The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-11-13
A Ready Market the Greatest Ne
cessity in All Business.

for a moment upon the subject. Labor
and risk, and the many sacrifices ac-
them in business, are en-
dured that the reward may be attained.
And in America happily most men try or
hope to attain something more than the
bare existence eked out by so many mil
lions of toilers, in so many other coun-
trit 9. during SO many centuries. Pretty
nearly every man who leaves wage-work
to assume the responsibilities of conduct
ing a business of his own does SO because
he expects to enjoy in his changed posi-
ton greater possibilities of reward. The
factor upon which these possibilities
most vitality depend is the quantity he
can sell at living prices of the commodi-
ties he grows, manufactures or keeps on
hand for profitable exchange. Moderate
profits are all that can be expected IN
these days of dense population and of
Quick and easy communication. Men can
not now, like the Ph9nicians OF ancient
times, the Genoese of the Middle Ages,
and the American frontier traders of
thirty years ago-transport goods over a
long and dangerous way and then sell
them for three times their first cost.
Whether they desire to do so or not,
business men of the present time, save
in very few temporary or otherwise ex-
ceptional cases, must adopt the trlte
motto, Large sales and small profits
Quantity of goods disposed of is there
fore the great factor in modern business.
This quantity, for any particular
grower, manufacturer or dealer, depends
upon the capacity and convenience OF
his market, upon the number OF people
within easy reach who want and are
willing to pay living prices for what he
has to sell. If a man has this market,
his industry, ingenuity and business skill
have chance to operate, and can be
made to yield the desired reward. 1t is
generally easier to make goods than it is
to sell them. As was implied at the be-
ginning, the lack of ready market is
the greatest drawback to business. Diff
ficulty and expense in obtaining labor
and materials are compensated for by III
creased value of the product. Even ma
tural calamity, as a general drought re-
ducing Weld, raises the value of what re-
mains undestroyed. Where there is suf-
fcient market, producing cost and sell
ing price are quickly and naturally ad-
justed. Under almost any amount of
competition likely to be incurred. bust
50 tod to " n q
GUS market In large and naturally
growing eastern city, with great popu-
latfon to supply, the thousands OF re-
tailers in any staple line of business OBJ
tainin each average case much larger
net rewards for their efforts than does
the single retailer in a country village
peopled with scanty buyers. COMPETE
ton often runs wild in the prosperous
mining towns of the far west, crowdlng
q place with retailers until the average
people, but heavy buying made possible
by a high average of wages enables near
ly every dealer to make money. A good
market is composed not simply of a"a'ay
people: it must include many buying
people. A thousand partially employed.
poorly paid people in dull community,
with no brisk business to increase wealth
and keep up spirits, pay less money for
the comforts of life than do a hundred
people in the busy, rushing towns just
referred to.
Dizziness in business, general lack of
prosperity, has been almost invariably
brought about in this country by market
difficulties The millions of mortgages
covering in the north western Mississippi
valley so many farms of almost immeasur-
able productiveness were placed there by
low, discouraging, ruinous prices for
grain--prices brought down because
there were too many producers for the
consumers in reach. When mills and
factories are closed, throwing thousands
out of employment to face want and
misery, it is because not enough goods
can be sold at living prices to render
operation profitable. When mercantile
establishments are closed up permanent
ly, the lack of enough ready buyers is
generally the cause Individual con-
Germs may and do fail frequently on ac-
count of Encouragement or some similar
cause, but if there is sufficient market
or demand for their wares their estab
Iishments will be continued by others.
10 build up or maintain the best of all
markets. the nearest and most accessible,
one Immediately at hand in the pro-
Gucer's home country diversity of in
dustry is necessary. There should be
the greatest possible number of different
industries, in order that the fewest pos
sible number of people must engage in
each, and also that each man may follow
what best suits his ability. Then each
person would have the fewest competi-
tors and the most customers. Buying
prices of course would be high, but sell
ing prices would be high too. More
money would be handled, more goods of
every kind consumed, more int lligence,
ingenuity, morality and all other good
qualities developed, more made out of
life in every way. II mans support
requires half he earns with low wages,
and under change to high wages still
requires half, his net half in the latter
condition is larger than ia the former.
and makes him richer. Thus the ability
to save something more than a pittance
zach year would encourage thrift. wealth
would be multiplied on every hand, and
forces would go on SO until an all-sided
civilization would be realized, as nearly
perfect perhaps as finite man can make
his conditions. And this bright picture
Is not simply Utopian dream. To
large extent such civilization has al
ready been developed in number OF
instances, and IL men will learn from the
experience of Others they can carry these
happy conditions much further hereafter
Diversity of industry brings the desired
result.
Nations, sections or states do not usu-
ally reach high, varied and permanent
prosperity upon agriculture alone. 1t
IS a grand occupation, the most necessary
Of all, but it does not suit everybody,
and is easily oyerdone. Either commerce
or manufacturing gives to mems minds
q much quicker and wider development