The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-01-09
townsend Notes.

Christmas was appropriately observed
by the people of Townsend and the val
ley surrounding The hearts of the
children of Townsend and Deep Creek
were made glad by numerous and beau
tifdl presents from Christmas trees.
believe no attempt was made at either
place to humbug the children with
Santa Claus. The common practice of
representing to young children that all
Christmas presents are brought by some
imaginary being in robes and sleigh bells
is supremely ridiculous, and in my jndg-
ment highly reprehensible. Never de-.
ceive your children should be emblaven-
ed on the Intel of the door of every
household.
The rumor published in the Helena
Independent, of the suspension of Messn.
Tierney 4 c., of this place, did great in
justice to this firm, and newspapers
should be slow to give currency to mere
rumors, that may seriously effect the
standing of honest merchants. This firm
is one of the solid ones, though carrying
considerable indebtedness, their assets
are large and are ample to pay all in
debtedness, and have enough left to
make all the members of the firm COM
Portable. No suspension or assignment
occurred, but business goes on as usual,
without a ripple on the surface of their
business. This firm has probably fallen
into the same error that other Montana
merchants have to-wit: Book accounts
too large. Many will learn when too late
that they cannot do business with their
bankers on book accounts, Let our mer-
chants put their accounts with their Gus
toners into interest bearing notes, and
deposit them with their bankers, and
there will never be rumor of their sus-
pension. No merchant should carry his
customers for alonger period than ninety
days, without interest in these days OF
small profits and quick sales. Disaster
will overtake any of our merchants who
undertake to carry 10000 to $4,000 in
open accounts, and pay interest on any
of the capital invested. Some merchants
make the mistake efcarrying too many
goods on their shelves, this should be
avoided by frequent renewal Of stock
from our Montana wholesale merchants
and by shipments from the eastern
cities.
think experience will soon satisfy
our county merchants with small capital
that it is wise to patronize our home
wholesale dealers. Such q course will
enable them to obtain goods at any time
to fill up their vacant shelves and not
depend on the distant merchant for
credit who will resortto forced collection
of their bills on the slightest rumor.
Your home wholesale dealer is acquaint-
ed with your standing, and will be much
more lenient to you than the eastern
merchant. The difference in freight be-
tween local tariff and carload lots is
reasonable profit on goods, but the retail
merchant cannot ship by the carload
without overlooking himself, hence he
had better content himselfby purchasing
in our home markets, from large ship
pers, who can afford to sell about as low
as the retail merchant can ship from the
east and pay the local freight.
Townsend has grown rapidly the past
season, and think beyond the business
that is to support it, but all look for
boom the coming season.
P. Gurnett, Esq, prosperous farmer
of the valley has gone east on a business
trip.
understand that many of our farmers
are offering their farms for sale because
of the low price realized for their pro-
ducts this season. Some say they will
quit farming and 60 to the new mines,
but they had better be content with a
reasonable certainty Of good honest
livelihood.
Although we have two Touring mills
in the valley, yet our wheat is being
shipped to the Bozeman mill and sold.
So much for home enterprise.
The weather has changed to severe
winter freezing, and the river is bridged
with ice.
Report has it the new Townsend paper
will be issued this week.