Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-02
wATERHoTsE d LESTER,
Wholesale Dealers In Hard Woods, Car.
riages and Wagon Supplies.

fRANCISCO.
The firm Of Waterhouse & Lester are the
largest dealers in hard woods, lumber, car
risge and wagon materials upon the coast,
and theirs is the only house in its line in
the interior. The Sacramento house OF the
firm is of itself an immense establishment
and its goods are carried to almost every
point, not only in the interior, but through
out the State and the adjoining States and
Territories. The firm started business IN
this city about thirty years ago. and ten
wears later opened another house at San
Francisco, which has grown to immense
proportions. A removal will be made
from its present location next month to the
south side of Beale street, Immediately op-
posite to Holbrook, Merrill & Stetson,
where fine building OF three stories and
basement, and "a by 1873 feet in dimen-
sions, is now being constructed for their
purposes. Its principal salesrooms and
Office il this city are at 70S and no j
street, where full lines are displayed and
also large stock carried. but its store
rooms and yards are located opposite the
Office on street, aud at 9l7 to 92l on Sew
enth street. In the building at the latter
place three floors are packed with goods
of all kinds, and all the other storerooms
and space of the establishment are similarly
filed. In addition to this the company are
now preparing to put up additional quar-
tiers on street of large capacity to meet
the demands of their rapidly growing
and extending trade. They carry in
full stock all the Eastern and other
hard woods used in manufactures of all
kinds, and make a speciality of woods used
for wagons and carriages. These are car
ried in stock of lumber and rough-sawed
into form, but the firm deal generally and
very extensively in finished goods, manu-
featured wheels, etc. During the past five
years the business of manufacturing car
riages and wagons in pieces has grown to
vast proportions, and by which means not
only the finest materials but the best quail.
ity of work is secured, from the extent to
which it is carried on, at reduced rates !;
and by shipping knocked down, great saw
ings are made in charges for freight, as the
goods are much lighter than the rough ma
terials, and freight charges are made mostly
upon the weight of shipments. This firm,
in addition to taking advantage of such re-
duced rates of shipments, carry on an I'M.
mense workshop for the manufacture and
finishing of all the woodwork of wagons,
baggies carriages, ETC., of all kinds, ready
prepared for adding the iron-work. They
now make about 1000 sets of wheels per
year-from light buggy to the heaviest
freight wagon wheels-and all the other
wood. work for such vehicles. The wheel
work and making of bodies is prosecuted
by no other establishment on the Pacific
slope, and the Sacramento house sends
great quantities of this work to the house
at San Francisco. They have in the rear
of the J-street house a job mill running in
connection with the establishment, which
is constantly employed in cutting out ma
terial, and while they solicit no work from
the outside, yet much is urged upon them.
While this extensive mandatory is lead
ing enterprise and one of the institutions
of Sacramento, it is also of vast Importance
to the entire coast, as without it far higher
prices for much of the materials carried in
stock by them would be held at fancy
prices, on account of less advantageous ia
cilities for importations and many kinds
of woods now furnished by them could not
probably be found in the market or pro-
cured at any price. The vast extent OF
their business enables them to export at
the very lowest rates, and from small rate
of profits (which would be ruinous to a
small dealer), they reach satisfactory re-
turns. Another point in their favor, and
which enables them to offer goods at their
remarkably low rates, is the question OF
economy as to permanent outlay in connec.
ton with the establishment, and In carry
ing on the extensive business of its several
branches. The great space required by
such house, and such conveniences, makes
the question of fixed capital one of utmost
Importance. In Sacramento but compare
lively small amount is required to be in
vested in property for the carrying on of a
business of such magnitude, and conse-
quently the resulting advantages accrue to
the purchaser of goods from a firm that is
interest upon vast amount of capital
locked up in buildings or paid for heavy
rentals. The difference in interest or rent
thus saved by the favorable location of this
house, and by owning its own property,
would be of itself an acceptable annual
profit for houses of less magnitude. This
house is enabled for the same reason to
carry an immense stock, and to supply the
entire trade of the interior, which it does,
as well as the adjacent States and Territories.
This bears, however, only upon the ques-
ton of profits, and is proof of the ability
of the firm to sell at very low prices. But
there is even more weighty consideration
that of climatic advantage-in favor OF
Sacramento as the location for such house,
and which is of the very highest import
ance not only to small manufacturers, who
purchase of the stock of this house, but
also to every person upon the coast who
becomes the owner of vehicle Tor his own
use. TIE dryness Of Sacramento climate
renders it particularly advantageous for the
storing of all hard lumber. and stock made
up here out of we'll seasoned materials is
prepared to endure in any other climate.
In fact, no better climate could possibly be
found for the business. There is no firm
in Sacramento the business Of which more
strikingly illustrates the advantages of this
favored locality for the transaction Of bust
ness, as resulting from all these and other
numerous points which could be mentioned,
than the house under notice. In the high
est degree it enjoys a custom of the best
and most substantial kind, which naturally
draws, in its turn. trade to other houses of
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