San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-02-25
Sailing at IOPer Cent.

every day by large class OF country
merchants, and especially for cash,
saws a Prairie Farmer writer. There
are quite number of staple goods on
which the merchant does not average
10 per cent. above cost and carriage;
but he sells quite a list of other
things on which the margin of
profit is so much more that upon
the whole fair profit is realized,
or he could not afford to sell these as
low as he does. Making speciality
of this line of staple, be might still
handle them at 10 per cent for cash,
because he can turn his capital so Of
ten that in the year he might ma IL
profitable. But he would be obliged
to do business on strictly cash oasis,
and could not afford to take and han
die produce only at cash prices, when,
in a majority of cases, would be much
less than is now generally paid, be-
cause in handling produce there is al
WAYS mere or less risk of loss.
But there are few country mer-
chants that sell for cash, or few far
mers that make it rule to pay cash.
Then there is large line of goods
that could not fairly be handled at III
per cent. There are so many things
that 90 to make up losses that many
do mot understand. leaving out the
question of bad debts, which is al
WAYS a factor when goods are sold ON
credit. There is the loss by shrink
age. in failing to weigh or measure
out; in breakage Of quite a list OF
goods of fall in prices, not selling ara
Keeping over and then being obliged
to sell at less than cost; loss III hand
ling produce in packages, in many
cases for which he is charged, and is
able to sell only at loss; insurance,
and many other small items that cut
into profits. In some lines of goods the
freight is more than 10 per cent OF the
cost of goods. Nails, seeds, and a
number of articles of this kind, 10 per
cent will not pay the freight, in many
localities.
The trouble is, that one without ex-
perience does not take all these
things into consideration. Let COM
pany of farmers go in together and
sell goods at 10 per cent profit, hiring
man to sell the goods, as is being
done in number of localities; they
may sell enough to apparently leave
q margin of profit, taking the goods
at cost all the time. But go to close
out the stock. selling oil the remnants
and the kept-over goods-many that
will be out of fashion, be shop-worn
or damaged-and somebody will be
obliged to stand the loss.
l have to buy all the goods L use,
and am interested in getting them as
cheap as possible; but l have handled
goods when times were better than
they are now, and my opinion certain
ly is that, taking the average stock |
of goods as kept in country store, |
and they cannot be sold safe y at III |
Der cent for cash, and certainly not as
generally sold now, Certain 1t is that
if farmers, as class, can arrange TO
paw cash or good marketable produce
for all they purchase the merchant
can sell at a less profit than is now
done, and if the Alliance, Farmers
and Laberers' Union, or any other Or
can get rid OF the credit
system, at least as far as 1t applies TO
themselves, they will be doing good
work. But will it be done by open
ing stores n.cOmpetition with expert
enced merchants and attempting to |
sell at profit that even close compe-
tition will not bring them to?
But / am only expressing my Opln-
ION as a farmer, and one that is inter
9sted in saving wherever it is posi-
BILE.
1t is some accommodation to have
goods convenient to purchase as we
wish, and to sell what we term the
small products-such as butter, eggs,
poultry, hides, that on many farms
foot up considerably during the year.
The more non-prOducers the more
and the more consumers
the better prices; and is this not one
Of the lesser evils? Is not option
lealing-trusts con trolling the stock
more real interest to the
farmer, than selling necessities at 10
Der cent profit.
a Bargain.
Seven lots in block %, West Emo,
frst addition, for sale at a bargain.
Apply TOT. V. Dignowity for further
10 u
PEOPLE EVERYWHERE