Smyrna times., 1860-05-24
written for he smyrna Times.
Is Smyrna Retrogressing2


g Smyrna is going back" that "there Is NOT
asmuch business doing in the town as formerly.
Now. however distastefnl this question may De
to our merchants and citizens, and however un-
willing we are TO discuss it, we cannot out see
and feel that there is much of truth In the
statement. Energetic merchants in the neigh
boring towns, villages and crossroads have
sprung up, and, being able to compete win
ours in every way, have intercepted large
portion of the business which formerly came
and legitmately belongs 10 Smyrna. Then'
again, the suicidal act of allowing the Railroad
TO pass mile and quarter from the town,
when in their power to prevent it, thereby
bringing into existence a rival town at the de-
pot, with greater business facilities, has had
and will continue to have the effect of cutting
off many of our best customers. My object in
writing this letter is not to expose our weak
ness, but to record few thoughts and suggest
what I conceive to be remedy; TO effect
which we must hold out greater inducements
to purchasers than can be found outside of
Smyrna, something more substantial than those
ridiculous stereotype Duross placards which
meet our gaze on every hand. Such town as
ours, where are SO many mercantile establish
ments, should be made as attractive to The
country people as possible, and no better pIe5,
/ think, could be devised than the divisioa of
the business into as many different branches as
is done in cities. For Dry Goods we should
have stores fitted up in the most tasteful man.
ner, with large show windows, lady statesmen
; to wait on lady customers, and gentlemen
clerks TO wait on gentlemen. Let such estab-
lishments be what they profess to be-Dry
Good stores in fact. Let Grocery stores be
, Grocery stores, and so on through the whole
range of business. Our merchants deserve
= much credit for the Improvement made in their
places of business this spring, but until sim
: gle branch of business above is transacted in
one house, and not until then, can they hope
s for that success in increasing their trade which
q their capital and enterprise entitle them to-
. 1t frequently happens that one article is want
a ed not in daily demand, and dozen stores
!, may be searched without finding it, and so il
o must necessarily be, SO long as general stores
!. are the rage, and specialties overlooked
y When such condition of things is brough
J. about, the village and crossroads establish
Is ments will be passed by for the greater attrac
% ton and variety of our stores and instead of tht
y people of the town running off to Philadelphia
a. or Wilmington to procure suit of fine clothes
new hat, silk dress, or set of china, the.
in would purchase at home, for the reason tha
u there would be no inducement to spend thei
. money elsewhere. Under the present arrange
ic ment, one moments thought is sufficient {
n convince any man that it must be anything bu
er agreeable to ladies to enter store where
'u' encountered the fumes of bad cigars, bad
quor and the imprudent stare Of party of loa
ers. t
The man who would start this enterpris
would not only prove blessing to the tow
Id but make good paying business for himself
Others would speedily follow. and ere long Il
ut' consummatiOn SO deVOutly wished would be a
complished. Only few years ago it WI
Is thought hardware store would not pay, al
now, we ask, who ever thinks of going an
SUI where else for any article of that line, from
ab- four ounce tack to mill saw! We have ais
Igo drug stores and, unfortunately, host of liqu
stores Gone wholesale) which devote the
rse whole capital and energy to their legitima
ga branch of trade, and with success. Why ca
on not we have hat store, where are kept go
non assortment of fashionable hats and caps! Su
pom place would be well patrOnized. At prese
every man wears hat, and of the number ht
8 to few are purchased here! We make our
of hats do until we go 10 the city, if that be
once in three or four years. A book, perio
.oad caI, stationary and wall paper house is mu
zen needed. We are a reading people, and M
|, to have the means to crafty our desires in Il
respect. Besides, large number of sch
are books are used here, and, as a matter ofcOur
ls Of the book store would take all such custom
AVE AS soon as this system is inaugerated we sb
be able to keep our custom at home, DR.
al other from abroad, aRd farmers will take tt
80 produce to the produce dealers or the Mar
T,s House (when we get one y sell for the moi
-" - and pay cash for the goods bought ofmercha
which weuld materially aid in breaking up
long credit iystem, now 50 great stumb
isseA block to our community. Then the numel
iilled .;rn. of .chs.n Cash s,orsn wonld b,y
US VI real meaning.
now Smyrna 10 considered the second town
point of business, in the State, and since
ware believe that tohold this position, it is neces
'at is to change her present mode of doingbusiI
Cam and adopt the one above indicated-a syl
8 re- worthy Of the townand of our merchants.
pur. Mem
! last maxhaa.sx fra,,axaI ror eaxanoa