Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1875-06-29
The Representative Dry Goods Rstab-
ishments Of Cumberland Md.


Cumberland, as It doubtless is of all wealthy
cities. The two great necessities of mankind
are clothing and food, and the supply of these
and their distribution constitute the basis of
the chief trade trade and manufactures in
the world in fact, commerce, foreign and.
domestic, owes its exittence to these two great
necessities. In the days of Oriental splendor
dry goods merchants went long distances in
companies or caravans through the great
desert of Sahara, their goods and themselves
carried on the back of the patient camel, APP
propriately named '.tbe ships of the desert, :"
from the large city marts to the inland towns.
Steam, like many other improvements, was
then unknown where an order is transmit
ted by the electric fash in an instant. and
the goods transported to their destination in
day, then it required months to travel the
same distance. But times have changed since
then, progress has marked the ear of man.
In those days of departed eastern glory the
merchants establishments were mere stalls,
and the buildings of our time would rank as
places fit for the residences Of princes. But
these are days of progress.
Notwithstanding the general prominence Of
this trade, there are some very conspicuous
establishments, which attract around them pa.
irons from distant States. There are some
others which in any extensive consideration
Of this subject. might require passing notice;
but We conine ourselves to the consideration
OF single firm, which figures prominently,
among our business concerns. We alludc to
the house already SO widely and favorably
known as Raltzell & Rouss, Wholesale and
Retail Dealers in Dry Goods, &C., Nos IS
Baltimore street, and 1 and Center streets,
Cumberland, Nd.
This houro xvaa established - goo ,,,Jo.
the firm of Batsell q Co., and ON Mr.. j. G.
Stoner's retirement, il changed to the pres,
ent style, the firm being now comprised of
! essrs. Chas. Baltzell and w. w. Rouss re-
spectively, both gentlemen of culture and cx-
perience. Mr.. Rouss is the resident partner
in New York City, and consequently tho firm
enjoys advantages in the purchase of goods,
which permits them to defy competition from
any other firm, both in regard to quality and
prices. The building occupied is. % feet
front by 100 feet in depth. On the first floor
We enter an elegant salesroom, where also q
cozy Office is located. The dreEs goods de.
partmente is particularly full and complete,
the same consisting of the finest imported
and domestic goods in an immense variety of
patterns and styles. Here we find such goods
as black, culored, striped and checked silks,
beautiful grenadines, fine camel. hair suitings,
silkwarp Cashmeres, briiiantines and alpaccas;
in fact, all kinds of dress fabrics of the finest
qualities, the simple sight of which would set
the female heart throbbing. We also find
here full and complete assortment of fancy
goods and ladies' neckwear in great variety
aud of the finest and newest designs.
Ascending handsome staircase we were
conducted through the second floor, where we
were shown magnificent and bewildering
variety OF carpets, oil cloths. mattings, rugs,
&c., while the third floor is used for the
storage Of the stock. About twelve statesmen
are employed. the sales aggregating the hand
some figure of s15O, 900 per annum, and ex>
tending throus hout Maryland, West Virginia
and Pennsylvania.
The high standing which this firm has at
tanned among the business community-a fact
which none will deuy-is due mainly to their
enterprise and exemplary mode of doing
business. We predict for them the same
good success in the future that has attended
them In the past, and only add thesc few
words of appreciation because we know they
truly merit all we or any one else, can say in
their praise.
The above we copy from the Pittsburg
(Pa.) Journal Of Commerce. Mr. Rouss here
spoken of is native of Jefferson county, and
his parents still reside here at their beautiful
country seat, "Shannon Hill," on the Shen>
andoah river, opposite Shanuondale Springs.
Mr.. R. left College in 1865 and began the
mercantile pursuit in small way in the city
of Brooklyn. Ho was quite successful from
the first, and finally started four other branches,
located in Cumberland, Nd, Wheeling, ".
Va, Akron, Ohio, and Youngstown, Ohio
he remained in the New York market all the
time, and did all the buying. In 1873 the
firm succeeded in getting lease of fifteen
years on the largest building in Cumberland,
and the finest store.room in Western Mary
land. They then concluded to discontinue
all the other stores and concentrate all their
business into that one concern. This they
accomplished last year, and then in February
last Mr.. Stoner withdrew from the firm, lcav-
ing Mr.. Baitzell aud Mr. Rouss.
They went to Cumberland in 1869, and
opened strictly cash business, and sold goods
at small profits in the midst of old established.
merchants whose maxim was the old credit
system and ruinous long profits. The firms
business increased with wonderful rapidity
from the first hour of their opening. Their
little room about forty feet square soon became
too small, and before they had been there a
year they moved into a room sixty feet long.
Their business continued to increase, to the
utter amazemeDt of their competitors, until
they soon found they must have still more
room. There was but one store-room in tho
city larger than the one they were then in,
which they succeeded in getting after work.
ing for it more than a year. After obtaining
a lease they went to work and fitted it up in