The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-01-13

selves IN Ills way, OUT CnclTS dTc OK
ceptional cases; for where some
have succeeded, many have failed
1t is an easy matter for one to over
estimate his ability to himself, and
perhaps to some of his friends, and
neither he nor his friends discover
the factsuntil the amount invested
has been sacrificed upon the altar
of Encouragement. Not only do
they lose their means but the fail
ure detracts from what little reputa-
ton they may have had for honesty
and fair dealing, and a reputation
once furnished can never regain its
former brightness, Many run in
debt to start in business and by so
doing bind themselves, if honor.
able men, to others in such
manner that i: is im>
possible to move with that free
dom which is necessary to do sue
cessful business, be 500 or 1000
invested. They are hindered By
the weight of the debt, and like a
heavy chain it reminds them CEN
tinuaIly of their slavery. No mat
ter how fair business they may be
doing, the interest on their pur-
chases eats up the profits which
would accrue to the dealer it his
business were unencumbered.
There are a great many neat
little stores in this city away from
the business centre, each ward hay
| ing from two to six. Most of these
are free frem debt, and where they
are not 1t is more from mismanage-
ment than from lack of patronage.
They buy their goods at close
figures, and can do so, for the
jobbers with whom they deal know
that they are quick pay
and so near "spot cash" that the
very best prices are quoted to them,
they do not overload, they keep
their stock fresh and the result is
prosperity and increase. The small
Ter business houses throughout the
Territory are not wholly free from
debt, bat with few exceptions, are
perfectly able to place themselves
in that position. There are others
so lethargic and careless as to lose
the little reputation they may have
had by studiously avoiding a set
Element from one years end to an.
other. When one jobbing house
refuses to sell them they go to an
other until finally they are in posa
session OF a hard name among the
wholesale merchants. Many of the
merchants doing business on small
capital perhaps all that their ioca-
ton demands, buy goods at thirty
days and when they have the goods
in their possession take sixty. or
where they buy on two
take three or four,
thus destroying the confidence
placed in them rs responsible men.
Worse than this, they will avoid the
very houses that have given them a
start and buy for cash from some
other firm, thus using means that
does not morally belong to them,
by patronizing one mercantile house
" lille they are indebted to another.
This does not add any credit to a
name; neither does 1t increase con-
fdence in any man or set of men.
The method of gaining reputation
for slowness in payment of honest
debts is much easier than that of
removing the impression after once
establishing it. The protective
measures of large business
houses are comprehensive enough
to make such a character
locally and generally known,
and in this way project each other
from those who prey upon their
fellow-men by imposing upon their
patience and liberality. Small and
large mercantile houses throughout
the Territory would do well to con-
slider that their standing and reputa-
ton as dealers are gagged from
their account as itappears in houses
with whom they have dealt or may
be dealing at the present time; that
if you oblige or have obliged them
to carry you from year to year, you
arc the heaviest loser. Reputation
of the proper sort is as good as cash
at times. Meyer let your account
become uncertain and tottering with
age, for you will most assuredly in
herit all their weakness and uncer-
tainty.