The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-01-28

! erected thereon the substantial two story
brick building, with a ground area of
| fifty by one hundred feet, now occupied,
as is the remainder of the lots mentioned,
by the subject of this sketch. When
the store was first opened by Brooks
and Beers it could hardly be said there
was business house within four blocks
of it, but the new firm calculated wisely
and they soon found themselves doing
large and profitable trade especially at
those times of the year when the busi-,
ness in the adjoining warehouses is
greatest. A year ago Mr.. Brooks sold
out his interest to r. E. Williams and
the style of the firm was changed from
Brooks & Beers to The Dalles Merchan-
tile company, G. F. Beers remaining as
senior member of the firm. With this
change some new departments were
added until today this great Farmers
Emporium contains nearly everything
usually required on farm or in farm
house, the larger kinds of farming ma
chinery perhaps alone excepted. The
Dalles Merchantile company's store is
no toy shop, as one who takes the
trouble to walk through il can see at
glance. Everything in and about the
place bears the stamp of solidity. Huge
nishing goods, boots and shoes, hats and
caps, shelf hardware, tinware, farming
tools, crockery and glass ware, farm
produce of all kinds including bacon,
lard, grain, mill feed, hay, vegetables,
cheese, butter, eggs, etc. Our attention
was particularly called to an immense
! stock of cases of dried peaches and prunes
bearing the well known brands of w. H.
Wilson and G. E. Chrisman, fruits that
BIr. Williams assured the writer, were
of such excellent quality that they had
driven the California article out of the
market. The firm claims to make a
speciality of fine teas which they import
direct from the foreign market and of
/ which they constantly keep larger and
finer variety than perhaps any other
house IN the city. These and their i'm
mense stock of groceries of every grade
and variety make tire house second to
none as a place where farmers and stock
men can purchase theirsuppiies. There
is one feature connected with the bust
ness of The Dalles Merchantile company
that perhaps as much as any other has
rendered the house deservingly popular.
If we mistake not the old firm was the
first to inaugurate the system of furnish
ing free stalls and an enclosed yard for
the accommodation of farmers and freight
er's teams. No less than 2S stalls, af-
fording shelter and racks for 56 head OF
horses have been built and stand open
at all hours for the accommodation of the
public. By this means many dollar is
saved to the farmer who can bring his
own feed with him or purchase it on the
ground in quantities to suit at current
market rates. A barn 80 by 20 feet at
the back of the yard is filled with .baled
hay from floor to ridge. In another cor
ner OF the yard is shed about twenty
feet in length with a table extending
the whole way and a stove in the mi IDLE
of the floor. This is for the convenience
of farmers and freighters who desire to
do their own cooking instead of buying
their meals at a restaurant and all these
conveniences, yearly appreciated by
thousands, are without money and with
out price. 1t is these featuresthat com.
bine to make this store the farmers
favorite trading place. Whether the
farmer desires to sell his own produce
or purchase supplies he is equally al
home at this store. OF the character O.
the men who conduct the business we
can truthfully say as we do IN all sin.
cerity that no more honest men evel
dealt out goods from behind counter
If they have any different character it i.
unknown to those among whom they
have dwelt and with whom they have
done business for more than half score
of years. /. is not surprising therefore
that they are constantly proving by {
constantly increasing trade, that whethel
in business or in the private relations o
life, honesty, in the long run, is always
the best policy.