Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-10
AeUsINess LANDMARK
And what II Has Done for tho Trade Of
Richmsnd.

And what II Has Done for tho Trade Of
Richmsnd.
Upwards of thirty-two millions Of dollars
constituted the gross receipts from Rich
mond's jobbing trade last year. What
will they be this year? We don't know,
but the figures Will mount up.. That Will
be apparent to any one who Will follow the
Dispdtch man in his rounds among the
wholesale men. Every one Is cheerful
every one is looking TO busy year.
Drop into the house OF Purcell, Ladd d
Co. This is q representative wholesale drug
house--representative in age. enterprise,
business energy, completeness Of stock.
and as a factor in building up Rlchmond's
wholesale trade in general. The house was
established IN 1910, and is therefore en-
titled to celebrate its semi-centenniai.
Three times its increase OF trade has conf
PEELED IL to seek more commodious quar-
ters until at last the firm are established In
the big fye-story, with basement, iron
front building No. S Governor street. where
they are better prepared than ever TO re-
duce things to that great essential IN the
drug business system. -
The drug business, like all other whole
sale lines. has its busy seasons, but there
never seems time when Purcell, Laid u
Co. are not busy.
The building is thirty feet wide by 150
feet long, thus giving with the swinging
galleries on the hrst floor an area of about
%, 900 square feet. which is divided into the
following departments: Druggists sun
dries, drug department, patent-medlcine
galleries, main Office, shipping and re-
ceiving-room. reserve room for patent
medicine stock. laboratory, perfumery de-
partment, subdivisions for crude drugs,
paints, dyes. chemicals, &C., and window
glass department, &c.
TIE GREATEST CARE.
Each department is presided over by q
clerk who is thoroughly conversant with
every detail of his business. and the great
est care is taken to distribute the divisions
so as to avoid the contamination of goods
in one department by those in another. 1t
will not do for drugs and medicines to
share the fate of the babies in Pinafore-
that is, get mixed--and as nothing pos
sesses more absorbent qualities than some
of the preparations used in pharmacy, the
care of the house in the respect named Is
matter well worthy of the consideration
OF the country trade.
IMPORTANT REQUISITES.
Two other important requisites of the
drug business are purity and freshness.
In this dsy of adulteraton the country
merchant cannot be too careful as regards
from whom he buys his drugs and prepa-
tions. He can buy with perfect safety
fact that they have q reputation to sus-
tain, extending over fifty years, they know
the business. Even If they did not them
selves purchase, as thev always do. from
first hands and from the most reputable
houses they could not be deceived. Their
laboratory and experience stand between
the retailer and any mistake.
FEATURE.
A feature of the house since its removal
to It's new quarters is the extension Of its
druggist sundries department. which now
embraces everything that can be called
for in tho line of staple and fancy goods
used in the drug trade. Capital and tho
rough knowledge of the needs Of the retail
trade enable them TO purchase 10 the best
advantage and sell to the best advantage
of the customer.
In crude drugs, paints, dyes, chemicals.
window-glass, oils, &C.. tho stock of the
house is immense, and can be placed Mt
bottom figures. In fact, the stock In every
department seems limitless. and it is not
going too far TO say that Purcell. Ladd u
Co. could equip from their rGovernor-street
store and their warehouse a half dozen
frst-class retail drugstorees without making
a perceptible hole i'll their own assortment
druggists suudries.
A vast deal of the immense business OF
Purcell. Ladd & Co. is done by mail. So
well is the house known for fair dealing,
promptness in the delivery of goods, and
competing prices that they receive count
less orders from retail druggists and coun-
try merchants who rarely ever enter
their store or see one of their travelling
salesmen.
An order TO Purcell, Ladd & Co. means
that the purchaser will get exactly what
he wants as quickly as the goods can be
shipped, and at prices that cannot be ex-
celled.
The druggist sundries department Is In
charge Of Mr.. Josiah Vaughan. and Mr.. >.
ID. Craig presides over the drug depart
ment. The home force Of the establish
ment, including the partners. embraces
twenty-three person. Mr.. l.: II. Frayser
travels for the house in the cities OF
North Carolina and Virginia. and MIR. j.
w. Harris represents it among the coun-
try merchants of these States. The city
trade is looked after by Mr. Vaughan.
IN THE FRONT RANK.
The concern Of Purcell, Ladd Il Co. has
always been found in the front rank OF
every movement calculated to advance
the interests of Richmond, Virginia, and
Virginia's southern sisters. 1t stands
| with the foremost in building up the city
and making Richmond that wholesale
market which has been of such benefit to
tho county trade of the territory drained
by the systems OF railroads leading into
Richmond. The clean business me-
thods of the firm have made the name
of Purcell, Ladd Il 90. house
hold word among. physicians and the
noAo;1 traAa Tho t,fa anh activity npp
sees in the establishment from weeks end
to weeks end is the result Of public conf-
dence in the house. The physician: the
druggist. the country merchant, the head
of house knows that the label OF Purcell.
Ladd Il Co. on any package means care,
freshness. reliability" Such Is the
motto with winch it can face the second
half century of its existence without fear
of being challenged.
The reputation of the house is an honor
to Richmond and to the drug trade or the
country.
The senior member of the firm. Mr.. John
Purcell, has been identified with the drug
business for sixty years and is still active
in conducting the firms affairs. He COM
menced business on his own account with
the concern of Duvall Il Purcell, after
having been drug-clerk since he was
about fifteen years of age. The present
house. which was established In 18i0, sue
ceeded the firm Of Duvall X Purcell.
The junior member of the firm is Colonel
John B. Purcell, president Of the Rich
mond Chamber OF Commerce and one OF
the most active and enterprising OF Rich
mond's young businessmen. lie has been