The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-23
THE BUSINESS WORLD.
CON N ElkClAL.

ID iLAr, March 22.-lt is sometimes askvd
n commercial CIRCLES why 10 io that every
enterprise and advancement has To be made
bv the business men of Dallas-that Is, in
plain words, by the merchants and Others
engaged in the handling OF material and
money. Why, 1t Is said. do not the farmers
and professional men, as well as the me-
chanics, come forward and manifest their
interest In matters of progressive tendency,
and how is it that the full measure OF res
ponsibility for the entire section OF country
tributary TO Dallas devolves upon the class
above alluded TO as business men? In re-
ply, the HERALD would say that whilst all
classes of the community are interested in
its material progress, there are reasons arts
ing out of the nature of affairs in new
country why the chief burden, the main
heft, should fall TO the lot of the merchant
and trader. The credit Of a merchant is his
vital breath. No man can conduct large
business and rely entirely upon the sound
governmental axiom OF pay as you go"
The man who had sufficient means
TO operate on such u policy would
require aud desire no risk-he could live on
the interest OF his money. In other words
under our present commercial system n
business man must give and ask credit il he
expects to extend his qualifications beyond
the environ Of hisimmediate neighborhood.
And what gives credit to merchant in the
northern and eastern markets. Many things
il may be replied. True honesty, fair
record, and competency with steady habits
and pleasant address are circumstances
which greatly facilitate the applicant for
time purchases. But there is another con-
dition that ever frames itself in the mind OF
the party to whom the application ~ made
and which In weighty Importance far sur
passes eyeryother considerations mentioned.
Invariably the wholesaler or Iobber when
asked for credit asa prime question demands
to know where the party desirous OF place
ON his books resides-the state, the county
and tine town, If applicant lives in repu-
dating state or county he labors under q
disadvantage, and If he resides IN city
where the tendency is downward-where
property Is cheap and the population thrift
less, he gets not one, but q pair of black eyes
that convinces him ut once he cannot
see his way clear in that transaction.
II, on the contrary, he dwels among AN on
terprlsng people In city where gas, water
works, telephones, electric lights, opera
houses, paved streets, handsome temples OF
worship, fine schools, libraries, abundant
sources OF amusement and all the indiCia OF
intellectual and social culture prevail, the
disposition of the firm to whom he applies
is ever favorable, and unless something pos
itively wrong is established against the
merchant he can get his stores on time.
The proprietors OF the great warehouses are
willing to venture when there Is a chance
to make money, but decidedly opposed to
investing in moss-backed and decayng
burg. lfcredit then, BIO the vital element
of mercantile success, the prosperity and
advanced condition of his place OF business
is the keystone to that credit. Hence, the
HERALD argues that whilst all are interested
In the welfare OF their local residence, the
merchant and trader are more immediately
concerned in its moral, social and financial
welldoing as condition precedent to his
commercial honor and the realization OF his
hopes and ventures.