New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-03
TANIMANY's TOOLS.
Another Successful Carpet Man
From the New York Times, JUL 2sI

Another Successful Carpet Man
From the New York Times, JUL %
Throughout yesterday morning one of
the reporters attached to the Times was
busy searching through the city in the hope
of finding large carpet dealer by the name
of j. A. Smith, who during the years 1868,
1869 and 1870 had furnished the city gov
eminent with $779, III III worth of carpets,
shades, etc." In vain he searched through
the directory; there were, as might have
been expected, plenty of Smiths, and sew
eral j. AS, but none with these initials
were in the carpet business. No one III the
carpet stores ON the Bowery and Green
street seemed even to have heard of him,
and the reporter was on the point OF giving
up in despair, when one of the carpet men
he questioned asked him if he had called
on Robert G. Gregg, at the carpet store
near the foet of the Bowery, as he know he
had supplied the city government, and
thought some information might be got
from him. Taking the hint, the reporter
went thither, and, after some time spent in
waiting, was at length rewarded by seeing
that gentleman. The following conversa-
ton then took place:
Reporter: We have understood, Mr..
Gregg, that you have received large sums
of money from the city government for
furnishing carpets to the county court
that is so, and to get any other particulars
you can give me.
Mr.. Gregg: AS to that matter, | have
supplied the city with carpetings for some
time.
Reporter: Have you any idea what this
sum would amount to? mean all that
you have received i'll payment.
Mr.. Gregg | couldn't tell exactly; there
have been good many different accounts
somewhere between 100000 and 100000
/ think. But there is one thing you people
down in the Times Office don't seem to take
into account; the carpets in these public
buildings need to be changed a great deal
oftener than IN private houses.
Reporter: Yes. suppose there is more
wear to them.
Mr.. Gregg: 1t is not wholly the wear, but
the people down there are very particular
You know how it is in the cOurtrooms;
they are continually changing the judges
bench because he thinks that the noise in
the streets dIsturbs him; and so it is with
these carpets; they are dissatisfied, and we
have to change them.
Reporter: Have all the carpets you fur
nished been sent to the new courthouse
Mr.. Gregg: Yes; l don't think that l have
sent goods to any other place.
Reporter But who Is this Mr.. j. A. Smith,
who has bills for carpeting amounting to
nearly $500, 600!
Mr. Gregg with faint smile)s Oh he is
a new man.
Reporter: He can't be very new, for he
has been furnishing goods for the last three
years.
Mr.. Gregg. Well don't know who it
is, but / thought it was man named
Smith, down on Grand street.
The reporter here intimated that there
was no one in the carpet business by the
name of j. A. Smith doing business on
Grand street, and that the Smiths there
in business did not know anything
about it,
Mr. Gregg: | never knew who he WAS
Reporter: Don't you think that it is a
little strange that you and he should be fur
nishing goods of the same kind, and at the
same place, to such large amount, and vet
that you should never have known who lie
was!
Mr.. Gregg: Well, don't know; always
thought he was new man.
Reporter: Were the drafts you received
from the city government Endorsed by In
gersoll & Co. q!
Mr.. Gregg: Not one of them that l can
remember. l think that we were always
paid directly,
Reporter: What would be about the
average price of the carpets you have fur
uished
Mr.. Gregg (hesitatingly): really couldn't
tell. The price of carpets is like the price
OF flour; every one knows what they are
worth by looking at them.
Reporter: But haven't you some idea of
what they would average.
Mr.. Gregg: 1t would be rather hard to
give q correct average.
Reporter (suggestively): Would it be
more than five dollars yard
Mr. Gregg: Well, l have sent them car
pets that were worth six and seven dollars
a yard.
Reporter: Still, for good many you did
not charge five dollars
Mr.. Gregg: Yes most of them would be
under five dollars.
Reporter Did you have any difficulty in
getting your money!
Mr.. Gregg: None except having to wait
some time; some bills were paid very
promptly though.
Reporter: How is it at present; do you
still supply them!
Mr.. Gregg: Yes, they are getting some
from us right along.
Reporter Could you form any estimate
las to the amount you furnish them monthly!
Mr. Gregg latter considerable hesitationl:
1t would be rather hard to do so, for ii
varies a good deal
Reporter: | should think you might have
some sort of an idea.
Mr.. Gregg tstill hesitating) l should
think that it would amount to between
$50, 900 and $4,000 a month.
Reporter: And this amount of goods is
all sent to one place?
Mr.. Gregg: Yes; to the new courthouse.
Then. too, in the summer months, say June
and July, the average is higher than at |
other times.
Reporter: To return little. You are
quite certain, Afr. Gregg, that you don't |
know who this j. a. Smith is
Mr.. Gregg: No; I'm sure can't imagine
who it can be. a5a
This closed the interview, and having
thanked Mr.. Gregg for his very valuable
the reporter left his office. |
Whether it was from forgetfulness or not,