, 1876-09-03
A. T. STEWART s. co.
An INTERVIEW w1TH THE ACTIVE PARTNER 4
THE FIRM.

An INTERVIEW W1TH THE ACTIVE PARTNER II
THE FIRM.
Tie fact that Mr.. William Libbcy, q partner
in the house Of A. 7. Stewart & Co.. was at thu
Palmer House vas sufficient reason why
TRIBUNE reporter should make call upon hin
last evening to ascertain what he might have tt
communicate concerning the establishment il
this city Of branch Of the greatest drI-goods
house in this country.
To Mr.. Libbey, seated comfortably In one o1
the Palmer parlors, the reporter said:
'Do you expect, sir, to have your quarters
here prepared in time for the fall tradc:''
''H everything goes well, VIC should be ready
to open about the middle Of this month-in
time to allow people to know that We are in
Chicago this season."
g Are your quarters such as to suit youa"
They are admirable; VIC could hardly ask
for better accommodations
DO you bring your employees with you, or
will they be from this city!'
1--WE shall bring our heads of departments,
say three from each, from New York; they are
men who have grown up, many of them, from
boys in our employ; they have thoroughly
learned our way Of doing business, aud can car
r. out our ideas and plans as no other men
could, however able they may be, if without the
drill these men have had. Each of our depart
mcnts will have, say, three men now in our Gnu
ploy at its head. The first of these is likely to
be called to Europe occasionally when the sec
ond will assume control, and in case OF his alb
sencethc third. The remainder Of the force,-the
statesmen, porters and, in fact, all the employees
in Chicago. 1t IS our object to make the people
OF Chicago understand that We are with them
aud of them; and we shall do all in our power
to show them that such is the case.'
"Speaking Of departments, how many do you
propose to ma]e,.that is, how widely docs your
business eXtcul!n
awe have seventeen departments in our New
York establishment
''Do you intend to follow the custom Of send
ing out uru1nmers!''
tNot largely; it has always been our aim to
do our business by the aid Of low prices; our
principle has always been to buy Of the best,
and generally the largest, manufacturers, in
large lots and at the lowest price for cash; we
thus make the goods, whatever they may be,
cost us less than any one else, and then re sell
them as low Us we can afford to. That has been
the rule on which our business has always been
carried on"
s'The question of time has entered into the
competition between New York and the inland
cities, has it not!"
"Pcrhaps so; but us business is now carried
on few merchants who can pay 100 cents on the
dollar, and intend to do so, can afford to ask for
long credits Money can be had in the great
ceutres at very small interest," aud when it is
considered that the jobbing merchant invariably
discounts per cent per month. OF Il per cent
per year. it is clear that it is the greatest econo
my for the merchant to save that interest, or as
much as possible Of it, by borrowing at q far
lower rate Of interest and paying cash for his
goods.''
After some other inquiries OF less interest the
reporter withdrew.
EXCITING SCENES AT w1LDER's "MT BLoCK."
To the Editor of The Tribune.
CHICAGO, Sept. 2.-The news that the world
ron o6 dry Croc6a hrnGe af fha nne
chant; in his line, in America, A. r. Stewart,
was about opening branch establishment in
Chicago, created more than ripple on the sea
OF business. The original proprietor, Il being
dead, yet liyeth" in his successors and former
associates in actual life, and his spirit Of enter
prise and far-reaching policy will be perpetu-
ated for q decade or SO at any rate.
Mr.. William Libbey, who has for years been
the active head of the New York house, and the
real manager of the present great enterprise,
has shown himself as shrewd an operator rs his
great prototype and associate, the dcfunct mill
ionairc; and particularly 80 in this establish
ment OF their great wholesale business in Chi
cago. The firm is not coming here with the de-
sire or expectation Of running our oll-cstab-
lished houses of the track, by any means; they
only come 10 compete with them for their share
Of the great Northwestern trade.
Several Of the experts from the New York
house have been here for the past week looking
over the vast premises, already leased, and
making suggestions as to alterations and i'm
pro7ements Of the premises. Mr.. John 7. Rob
inson, one OF the Superintendcnts, has made
many additions to the machinery for handling
immense quantities Of goods in the shortest
and easiest manner. Mr.. John Anderson, for
ten years connected with their shipping de-
partnlent, is also here, and on active duty at
the Wilder Block. HI has had long c1peri-
ence in this department.
Mr. Sabin K. Smith is to be the manager Of
the Chicago business, and be is admirably fitted
for the post from his long experience and his
Connecticut shrewlncss, while lie is q most
pleasant and affable gentleman.
The scenes at the Wilder Block for the past
ten days would make the foundation for
comedy, were not some Of them Of rather SOL
emu character. Tie rush for en-
ployment is truly wonderful, and if
there were any skeptics as to the stringencv Of
the times. short stay at Is My Block y would
DO away with the unbelief. From the hour Of
opening the doors to let the army Of mechanics
ir1 to their reform work, crowds OF the unem-
ployed rush into the building, accosting every
one they meet with tho eager query: s. Can
YOU tell me is Mr.. Smith hcfc!" = Please point
out Mr. Smith, etc, etc. Now and then some
old-fashioned Dimmyrat, who keeps on voting
for sandy jackson, be jabcrs!'' rushes up to
the usher, and cries out: aid like to sec Mr.
Stewart Phase, is be to be seen, sur!'' But
there is no end to the army OF applicants. Boys
looking for clerkships; draymen wanting to