The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-04-26
A BUSINESS LETTER ABOUT EBE
-CIrF OF eBARLEsToH. =

military goyernment.
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A BusiNzsiIe LETTRts ABOUT THE
-clrF OF gHARtEsros.
llr. Editor Having recently visited
Che City of Charleston, for purposes Of
business, ! will give your readefs come
facts and reflections coppeeted there
with.
Aud first, lie. me say that was sur
prised and pleased to find goods SO low,
and merchants so liberal and accommo-
dating. ] supposed that there would be
a small advance upon New York prices,
and vas prepared to have paid it
Wher, however, examined and priced
the ocks of seme of the large houses
in hayne and Meeting Streets, ( found
the proprie.ors both willing and anxious
70 seil at Ne,o York Prices. At 6rst
glance this seems like an improbable
statement, bat little reflection will
explain it satisfactorily. 1fa merchant
from Sumter or any other interior town,
visits New York to lay 10 q supply OF
goods, he cannot obtain these goods
from first hands. he has not the cash
wherewi,h to purchase Dry Goods (for
e7ample} either from Importers or the
agents Of Manufacturers; and if he had,
he does not bay in sufficient quantity to
meet the regulations Of these large
dealers. They arc compelled to seh b
The package. only. in order to retain
their business with the Jobbcrs in New
York and all the other large cities. The
country merchant is thus obliged to
purchase from the Jobbiug houses,
where he can find the assortment which
he requires, and where be can buy By
the single piece or dozen, instead Of
being compelled to take whole packages
The New York Jobber cannot afford to
sell his goods any cheaper than the
Charleston Jobber. True the New
Yorker has no freight, insurance or
travelling expenses to pay. But the
Charleston Jobber works at rate of
expense infinitely lower than his North.
ern rival. His rent, clerk hire and
living are all much less than are paid
by tAs New Yorker. Now supposing
that both Of these Jobbers obtain their
supplies from first hands (Which is
usually the case) it is evident that the
Charleston house can sell at as low
prices as the New York one. It may
be asked, if this is SO Why have the
Jobbers at the South not always com
manded the trade Of Southern country
merchants The answer is simply,
because the Southern Jobbers we're not
satisfied with small profits. Bitter ex
perience has forced upon them the
necessity Of competing with New York.
They have now wisely determined to
retain the trade at home, as much as
possible, and to adopt the safe maxim OF
large salcs and small pr9fts"
1t being admitted :hen that the coun-
try merchant can purchase in Charleston
at prices as low as in New York, |
propose now to give some Of the advan.
taaes TO be derived from adopting this
course:
FIRST. Uc JmM mp our o'ea citics.-
The prosperity of Charleston reflects
back upon the interior. II our cities
are doing a successful business, our
Rail II ads increase in number and 10
facility o. Transportation, and can afford
to accept lower rates of freight. II our
cities prosper, capital accumulates,
banks increase in number, money be-
comes cheap. because abundant, rates of
interest decline, aud the charges upon
business being spread over larger
surface, as it we're. are gradually reduced.
If our cities prosper foreign vessels
will bring their cargoes to our ports, and
foreign capital will settle there. Thus
the Southern sea pert will become the
emporium Of both domestic aud foreign
commerce, and will in time, be able to
extend to the interior the ard which is
20 much needed Wherewith. to develop
our resources, to build factories and
mills. to open mines, to construct Rail
Roads aud canals, to build colleges and
schools, and to promote in thousand
ways our progress aud advancement.
Second. VIC seeare the benefit effc near
market. By purchasing in Charleston
wo can DO With smaller stocks ee goods.
We can thus save iaterea., because less
capital will be needed, and We Will avoid
the risk Of having unstable goods lefs
ON band. We. save the expeUse ofa
semi-annual yisit to New. York, nth its
mul.iform temptations to spepd mouey,
aud We have just go mach more time to
devote to our business st home. -
We save marine insurance, (the
| Charleston Jolber pays that for ,ta)-
We save time In getting our goods after
they are. bought. aud We save a hygt
portion Of our tre9hts. We baye Jhe
beae6s of the taste aad judgement offhe
Charleston Jobbsg s iss selecting goods
Ssdap.ed 10 udr peenlf1f WATTS, audi We
are saved the bsNilacEing snd slIead.
| spiit.iss ecnfasios or those nemnoth
estabiishueuts Ut the North, sShere SC
many patterns and styles aEs presented
Ft3 Sct eyes that y !. = :. - J = ''1.,' :,
-, u s,sr.i .iEanesisn