Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-07-08
SURPRISING TIE PUBLIC.
Robert Krause to Retire From the
Retail Business.
He viii Devote Hlmsel Exclusively
to the wholesale Trade-A tGreat
Business Grows From a small
Beginning.

The citizens of Davenport and vicinity
will be greatly surprised to learn that
Robert Krause has decided to 60 out of
the retail business and devote himself
exclusively to the wholesale trade. This
decision on his part was not arrived at
on account of poor trade, but because
is wholesale business has assumed such
large proportions that it requires all his
time and undivided attention.
Mr.. Krause came to Davenport early
in the SOS and began business in one of
the rooms now occupied by the German
Savings bank. At that time he did a
wholesale business, delivering his goods
throughout the state by means of a wagon.
1t was from this small beginning that the
business grew. But this grand success
was not attained without hard work and
close attention to every detail of the
business. Added to this he always car-
ried first-class stock and in all his DEAL
Jugs he was strictly honest and conscien-
tious, His business grew rapidly and he
was obliged to seek larger quarters and he
moved into the building which he now
occupies. After time he commenced
the manufacture of wearing apparel. In
this he has been as successful as in his
other business and it is on account of the
great demand for his goods that he has
decided to abandon the retail business.
His factory now occupies about 5000
square feet and 100 sewing machines are
kept running all the time by electricity
manufactured from his own dynamo.
A foreman, two assistants and three
cutters are kept busy getting material
ready for the many girls who are em>
ployed in the work. In addition to the
sewing machines are three bItton-hole
machines which are kept busy, also ma
chine to sew the buttons on. There are
few in Davenport who are aware of this
bee hive of industry. 1t is an interesting
sight to take look through the work
rooms and see the rapidity with which
the work is turned out, and all is done in
3 manner which cannot be eXcelled any
place in the country. Last year fully q
quarter of million Of garments were
turned out of this factory, all of MT
as the Tri-City Pants and Shirts
| Crow overalls. and the Robert Krause
reversible duck coats. The territory in
which these goods are sold extends from
75 miles west of Chicago to the Pacific
slope, embracing western Illinois, all Of
| Iowa, Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Mis-
| sour, southern Minnesota and portions
of other western states and territories
The merchant tailoring department il
| known throughout the entire west. Thi:
| branch Of the business is particularly
| good in Oregon, Wyoming, Washington
and Utah.
To transact this immense business re,
| quires large force OF men. Ten travel
| ing men are kept busy all the year round
snd in the store sre 10 clerks. The tota
number on the pay rotl is in the neigh
borhood of $50 persons. The wholesale
business is constantly increasing and the
entire building is now needed to accom-
modate it.
The building is 40x150 feet and three
stories high. The retail department
Contains upward of $4,000 worth o.
men, and boys clothing and furnishinl
goods which will be closed out at ono.
regardless of cost.-Davenport Tribune