The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-08-09
TIE TENNESSEE RIvER 9TRAnR-

In conversation with a gentleman
yesterday, who is well acquainted on
the Tennessee River, he expressed
the opinion that while Evansville
would retain large share of the
Tennessee River trade, that much of
it would continue to go to Cincinnati,
because dry goods and groceries were
cheaper there We are satisfied that
the premises are untenable. He ar
gued that the wholesale merchants
bought goods in larger quantities than
our merchants do, and therefore
bought cheaper. In this we think he
is again incorrect. Our heaviest mer-
chants do not, perhaps, buy as often
as many of the Cincinnati merchants.
but they buy generally heavier stocks.
Many of the Cincinnati houses, en-
ploying all their capital in business,
replenish their stocks almost daily by
small purchases. while most of our
heavy houses; having ample surplus
means, buy immense stocks for cash
every three months, and buy at the
very lowest prices, with the privilege
of replenishing any particular line of
goods as occasion may require at the
the lowest ruling rates.
Such being>the case, our merchants
and the Cincinnati merchants start
even in competing for the trade with
the country bordering on the Ten
nessee. 4S&
That our merchants can afford to
sell at smaller profits on prime cost is
unquestionable. The expenses of
running large wholesale house in
Evansville does not compare with
those in Cincinnati. Rents here are
less than one-half Clerk hire is far
cheaper, and the expense of living is
much less.
Our largest and most enterprising
merchants take off their coats and go
to work themselves in earnest, and
superintend the entire business;
while insCincinnati il is different ,sas
it would not there be deemed respect
able to see a merchant who sold a
million dollars worth of goods year,
with his coat off, his sleeves rolled up
toiling like hired porter from morn
ing till night.
Our merchants live. more economi-
cally and less pretentious than mer-
chants of larger cities dare do, and
retain their standing in fashionable
society, and meet the more frequent
demands upon their liberality The
truth is that the merchants Of Ten
nessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, Ala
bama, or Kansas and Southern Mis-
souri,. can save money, time and
risk by buying their stocks of goods
In this city. Some of those merchants
have tried this matter thoroughly,
and give Evansville the preference,
whilea few. aud among them perhaps
some of the largest dealers have been
In the habit of going to Cincinnati
without examining the markets here,
and imagine they are doing better,
simply because Cincinnati is larger
city, and her merchants persuade their
customers that they are giving them
good bargains.
We invite the merchants Of the
Tennessee River country to come here
and examine stocks and prices before
they settle down into the erroneous
belief that they are doing better by
going elsewhere Many Of them do
come here, an3. we believe others
will. The result is not doubtful. 1t
will be the fault of our merchants if
they do not largely increase their Ten
nessee River trade this season. -
STRENGTHENING TIE LINE.-Every
one who has travelled oversthe E. sc.
Railroad has d enrseate The dangers