Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-01-17
TIE TRADE OF GAINESVILLE.

III
that our remarks, last week, on the Trade OF
GAINESVILLE, were construed into an assault
upou its most vital interests. When the
reader remembers that there Is no institu-
ton In the town that is more entirely de-
pendent for it's success upon the growth and
prosperity of the city than this office, the
ridiculous absurdity of such charge will be
too apparent TO call for either denial Or stud
led refltaton. Our avocation Is one that
affords US abundant opportunities for learn
ing how impossible it is to please everybody,
and 1t has taught us, at the same time, the
folly Of attempting to explain frivolou'com-
plants, or combat unreasoning censure.
But for our own satisfaction rather than
to mollify cavaliers, we beg leave TO recall
to mind the points which seem to have given
offense. We set out with the proposition,
that neither the river nor the railroad, nor
both, would ever make GAINESVILLE grow and
prosper, unless capital seized upon these
natural and artificial facilities and made
them tributary to trade. The Oldest inhabi-
.tant does not remember the time when the
river didn't run by the town, and the most
it has accomplished is to make this ship
ping point for distant ports where activity
and capital combine TO build up the local
trade to which such shipments are tributary.
If any one denies the truth of this PROPOSE
ton, our columns are open to him for full
expose of its fallscy. But in order to make
clearer our position, let us suppose that
man drives 100000 hogs through this place
on their way TO the south, how much richer
would Ciarksville be made by their passage
through iti But suppose there were CAPT.
tai aud enterprise here, 10 purchase and pack
those hogs, it will be seen at glance, how
money must be put in circulation for labor
and fuel and everything else needed for the
consummation of the enterprise. Then too
will become manifest the advantages offered
by river and railroad for without them the
hogs would neither be purchased nor packed
at this point. And hence the conclusion
that without capital and energy the river
will be left to float drift wood instead of
boats, and the rails TO be consumed by time
and rust, so far at least, as the contrary eff
feet depends upon the trade of this point in
their line Of communication. II must be
remembered too, that the capital necessary
for such an enterprise, will build houses,
and bring and fix heie the population es-
.ecntial to the prosecution Of such business.
We have selected this as an illustration, and
contend that the facts and reasoning appl y
with equal force to any other branch of bus
mess.
1t is said, too that We struck n blow at
the prosperity of GAINESVILLE by complaining
of the high price of Dry Goods. This is a
misapDrehension of our motive and reason
ing. What we intended and did say, is that
the interests of GAINESVILLE, demand of mer-
chants and groeers such policy in the man
ngcment Of their respective vacations, as
will bring trade here. Every store ia this
county and the adjoining ones, is the centre
OF given amount Of trade, and will con-
tinue To be SO as long as the stores in Clarks-
Vile onlr form the centre of a similar circle
of neighborhood trade. This we believe
TO be a self-evidcnt truth, and our object in
writing the article complained of, was to
draw attention to the fact and suggest q
remedy. That remedy we, argued is to be
found in such a system Of buying and sell.
ing as will enable town merchants to un,
dersell neighboring merchants to an extent
that will make IL an inducement with Gus
toners 10 come here to trade. We suggest
cd too, that to do this merchants must buy
Of first hands, instead of from jobbers, auC
for cash, whereby they can save the profit
usually paid to second hand sellers, rs wei
ns the per ccntage always added TO purch
asses on time, and that by this course, they
amount thus saved, and still make the sam,
profits paid TO buyers on time, AID from job
beers. We went farther and added that tn,
merchant or grocer who acted upon thi
system would be benefctor to the towI
and merit the patronage of the people. j
there in this any blow at the interests q
the town, or any complaint of high prices
Why is it that parties here, so or send +
Louisville to buy dry goods aud groceries
We have never heard bat one answer, an
that is that they arc cheaper at that poinI
And why are they cheaperr Because the
are bought on the terms We have suggested
aud the railroad upon which some woul
rely for building up trade here affords "a
cilites for trade with Louisville, and wi
continue TO operate against GAINESVILLE unit
tic capital aud energies Of its business me
are applied as in Louisville, to purchasin
where cheapest aud relying upon what
saved thereby as part Of the profits,
their investment. But we can make III
point clearer by practical Illustration.
shoes, at two dollars pair, and Il buys
similar case of the same manufacture bl
of a jobber at two dollars and quart
per pair. Both bring their purchases to tn
laarket-A sells his shoes at two dolla
and a quarter aud at two da'ssrs and
half A makes larger profit than b, an
the customers OF save the difference
the price. Suppose again that A and
purchase the same article of the same ma