Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-03-09
Co-Operation Of Merchants.

Tie IntelrIgencer has once or twice before
advocated the forming OF = merchants sX-
change In Lexington. No attention WAS
paid to the suggestion in the past, and we
have not much hope that it will receive
greater attention now Merchants gen.
erally seem 10 prefer cutting each others
throats by sharp competition 10 consulting
together and deyis,ng ways and means
whereby they can sell lower than other
towns and still retain Il profit. An associl-
ton of our merchants would
good in various ways. Ii would soften the
asperities Of business rivalry 1t would ena-
BILE them by combining orders 10 obtain
goods at lower prices; by consolidating
shipments they could secure lower freights;
by united action many desirable things
could be accomplished which now 90, not
only uudone, but uninterrupted, because.
according to the trite Old saying, "what is
eyerybody's business Is uObody's business"
Another good that would ensuc ~ mer-
chants aud farmers would he that II certain
hour, about the middle of the day, every
business man IN Lexington could be found
al one place, aud much valuable time would
thus he saved, which Is now wasted In run
nIng all over the city in search of two or
three different merchants. How great n
convenience this would be can only be APP
precinled by those farmers who come 10
Lexington aud call time after time TO see
some business man without finding him in
his office, and, perhaps, when their affair
might be attended to IN a moment, finally
leaving town with It unaccOmplished. Such
sn association as we have In view could be
maintained at little cost. There are several
vacant rooms near enough the business GEN.
ter OF the city which can be rented for u
nominal sum-. The accommodations need
neither be elaborate or expensive 10 afford
our merchants. mechanics. mlllers, traders
and farmers u place 10 meet aud effect u
vast amount OF business, much OF which
now goes uudone for want Of such a con-
venlence. The business depression which
has been caused during the last few mouths
by the mud blockade will not last always,
and though the OF Lexington has
been very much curtailsd by ths building
Of railroads around her she still has a trade
worth retaining and snlars !ng. As an
instance of what might be done by =
chamber of We will speak of the
trade Oh the north side OF the river. For
several miles above and below this city in
Ray county the natural markets. Lexington.
This Is the only point within the reach OF
the people living there whsRe they can find
y steady demand for all the produce which
they raise where they Gail always obtain
fair freight rates, and where they can always
lind everything which :hey want TO buy,
from q MORE antique to adorn the person
OF the fair wife, to the lumber with which
to bald her castle. The ferry compsny
which has for many months, with the active
service of Capt. Jennings on the boat, ac-
commodated the public by frequent and
rapid crossings. proposes to reduce the fare
TO all persons who come from Ray county to
Lexington to so low u price that the mer-
chants can well afford TO pay the ferrisge 10
get the trade. MIR. Thomas, on behalf OF the
company, informs us that they are willing
to make a rate of fifty cents for a round trip
tor two horse wagons. where the persons
come either 10 buy OF to sell. For this
purpose they propose to sell merchants ten
round trip tickets for five dollars. Ii VIII
readily be understood by persons at al
familiar with The subject that there Will be
no profit to the company at this price, unlss'
the travel is largely Increased. The com.
plny further offers to repair, at its own
cost, several of the roads in Ray county
leading 10 Lexington, especially the roae
ircm Norborne. When ue ferry company
thus evInces Its liberslity and enterprise II
aiding 10 build up the trade of our city
ought NOT The merchants TO meet It hal
way. and see that the whole country which
lies within y radius of twenty miles /:
thoroughly advised OF tn. advantages which
may be derived by trading in Lexington
Would 1t not 10 better for our merchant'
and our city IL acrimonious rivalry, wner.
such exists. should give place 10 q unite,
effort to thoroughly advertise themselves
in the country TO which we aliude-tO .sua
If necessary, \ copy of the Intrlligepcer
contalning the advertisement OF every lis'
neigh5orhood: Ia this age OF progress
when people SEEK trade, the man VIII.
quietly folds his arms and waits for 1t Il
come 10 him will, to use the vernaculsr O
the street gamius. get left. In uniOC Their
Is strength, among merchants In their or
ganizstons rs well MS among farmers II
their oranges, and mechanics In their socle
ties. II a large city finds n chamtsr o
commerce useful, We cannot sac why
smaller one should not make one usefu
in proportion !; and we nrmiy believe that /
would be even more So.