Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-10
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hessrs. Edttors:-l read with surprise your re-
MARKS IN Fridays paper upon the Southern trade
which were joyfuly copied in to-days American,
enabling 1t thereby to make fling not only at our
Southern friends but at all those of our city who
pathized with them either during the war or since
wish to point out few errors in you, article
which my greater familiarity with matters of trade
enables me to do having been engaged in the coun-
try ooblng business for the last quarter of century
IN our city. agree with you that cannat expect
the trade of the South and do not deserve it, unless
We sell as .cheaply and on as good terms as the
that blood is thicker than water all other things
being equal, that we have just claim upon the
preference of our Southern friends.
/ honestly believe that goods are iobbed as cheaply
IN Baltimore as IN any market farther north OF us.
and when the difference in expense in money and
time is taken into account, it is manifesty the in
terest OF the country merchant to buy his goods
here even IT the first cost should be little more,
which l By no means admit In my long experience
ing articles in my particular branch of trade hardly
one in ten Of our country friends is good Judge OF
the articles he wishes to buy makes himself thor
oughly posted to their value, and therefore, you
oltentimes hear the remark made that they prefer
and the longer the experience of the merchant the
more llrmly ne becomes convinced Of the wisdom OF
selecting such houses.
Imagine case, such as I have seen hundreds of
times, merchant arrives here from the far South he
has not been in market for months; is entirely I'M
familiar With prices; tired and weary with long
travel, lch 0DredlSpOsltOR TO FURTHER North, not
outstanding he has kindly feeling for Baltimore;
nc glances at few articles in the different branches
OF trade: perhaps he does not charS6 MS memory
with the prices of half dozen in any house he may
have visited. when, after spending day or two with
us and buying nothing, but promising II he can't do
better, to return and make his purchases here. Re-
freshed and somewhat sharpened up for trade. he
rves in Philadelphia there perhaps to go through the
process, and finally reaches New York prepared
to buy.
shrewd salesman will very soon ascertain the
state of the case, and the price of any article
bered, is conveniently reduced for the occasion, at
much less than its value in any of the markets; and
the impression established that such is the case with
the stock generally, and then the sale is almost
to be contaminated at an average profit far greater
than the Baltimore merchant would have dreamed
of making while the SOutherner is more firmly con-
WINGED than ever that he had chosen the right mar
ket. On so slight cause merchants operations for
years often depends and it is disparagement to the
Southern merchant that it is So honest himself. he
believes when he goes into an immense establishment
that he will be honestly dealt by and don't pretend
to say that in many instances he will be disappointed
but do contend that his chances for getting his goods
at air prices is good, if not better home
ANY intelligent, rejecting merchant must admit
that the advantages of Baltimore, as a market are
great among which, are the cheaper rents and cost of
duced rates of freights, which heavy artic les is
very important item. The greatest difficulty We have
to contend with Is the prejudice country merchants
have for trading further North, to Overcome which,
requires great industry and perseverance, without
which nothing can be done. We have made many
good customer by inducing him to divide his BILL
having found in almost overy instance where they do
So their purchases are repeated and oftentnes made
altogether in Baltimore. Our merchants have but to
seek trade not wait for it to to them; to keep
good stocks and sell their goods at small profits for
prompt pay, and my word for 1t. when the South is
once moro able to buy, we will have full share of
their trade.
There many causes why the trade should lie
light this spring, the main one of which is the none
tary condition OF the South when the ended: the
people there had certain amount of ece that had
been boarded up fog emergencies that might arise in
state of war; but which, when peace came, having
been so long deprived of the comforts. and many Of
the necessaries of life they cheerfuy spent for goods
and freely that merchants who formerly made but
trip in season, 4de three and four. and some
stream was inexhauStible. The consequence was
that as goods grew plenty money grew scarce, and
instead of having paid for their last purchases and
being able to repeat them this spring, many have
been either obliged to keep their goods to sell them
on credit. either pred cament being fatal to their
continuing business To advantage.
This fROIg to be in many instances. Other
reasons could be given why the trade has fallen of
familiar to every business man, none of which has
had more dire influence than the unsettled state of
the country and its uncertain future, produced by
the radical faction controlling its destinies at
Washington. Let the South be moro restored
to its rights under the Constitution let the Ratchet
OF sectional strife and discord be buried and hui
name and liberal policy be inaugurated, and the
country will go to thrive and prosper and our own
fair city will receive her full share Shelab0rS under
disadvantages that cannot be overcome and while
she never can DC tao metropolis. she can maintain
her rank as the third city in the Union.
One word more and have done. The best evil
dence can give that Baltimore is the favorite mar
ket of the South is the fact that the great falling off
of trade from what it was last fall is fairly attribu-
table to the inability Of tho South to buy anything
like the amount OF goods it bought then. The South
the natural outlet for Baltimore, ours is its nat
ural market and will continue so to be. 1t rests
with our merchants to make this q great South ern
market, and let them look to it in time H.
Baltimore, April 9TH. 1865.