The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-01-31


good risks in healthful sections are
the only desirable ones.
JAMES H. BLACKLEY.
During the course of our reportorial
wanderings about town we have availed
ourselves Of every opportunity to learn
all we could relating to the grain, -four,
fertilizer. and similar lines of trade. Most
Of our merchants engaged in them an
nounce themselves as commission mer-
chants and are generally referred to as
such; in reality this is misnomer, for
comparatively little Commission" bust
ness is done. The large quantities of
articles rthese houses handle annually
are bought and sold out right, as rule,
andlit is Stanton capital that carries on
the. trade, not alone in this city, but it
reaches out to other towns and villages,
and buys and moves crops to the sea-
board. Each of these so-called "com-
mission merchants" has very willingly
given us close approximate estimates or
actual statements of operations the
showing is not only individually credita-
bic, but it makes an exhibit that reflects
credit upon the city as well.
One of the fraternity whom we inter-
viewed was Mr.. James H. Blackley,
whose large warehouse, stands upon
Middlebrook street, fronting the c. &
O. railway. Mr.. Blackley, who is orig
inally from Albemarle county, came to
Staunton in 1857. His first business
experiences here were as a clerk for
Taylor & Hoge, general merchandise
dealers. In 1865 he engaged in trade
on his own account in partnership with
P. N. Powell, firm style of Powell &
Blackley, their location being in the
Masonic building where Burke & Brad
ley now are. Subsequently removal
was made to the corner of Main and
Augusta streets, to the site now used by
the Augusta National Bank; here the
co-partnership was dissolved, and was
renewed when the present location was
occupied; this partnership was final
ly dissolved about the year 1877. In
1872 Mr.. Blackley built the warerooms
he now occupies, The block in
question is somewhat irregular in shape,
but gives an average frontage of 40 feet
by depth of 10; it is four stories high,
and the entire space is required by the
business of the house. The extent of
this business may be inferred from the
following statements In the first place,
Mr.. Blackley admitted that trade for
1883 had been very favorable, and that
his business had shown considerable in
crease over 1882 His sales of flour
(Which are much the largest of any
house here) aggregated between 1900
and 1900 bbls; his shipments have
chiefly been to Richmond, Norfolk and
Danville; most of this flour was what
is known as medium grade" and
considerable proportion was doubtless
exported to South America. The
sources from which it was obtained were
Augusta, Rockingham and Rockbridge
counties, and the bulk came by rail
instead Of wagon.
Next to his -four transactions ranks
his fertilizer trade. He has well equip
ped and conveniently located fertilizer
store house further down the street, and
last fall it was the scene of business &C
tivity. The brands handled are numer-
Gus; range in price from s24 to $44 per
ton, and are manufactured by such we'll
known concerns as "ZelIs," the Patapsco
Company and ODER & Sons. During
the fall of 1881 Mr.. Blackley sold, in
round numbers, 500 tons of fertilizers
during the fall of 1882 his sales were
about 200 tons, and for the fall of 1883
they exceeded 1900 tons-a ratio of in
crease that bespeaks not only growing
demand but also showing how the con-
fldence of the agriculturists has been
gained as regards these special goods. |
Mr.. Blackley declined to make any
prognostication as to the prospects for
1884 SO many contingencies might
arise that no fair estimate was possible
he thought, however, everything else
being equal, that the trade of Staunton's
wholesale and shipping merchants would |
continue increasing from year TO year,
because Of the inherent advantages pos
sessed by the city as the centre Of a rich
district, and because of its banking and
railway interests and the public spirit
generally shown by its business men, |
So far as his own trade was concerned
he appeared well satisfied with the re-
suits of 1883. He referred to collections
as being very fair, and had no complaint
to make upon that score. He personal
ly attends to the business in hand, and
in the office is assisted. by his son, w.
M. Blackley, who, by the way, kindly
aided us in the work of gaining items |
But we have already used more then
our allotted space. In conclusion we
need only say that the house has adj
vanced the material interests of the city,
and we hope has put ducats in the
pockets of its proprietor.
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