The New York herald., 1869-04-05
COMMERCIAL AGENCIES.


for rhe Lcvying of Blackmaii.
The Yankee is an originative animal, also q trine
inqusitive, not to say inquisltora Had the Yankee
had the handling OF affairs in old Spain In the days
OF the Inquistion there would have been no need of
that rather peculiar engine for obtaining lnforma-
ton. Half O dozen Yankees, with headquarters at
Madrid, would have found out all the Pope wanted,
and more too, without disagreeable resort to dun
geon rack or thumbscrew Proof OF the truth Of
this proposition is found in the commercial inqusi-
ton which, having its headquarters IN New York,
processes to be az Jait the affairs of every firm
from Maine to California and from Hud5on's Bay to
Panama. gigantic system Of espionage, having its
secret agents in every city and village IN the United
States and Dominion of Canada.
JENNY YARDsTIcK SETS UP IN BUSINESS.
The early history OF the commercial inquisi-
ton forms o splendid Illustration OF great re-
suits from small beginnings. 1t is now twenty
i've years or thereabouts since Jenny Yard
stick-so called from beng representative OF
the mathematical definition Of line, VIZ: length
without breadtn-origlnated the first Of those
institutions, peculiarly American, known as COM
mercial agencies. Mr.. Yardstick succeeded so ad-
mlraby and found the business Of pryng into other
peoples affairs excellenty adapted to his pecu-
liar tastes that he went on and founded the great
bureau Of secret Information, reliable and other
vice, known as the firm OF Jenny Yardstick h Son.
The name appears In gold letters quite appropriate
ly painted upon black ground, upon the second
story or q marble front on Broadway; for Mr. Yard.
stick, In the course Of time, waxed wealthy, and
concluded to leave the dozy old kennel In cob
webbed Nassau street, where he first opened his
office, to the book worms, worms OF the law and
other genera Of worms, which now inhabit its
crooked length.
AND IS EMULATgD BY OTHERS IN THE SECRET
SERVICE.
But Mr.. Yardstick was not long permitted to
enjoy the apple OF his originality alone, having
taken out patent for his peculiar process Of pryng
into matters which ought not to have concerned
him. In due season other Yankees, or human lynxes
betook themselves to the business in which Mr..
Yardstlck had succeeded SO well, and to succeed in
which he was 80 eminently qualified both by instinct
and peculiar culture. The organization Of second
firm was effected, under the name Of Dunn, Brown
& Co., which, it must be admitted was very appro-
priate as everybody was done brown who had the
want OF good sense to put any confidence in their
Information. These latter also, like the oTigivfal
Yardstlck, were believers in the great principle that
to succeed man must act as his own trumpcter,
end did 80, greatly to the dissatisfaction of Mr..
Yardsttck, who peppered them with lampoons and
small pamphlets and paragraphs, as printer pep
pcTS u ''tdhe" Will CUHlliltIS.
AL to no purpose. The more Messrs. Yardstick &
Son ampoOned the better Messls. DunD Brown Il
Co. succeeded In the business OF doing their GUS
toners brown and the more customers to be done
brown they had; and, at last, Mr.. Yardstick de-
sisted sagely concluding that every pamphleted
lampoon he troubled himself to hur at the heads OF
Dunn, Brown Co. was equal to q column in an
evening daily, and thar, for that matter, he could
lily afford 70 spend money for the gratuous sdver
tising OF other firms than his own. For many
months, therefore, the two firms divided the profits
OF Mr. Yardstck's discovery, based upon the prin
ing them about other peoples tasn 20 ssr
tending to their own and ni6bed pp ,n ae mice at
private matters which G ~ ane ast nI
plOyn9 q large corps OF professional ebbleis known
Commercial reporters. These latter were not long
literally for regulations in commercial circles, and,
from being taken care OF by Messrs. Yard
sIS1 small saaTiss U speedily began ~ to take care
Of themselves by pocketing the pickings
and plums Of the profession, and saying nothing
about It, as their employers had done In the days
means Of support. Or course this ought not to be
wishes commercial reputation and is willing to
pay for It, there Is no reason why the confidential
agent OF Yardstick Son should not supply the srti
Gle wanted, having 1t for sale, and pocket the pro-
ceeds. Only firms In want Of regulations for sound
may be advised not to pay too Literally for the
regulations in which Messrs. Yaristlck SON are
doing retail business as the article sold as aulhen-
tic Is OF no great value In respectable commercial
But again, the profits OF Mr. Yards,ics valuable
discovery had TO be divided, and the IT q nrm OF
McKillem Plague announced that u w4s prepared
prices to suit customers. IL being easier for
many firms to buy regulations than 10 make
them, besides being less attended with the
necessity for honest dealing, and the terms OF
the firm being very flexible, McKilem a Plague
prospered wonderfully, and now rank with their
elders In the multitude OF their customers Others
have started since, but wanting the peculiar fitness
for the business which distinguishes Mr.. Yardstick
and his compeers, have failed 10 attract patrons
MI m Ia
more honorable means OF earning O subsistence-in
which, had their example been followed by their
estS is sae PuGnc would nave
one more 6rm, rejoicing In the appropriate name OF
Hurt, Gallows & Co., has as yet gained foothold.
DETAILS or THE SYSTEM.
The Information dispensed by these retail dealers
in commercial regulations Is collected by various
means. One leading firm prefers to employ lawyers,
ttioner, who, being au Jut m the affairs OF his
clients, Is supposed TO be most competent authority
~ to their financial standing. Having no interest
In the affairs OF the central agency beyond what he
can make out OF II by hook or by crook, the agent
takes no trouble 10 collect Information, merely
jotting down Impressions hastily formed aud trans
miting them as accurate data. OF his friends he
takes care, or course; but let the store ut which he
trades, as the country phrase 10, once refuse him
OF reputation In the New York market. Or worse,
the agent visits the head Of the rn ami presents his
rs o a9as aYan wood u, eye MN
consideration, aud thus turns the institution he rep
resents into vehicle for leyying Dlackmai. That
one OF these results generally follows IL obvious
from the nature OF the case. The agent has inter-
est In taxing the trouble TO secure informa
tom he has an interest In making all he can out Of
the advantages Afforded him. IL is not loug since
the writer had opportunity OF proving the truth OF
these allegations from inspection OF the books OF q
leading nrin In single manufacturing town Ia
New England one firm which had failed four weeks
before was rated safe while another firm OF heavy
capital aud managed by able business men WAS
rated below hall O dozen other firms which
could hardly be accounted solvent In the
town tested there were thirteen manufacto
res In oil, and moro absurd JumDe
OF error than was represented BY their rating was
never exhibited under the pretcnce Of accurate In
formation. The agent, who was, or ought 10 have
been, responsible for the information, was also per-
sonaily known to the writer, and took no further
trouble In the matter than TO return by mail hi5 i'm
pressions IN the matter, without even the ceremony
OF inquiring to assure himself OF their correctness
The above is only one case IN a hundred thousand,
and Is mentioned only as case which
came under the writer's personal notice. In fact,
the agent ~ generally unacquainted with the heads
OF the agency he represents, aud cares not straw
for their interests long his personal ends can