Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-02-09
SuggeS tions for Business Men,


Communicated.
January Goth, 1882.
Editors 7ribune.--Being unfortu-
nate enough to be "working on the
road" for a liylihood, and while a.
way from home and not engaged in
thinking Of business matters, | think
of home-hone, the family circle;
and home, Mineral Point and its
future business interests.
And while cogitating Pve won
dered, "Why can't our business folks
the grocers, dry goods and cloth
ing merchants, blacksmiths, millin-
ers, druggists, shoe makers, hard
ware men, harness dealers, butchers,
jewellers, tailors and our dealers in
grain and stock form themselves
into an association to work for the
interests of our little city," Sever
al desirable results can be reached.
This body could petition the city
council to enact an ordinance com
pelling peddlers of all kinds and sorts
to pay an annual license of $50;
could secure the closing of all places
OF business at s p. m, Saturdays ex-
cepted, and this would greatly lessen
the fuel and lighting expenses, and
proprietors and clerks would thus
be given time for needed rest and
recreation; the practice of reckless
and indiscrminate credit.giving
could be harmoniously discouraged /;
losses from the bad debts and the
annoyances and uncertainties incident
to slow collections would in conse.
quence be avoided, and business
made not only more safe and profit.
able, but also more free from care;
the wiles of the confirmed dead beat
could be circumvented; mutual
confidence and friendliness would
be established through contact at
the meetings of the associations; alb
surd jealousies would be dissipated,
and II dozen or more other advan-
tages, among them the organization
of manufacturing institutions, could
be named.
| do not believe such an organi.
zation in Mineral Point would prove
to be disadvantage to the buyer of
any class of goods; rather otherwise,
for the merchants would only credit
such as would be known by the
association to be ''good pay"
Concert Of action amongst ou,
business men to the end that ou
city shall not only hold her presen
trade but largely add TO IL, should
be the aim. Our present trade car
be held and increased if steps arc
taken to do it.
When the purchases Of our grain
and stock dealers decrease, then the
sales of our merchants will also de
crease; and when traffic in the vari
Gus lines of trade decreases, EN-.
ployment for the laborer, clerk and
mechanic is scarce and sure result
will be, those people will leave oul
city and seek places needing their
services and none will blame them.
If some one, some Of the middle
aged Of our business community
will lead in this matter, ] believe
good will result from the formation
of such an association. Business
men, go into this in business like
way; call a meeting; appoint Il com
mlttee on constitution; then perfect
you organization by electing the
best of your members as executive
officers.
Were | in trade iB the city !
would try to institute measures that
would secure the institution Of an
association of this kind in my home
town. Gentlemen, the business men
of other places have helped them.
selves and their towns by such a
movement. Then Why cannot you
build up Mineral Point, and in doing
so benefit yourselves financially.
What betters and aids Mineral Pt.,
helps you; you are the capitalists of
the place. The miner, the wood
sawyer, the clerk, the hostler, the
gardener, the mechanic, the ware
houseman. the hod-carrier, the quar-
ryman, all these look to you to build
up our city,
Hoping to hear Of a move in some
such direction as pointed at in this
letter, and that right away, | am
yours for "IIome first and the world
afterwards" ~
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The display of Valentines at J. }.