The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-24
TRADE TALK.
OUR MAN-ABOUT-TOWN TAKES
ANOTHER WALK.

INDUCES First In a Few Remarks Over Hi,
G Obscrvations-And Then Tells What III
Found Out About the Planning and Box
y Factory Industry.
The TINEs man-aboui-town took another
: walk yesterday morning. and some Of his
i observations may moi be out Of the way.
If a may were to tell in plain. unyainished
, style all that comes under his notice in hs
, contact with the world il would make a
quaint and curious volume if he stuck 10
facts ~ shown in natural life. Many Ofthc
causes Of failure in business and di-appOint-
mcnt in aspirations in this life would be I'M
Nciled.
Whiring from the chimney necks Of fac
tories and furnaces are thousands Of strange
stories that are hid from business ears and
never seen by the average citizens.
Darling in and out of Office doors mighty
secrets cloak themselves under white en-
yelopes. Behind desks, whore business mat
ter- are justly and uniustly weighed. are
matters which might cause life and death. If
made known.
Strange nncics brood in busy places just
| a. readily a. they do in the minds Of the
poor. disturbed. dcspi~ed fellow. who. void
! Of means and talent. falling in friends. and
weary Of life. has nothing 10 do hii surron-
der himself TO language of dislike and the
Nap0rs Of once stormy but now weak
/ brain.
The one lives an exaggerated mistake. not
known until the hand Of death with ruth
lc>-ncs- removes the veil. The other aids.
perhaps. the grim monster by lifting the
curtain and disclosing the plot Of the PLAY
long before the last act. That is all the
difference.
a.. go
The TIMES has never had but one idea in
asking questions Of leading men in mercan- !
tile and manufacturing pursuits. as shown |
in Trade Talk. That idea was 10 build up /
Richmond. 10 recall and talk about the
many instances Of successful rise and pro-
eleSs that have been made here by enter
prisisg men. and by showing such shining
examples of the importance Of oar city as "a
trades place. attract the attention Of the
world tO our great natural advantages.
which. like light under bushcl. have
been hid from public gaze for number Of
years. I'm doing this no idea of quilting"
was ever for a moment entertained. Not "a
charge has ever been made. or will ever be-
made. for This would not bee in the least i'm
accord with the originator of the enterprise
The public. in nearly every ease Zone or
two only excepted. have seen iii tO readily
recognize the high purpose aimed at. and
the TINES feels proud Of having accom-
pli-hcd great success. True. gentlemen who
have immediate and imperative business
their attention have been infer
ruptcd 10y the Eruption of the man-ahout-
town, but in every case. except the few
above alluded 10. they have accorded him =
ready recognition and politely furnished
him with such Information a. was ~ hand. }
To these the irihrtc of good sense a. well az
good breeding is readily accorded: 10 the |
others. sympathy. "A
The city Of Richmond can boast Of "a great
many plasing mills and box factories. They
occupy no very unimpOuani part ip a 4cr !,
essential industry that have grown with ii
Richmond growth. and have paid we'll i'm
Utmost every instance. and where failure
i1- attended the efforts of those who c.- j
'alcd the venture. II has almost invariably \
'ccn caused by untoNad events or acct
lenf-.
Amongst the early pioneers in the box lC
actory business was Mr. Robert Nhit0ck. a
Ie started business near the corner of J.
fourteenth street. and did well. After
inc hc found il necessary 90 remove west 4,
II order 90 place himself nearer 10 his ba-eofl ii
Material. sycamore wood. which De- used ~
lrgclN. being found in more plentiful
uaniic- in that part Of the country than ,
crcahuut~. M
He accordingly sold ont hi- business here I.
, Mcs~rs llardwickc n Mitchell. TWO gen- ''
omcn that had been in his employment for
number of years. ta
These gentlemen started the business at IN
be- same stand on the Isl Of January. lS>l. II
ndcr the iirm-naine of llardWicho IL Nit
he'll. af
They were beginners ON their own hook. ar
nd had i'm their employment at the time hi
ply twelve hands. and conducted only che c0
laning mill and hON-makiug business.
They believed Richmond the place lo start 600.
venture of the Kind they were engaged in:
lcy went % work maniully % scc whether ~,
not their surni,cs were right. N
About fhc end of fhe first year they met
reverse i'm the shape of "a fire. which re- y.
ilicd ion "a loss 90 them Of about thousand hi
'llar-. bat nothing dauntcd they kept h'
eht ahead. and soon had their works in iI'
III operation.
To-day they are working twenty-five (2i) o,'
ind-. and their annual expense, amount rr.
ten thousand dollars (SlOWO). ~h
They do not ship amy goods outside of the tu
~, their trade being entirely local. bat {
cN have built mp such fine local trade lin
at their business has never tagged. hut bei
is steadily increased. and has been made Nn
yield "a Zine return. fully mp fo their Ga ii.
citations.
They have added 10 the planning mill and -
\ factory other work. and turn out now. W.
buildings. corniceS. brackets scroll works. ~
-. and their facilities for doing This are w.
ny complete. i'
You are very well satisfied with your ]
ccess. and have never seen cause tO re- l-i
't that YOU -lected Richmond as thcpropor ihc
nee for starting in business Of this kind" hu
Is asked. ri-'
No. if We had. We would get out of 10 and Ties
'Nc.' said Mr. llardWickc. n
some people want 90 get out and move. sfal
cannot. said the man-abOut-toWn. rem
\ could move tomorrow. if wanted TO-" wit
'licd Mr. lIardWicke. senicniiously. thee
These gentlemen have "a undergrad also. the
m the old site of Libby prison. NJ
RE
{ is natural that we should feel pride in dec,
beauty and growth Of our city. the I'M drio
a-e in our commerce and wealth. and tine Che
cl0pcment of our manufacturing indus vest
~ and the moral and intellectual pre- llol
incncc Of our people. o.,
hoover can IN the slightest contribute \.
he conSnmmaiion of any. or al Of these ~,
le.. becomes public lNnetaciOr. s-n
very man ought 10 do his best 10 accom- H.,
'h something towards This end. ~
rosrc-~ may at first Dee slow. You may H.,
II coming towards others. and apparent -',.
cav ing YOU. II may bee that y0u will Doe u
learfemcd M the undertaking. bui m. to port
nge the current. and if failure comes SELF
viii no least have the consolation Of ihf
wing that You have made the effort % ANA
+. II Will NOT come unless YOU make the Stree
mpi t0 try and deserve il. url
he case of Thomas l.. Stage is an illus DR.
ion Of what il meant. fetl
e. came 90 Richmond from Charles Cit, date
MY about hiiecn years ago. Young man islat
'celN out of his Teens. he W
hen Doe struck the city he did NOT have "a conr
ar in his pocket. He did NOT loaf along was
streets at night mOOn-gaIing. nor sur But
Ter himself 10 idle dreams. when the
of day called him 10 work. but made
of time, and after while started i'm "a
II way at hoN-making. Ills shop was
he corner of twentieth and Cary streets. At Il
the eutire force in his employ numbered De
ten hands. from
Nc~tr
fla. A.