Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-27

formed as to the standing OF some indtVtd-
ual or firm after the semi annual returns,
special reports are obtained and furnished
him. For instance, the semi-annual re-
ports or revi5es are received in July, at
which time party's financial
standing may be perfectly good
and his credit high. A month or six weeks
later subscriber, who may be apprehen-
sive that something may have occurred to
change the rating, writes the agency, and
the correspondent at that point is instructed
to report the exact present status of the
party inquired abou'. The interview was
quite lengthy, and to the interviewer was
exceedingly interesting, and, believing that
1t will be equally so to the readers Of the
MORNING NEWS, the principal points of i'm
portance as CLEANED are given substantially
as follows:
NEws-How long since your agency was
established?
Manager Skerritt-This agency is the
original Mercantile Agency established in
1910 by Lewis Tappan, being much older
than any competitor, with the accumulated
knowledge, experience and growth of bust
ness represented by an existence of over
forty years.
Q-How many branches have you?
Ave have eighty-seven branches in
the cities of the United States, Canada and
Europe, with reporting stations in Aus
tralia, Honolulu, Asia and South America
Q-What is the working force and num-
Der of patrons?
A The force varies slightly with the
seasons, but the average number working
directly and indirectly would not fall short
of twenty-five thousand The number Of
subscribers exceed twenty-five thousand
creating an annual expenditure and dis
bursement Of nearly two million dollars.
Q.-What is, clearly, the nature of your
business
A We undertake to procure for our
patrons, to the best Of our ability, informa-
ton as to the pecuniary condition and
character of such parties as they have or
reasonably expect to transact business with.
In other words, we undertake to do for bust
ness men as a body what, without our as
sistance, each one would have to do, or en-
deavor to do, by independent efforts for
himself.
Q.-Isn't the work very complicated
A.-TO some extent. Ia working a sys-
tenn so wide in its scope, and Of a character
involving so much detail, it is reasonable to
expect that many difficulties are encount-
cred which could not be provided for at the
outset, yet every year has witnessed some
additional improvement of its facilities by
the experience and interchange Of opinions
of its various branches.
Q-What number Of names do you re-
port?
A.-The reference book was issued on
the first of July and contained upwards of
500, 600 names. II thoroughly illustrates
the activity and watchfulness necessary to
handle this vast number of names, when it
is stated that the number of business
changes occurring and noted daily, average
over fifteen hundred; that, in addition to
these, the inquiries answered average five
thousand per day, while the number of de-
tailed reports made and entered in the re-
cords of all the offices, will not fall short
OF fifteen thousand.
Q-Is the company ever charged with
perverting facts or acting with malice in its
work?
A.-Msny people speak Of the great power
in the hands of the agency for good or evil
and the mischief they can do when so dis
posed To every reasoning man, it must
readily appear that the very tenure and life
of the agency depends upon its truthfulness
and general correctness. No house, with
business, which costs millions a year, could
afford to trife, in this way, with its own
| supporting power A stronger motive to
deal fairly can hardly be imagined, for our
very existence depends upon it. We have
| thousands of the most flattering testimo
malls from the best firms Of every city of the
Union, testifyiDg to our efficiency and re-
liability. In many cases these connections
have continued through a period of thirty
years No other agency has such a record.
These testimonials are published by us in
book form, and may be had upon applica-
ton.
Q.-Is your agency being extensively
used at Savannah?
A.-The agency was never so relied upon
as at present. The pressure upon us for in
formation throughout the present year has
been enormous, but the facilities which
liberal patronage enables US to control have
H. a. Al
quirements of our subscribers
Q-What amount of capital is employed
by the company?
A.-Their capital is more than ample,
and we are the only agency that can say so
with truth. During all the financial con
vulsions of the past ten or fifteen years, the
wreck and ruin of other institutions, this
agency has steadily advanced, displacing
old theories with new and improved facili-
ties, and adding to its increasing useful
ness the enormous revenue which 1t yearly
commands.
Q Are not your reports largely made by
travellers, and do you personally superin-
tend the work of your own district
A.-For the present year the entire agency
system has been operated by travellers. In
my own district l have had two skilled re-
pOrters to travel over large part of the ter
ritorY. Ihave personally visited and revised
has been very comprehensive, including OBJ
seure villages remote from railroads, cross
roads stores, etc; in fact, every locality has
been visited whose trade is tributary to Sa-
vannah. Some idea of the amount of this
class of work may be formed when tell
you that during the past six months we
have expended over 81 500 in travelling
alone in the Savannah district.
q In such apparent prosperous times as
now exist. are the services of tho aOaDou
as much in demand as in more precarious
times2
At is In circumstances such as Just
now prevail, that the agency can be made
most serviceable. The sudden transition
from a long and severe depression, to a
condition of the highest prosperity, may be
productive of other things besides large
profits, enhanced values and improved
prospects. While the debt paying power of
numerous traders has been i'm
mensely increased by the revival of
trade, it must not be forgotten that
there are thousands of business men whose
condition nine months ago was well nigh
hopeless. The condition of this class can
not have been transformed from chronic in
security to entire safety by the magic Of a
few brief months of renewed confidence and
unwonted activity in trade. The hard cir
cumstantial facts which the agency records
contain are, therefore, worth far more in de-
Gliding credit than any fancIful improve
ment which the glamour of the good times
throws over the condition Of many an appli-
cant for accommodation. These facts are
freshened by the hourly record of occur
rences, and their accuracy is tested and cor
firmed by constant use in the business
experience OF a list Of subscribers whose
inquiries are over five thousand per day.
There were many other topics discussed,
among them the growth of the business of
the agency here, the increase since
Mr.. Skerritt assumed management In
1877 being fully fifty per cent. In the above
succinct account the many features dis
cussed in the interview are touched upon.
The firm also conduct an extensive coilec-
ton business, having collected over $25 OOO.-
600 since being established. They also issue
two daily bulletins of mercantile changes,
and record items. Everything is operated
Systematically, and each department has its
special attention. They have large mass
of information on hand, covering a con-
siderable part of the Southern and Western
territory, aud bound In a series of volumes,
arranged in handsome cases. Taken as a
whole IL annaQra a a HprfQpt EVefam and a