Of policy. |
should visit Alexandria, and take time To
examine well the different stocks of goods.
and should expect Ia make my cheapest bills
there For groceries. boot, and shoes. hard
ware, queensware and tobacco and ,egars.
and salt. and very many other kind, of
goods, Alexandria is undoubtedly the market
for the country merchant. ~ an evidence
OF this fact some Of the closest buyers and
hest merchants are rarely. if ever. known IL
buy certain IT the above goods out OF your
city. Why should II not be- 50? Take for
instance, boots and shoes. They are manu-
featured i'll Massachusetts. and there the job
b"rs Of ercty c'ty must 90 10 get Them. New
lork has M advantage over Alexandria IN
that market. Freight from 3 .>ton j. about
the same to either port and rent and clerks
hire, and other expenses very much cheaper
with you. of course. Who then ought 20
have the advantage: When men learn 10
look AT facts and not he governed hy the out
ward appearance. we may expect 70 find
them more successful in their undertakings.
\ wise merchant will not shut both eyes and
run with the multitude. but will keep hi,
eyes open and look H. hc goes along. and il
he can buy goods ~ cheap or cheaper IN
"NaZcr"th' than ic can in ''Jcru>alcm. and
save freight and risks ot transportation. &c.,
he will do it. and it is only those who Nirh
they know more than N.y do, who act differ
emily. In dis city, Il brisk trade il Vet cX-
pccted, particularly next month. and doubt
not such will he the case. and | hope none
will he disappointed. Baltimore ought n"w
To- have control of the Southern trade, but
unfortunately ior her. while she slept, New
York suvcd tarcs, and now her hopes seem
centcrcd in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad:
a forlorn hope. think. 4 SOJOtRNER.