Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-20


but such is the fact, and with the con-
ern road the trade will be extended
southwark as well as west. The
wholesale men are doing great deal
for Roanoke, and in time they will do
still more.
j. NJ. GAMBILL h co.
The pioneer in the wholesale gro
Gerry line in Roanoke is the we'll
known firm OF j. NJ. Gambill Il Co.
Mr.. Gambill came from Kentucky
when the present city of Roanoke
was the town of Big Lick. For
fifteen years he carried ona prosper
Gus retail trade, when, eight years
ago, the present colossal wholesale
business was started oil. From the
beginning the success of the firm has
been pronounced, increasing many
fold from year to year. As an
indication of the rapid growth
of the firms business it may be Incl
dentally stated that their receipts for
the present year are fully 100 per cent.
more than they were last year, which
is certainly very remarkable eXpan-
sun VI " 'ClIlCHS. IL IL tiI6p a vel
gestive and ut the same time n graft
flying Indication of the rapid pace
that Roanoke is making towards that
ultimate era of permanent and steady
prosperity.
Messrs. j. w. Gambill & Co. occupy
the connexions building on the cor
ner of Commerce street and Salem
avenue. There are two floors, each
300 feet deep This broad space is
almost literally packed with the ire
mendous stock of goods which this
firm keeps on hand to sup
ply the diversified demands of
Il large and constantly increasing con
stituency. There are thousands Of
boxes If staple and fancy groceries,
all neatly and Systematically ar
ranged; canned goods, soaps, to-
baccos and cigars, in carload lots;
tons of provisions, -four, grain, hay
and the heavier articles usually met
with in a thoroughly progressive and
enterpr.sing wholesale house of this
magnitude.
The dimensions and variety of the
stock was Il gratifying surprise to the
TIMES man, who, like very large
number Of our citizens, little dreamed
that Il business of such metropolitan
proportions was being carried on in
our midst, and annually attracting to
Roakoke and depositing within local
hundreds of thousands of
dollars that otherwise would go to
enrich other supply points circum-aH
iacent. ,u, oil NJ
p..a;.7- 1t --..,.."9 ,tiiu all vi
ITS vast volume of stock, the firm has
been forced TO add TO its capacity
warehouse, which fronts
on Commerce street, and runs back
100 feet, and here another large stock
of goods is to be found.
The visitor to this truly large es
adjustment is Immediately impressed
with the universal good order %
served in the systematic arrars cement
of the various classiiications OF goods
Painstaking, care and adherence to
set methods is observable on every
hand, and just here it might be well
to suggest that doubtless here lies the
secret of the remarkable success
of their iirm.. They evidently study
their own interests no less than they
study those OF their patrons. This
fac. is exempliiied in the thoughtful
facilitation of the shipping convent
ences, the firm having equipped them
selves with a railroad siding that is
long enough to admit of twenty-five
cars loading and unloading at the
same time.
The territory reached by their
house extends throughout Southwest
Virginia. East Tennessee and a good
portion of West Virginia. Two travel
ers are kept on the road nearly all the
time. and in addition to the business
sent in, a large local trade is supplied.
This firm is now building large grain
elevator on the same premises.
Mr.. Gambill is n courteous gentle
man who Wears his success with mod
estv. but none the less knows the
true value of newspaper advert,s-
ing to live, progressive business.
His popular manner, his square, fair
dealings with patrons, together with
an adherence to systematic business
methods, have been instrumental in
building up this tremendous business.
This is not only a deserved monu-
ment to the firm, but commercial
ornament to tho city of Roanoke.
p. l.. TERRY MILLING COMPANY.
One of the oldest and most reliable
business houses in this city is that of
the p. L. Terry Milling company.
They manufacture roller patent flour,
boltad meal, chop, millfeed, etc.
They make number of brands of
flour which are very popular and we'll
known to the local and foreign trade.
The location of their large warehouse
is at the corner of Henry street and
Railroad avenue, Immediately along
the line of the Norfolk and Western
railroad. They own their own side
tracks, and have. all the conveniences
necessary to facilitate the immense
business which they do in their line.
They have built up large local
trade as well as through all parts of
Southwest Virginia and the coal
regions of West Virginia, where
thew are widely known and
commended for their promptness in
filling orders. Mr.. P. L. Terry is the
president of the company, and Mr..
J. A. Jamison the secretary and treas
urer. They are well known as among
the most reliable and energetic bust
ness men of this city and section, hay
ing been associated in business to-
gether for nearly thirteen years, and
being so thoroughly acquainted in
detail with all the branches connected
with the milling business, as we'll az
identified largely with the different
interests of Roanoke, they are good
men to deal with. They own a large
Touring mill near Roanoke City, where