Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-03
A srLENpID BUSINESS RgcoRp-sKErcH
os LEADING BUSINESS HOUSES.
NO. 9.


rooms and displayed upon its shelves are the
products of every cline, the handiwork OF
every race. Ocean, lake and river, mount
ain, valley and plain, and the islands of the
sea, every nook and Granny of the globe, are
ransaeked for contributors to its stock, and
the inventive genius OF man taxed to put
them in pleasing and attractive shapes. To
manage an establishment OF this kind success
fully requires not only thorough knowledge
Of the business, but executive ability of the
highest order. One of the oldest houses in
San Francisco, in this line. is that OF Well
man, Peck & Co. An understanding of what
it as accomplished, and an examination of
its stock. will satisfy the inereduloss that there
is no exsggeration in the above statement.
Beginning IN small way thirty years ago on
Kearny street. under the energetic manage
ment of the proprietors the business has
grown TO enormous proportions, and 1t is now
known far and wide as one OF the largest i'm
porting and jobbing houses on the Pacific
coast. After the great FIRE OF 1851 the trm
removed TO Front street, where 1t occupied
tue Gordon block, an iron building since re-
moved to give reGn for brick known as the
tront-street block. Growing with the growth
OF the city and State, the house again found
It's accommodations too narrow, and on the
LIST OF January, 1880, is removed to the new
block On Market and California streets
recently erected by General Williams,
where, with ample room and all the modern
facilities Tor the transaction of q large busi-
ness, 1t starts afresh on what promises TO be q
long career of success. The new store is adj
mirabiy located, in easy reach OF the 6nan-
cial center of the city. 1t is also close 70 the
transportation lines, and fronting on two I'M
portant streets, the reception and shipment Of
goods is ffscted with the least possible labor
and confusion. The store has frontage of
40 feet on Market street, and extends through
to California street, distance of 220 fees.
The basement, in single room So feet wide
and 220 feet long, is used for the storage of
sugars and syrups in barrels. The FIRST floor
is devoted to saesroom. sainple-room, count
ing room and the private office of the firm.
The second and third floors are devoted to the
storage of case goods, teas, coffees, tobaccos,
etc, large, airy and well lighted rooms being
assigned to the different classes OF goods.
The sample rooms on the first floor. two
in number. each 30 feet long by 10 in width,
are worthy extended visit. One of them
is allotted entirely to cigars and tobaoeos, q
line the house has carried for a number of
years, but which it has only recently engaged
ia extensively. On its shelves are over a
hundred samples OF cigars, comprising all we'll
known brands, and varying in price from Sl7
to $3.50 per Thousand. Not cnly are the
wellknown brands of all the best manufae-
tories of the United States represented here,
but the house has special brands of its own,
manufactured exclusively for its trade. Among
special brands worth noting, are Deluma,"
a clear Havana filler, for which there is is
large and increasing sale; a." LA Noredad, n
full Havana, is a higher priced aud popular
cigar; g Puck and Grand Seal" are Hs-
vana and seed mixed. Among cheaper goods
- AID Valorem," Manila and Havana, Is
very popular; while ST. Julian, " Prof.
Edison and Especial Artist are q good
article at still lower prices. In tobaccos
every grade and quality of goods, imported
and domestic, are displayed, Long Cut,
Short Cut, >" Fine Cut, navies and plugs
packed in pals, in boxes and IN foil; IN
packages Of ?, and l6 ozs, aud lbs. Snnlis,
too. are largely carried, and all the popular
kinds, in glass or In bladders are conspicuous
on the shelves. Cigarettes having come in
great demand, are permanent fixture, and "a
list of the brands alone would ill considers
bic sDace. We can mention but one, " Lone
Fisherman" owned exclusively by this house
and deseryedly popular. All the other ac-
cessories of a tobacco store, such as pipes IN
endless variety, cigarette-bOOks and the nu-
merous notions clsssed under the head of
"Smoker's Articles" occupy appropriate
sections, so that merchant from the interior
may select his entire stock, without leaving
the room. and rely on getting nothing but the
freshest and choicest goods, free from aduiter-
alton, and put up IN the most attractive style.
Sample.room No. 9 shows greater variety
of products than the tobacco-room. In it
are gathered the products of every country
on earth. All the varied goods that go to
make up complete stock Of fancy and staple
groceries and provisions are displayed IN con-
venient shape for acknowledgements,
syrup, preserves, pickles, dried fruits, spices
and CONNECTIONS in glass jars; fancy soaps
in neat cases, and an endless variety of goods
from all countries in the world are ranged on
shelves and in drawers. A very largo stock
of teas and coffees packed expressly for the
house by its correspondents In the producing
countries occupies special rooms. Making
its own importstions, and carrying an ex-
tensive stock, the house can always supply
the best quality OF these goods at the lowest
prices. In teas the special brands are the
- w. p. & Co.." Japan. the "W. P" in a
heart, and "Circle W." all of which are
deservedly popular and command = ready
sale Its roasted and ground coffees, put up
under its own supervision, fresh and free
from adulteration, are also well known.
Geyser soap ID another article whose eN-
celient quality has done much TO establish
the reputation of the house. and in almost
every article of consumption some brand of
high quality bearing the name Of " Wellman,
Peck & Co." and identified with the history
of the house, is shown.
Since It's organization the house has under
gone but few changes, and much of its sue
cess is owing to the fact that during Its entire
existence it has been practically under the
guidance Of a single head. Is. Meilman, the
senior member Of the firm, is a native of
Massachusetts, At the early sge of II years
he left home to battle with Che world, and
since that time has depended wholly on his
own exertions. Educating himself for q busi-
ness life, his first venture ON his own account
was in Baltimore. where he entered manu-
featuring and commission firm. Ia coBnee-
ton with this house he went to New Orleans.
where he resided for some time, buying cotton
for the use of his own and oseer manuiae-
turing firms In 1919 he came 20 California
by the way of the isthmus, reaching San
Francisco with the vanguard of the hardy
pioneers who have built up one empire on
the shores Of the Pacific. Soon after his ar
rival he laid the foundations OF the great
establishment with which lie has ever since
been connected, and undsmayed by disaster,
unchecked by the competition of business
rivals. he has pursued his way steadily until
he finds himself in the first RAJ ks Of the en-
ergetic and fsr-seeing merchants OF San Fran
cisco.
j. II. Peck, his associate for many years, en-
tered the firm in 1862. He was born IN Della
ware county, New York and, like MIR. W ell
man, was the architect OF his oSn fortunes.
He continued an active member OF the nrin
till the date of his death, January,
1879. Since then his interest in the
business has been represented by his widow,
Mrs. J. Z. Peck. OF the numerous assistants,
heads Of departments, etc, it Is impossible 20
speak in the brief space allotted 80 this sketch,
but it is enough to add that all of them par
take of the well-known characteristics OF the
firm-Western dash and energy, tempered
with the steadiness and sagscity Of the East
Nnfsea CantJo Hints l's