The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-28
ONLY Is OLD FIRMS LEFT.
IN 81 YEARS s75 SAVANNAH FIRM
NAMES HAVE DISAPPEARED.

IN 81 YEARS e75 SAVANNAH FIRM
NAMES HAVE DISAPPEARED.
In the Same Period of Time There
Has Been an Increase in the Mum
Der Of Business Houses Here of But
100. But the Chars cter of Business
Has Greatly Changed-Interesting
Figures From an Old Brsdstreet's
Report.
While in Jacksonville recently Mr.. W.
Il. Logan, superintendent of the Bradstreet
Commercial Agency, ran across copy OF
che twenty-ninth report Of the Bradstreet
company, published July 6, 1871, over
twenty-one years ago.
Mr.. Logan brought the book back TO Sa-
vannah with him as a curiosity in his line.
It Is quite interesting to look through the
pages of this old volume, for twenty-one
years is pretty old for a commercial report.
There are many facts of interest to be found
In it. Brunswicks list of business men
showed but 70 names then. Bradstreets
last report gives that city over 200. Macon
had only 275 business men then. She now
has over 500. Atlanta had about 900 BUSH
ness firms then. To-day the Gate lofty has
about 1900.
The greatest increases are shown in the
Florida towns. jacksonville, st. Augustine,
Tampa, Ocala, Gainesville and other i'm
portant towns Of to-day made slight
showing twenty-oue years ego or
are all live, healthy business
places The comparison Of Savannah's
showing Is more remarkable for the changes
shown than the increase in the number Of
business houses. In 1871 there were $50
business firms and corporations quoted in
Bradstreets for this city. To-day there are
1850. OF the $50 business houses twenty
one years ago fully 200 were commission
houses. To-day there are not one-fourth
that number engaged in this branch Of
business. From the ratings given 1t was
evidently the best paying business in Sa-
vannah at that time.
COMMISSION HOUSES DISAPPEARING.
Business has changed and the places OF
the commission houses have been taken by
Wholesale dealers, carrying large stocks Of
goods on hand. II was a profitable bust
ness in those days, but the city is doubtless
gamer by the change.
To look through that list Of $50 business
houses OF twenty-one years ago is like look
ing through a mercantile graveyard. OF
nearly 1000 firms then doing business Ia
Savannah not over seventy-tve are still
doing business under the same name A
few are doing business under altered firm
names, hut the great majority
have died, removed, or gone out of bust
ness altogether. In looking over the list,
few names were found that are still familiar
TO the people OF Savannah.
Among the number are G. W, Allen, B.
Brady, John Bresnan, ]. g. Butler,
Luke Carson, Solomon Cohen, John Derst,
A. Doyle, NJ. J. Doyle, l. Epstein 81 Bro. J.
H. Estill, proprietor SAVANNAH MORNING
News, William Estill, John Feeley, Fernan-
deg q Bro, the tobacco dealers; n.
Ferst & Co., B. NJ. Garfunkle, ].
X. Garmany, D. Grim, Charles Gross,
Thomas Halligan, Martin Helmken, NJ. Y.
Henderson, Daniel Hogan, George A Hud-
son, S. KrouskoR. Lowell & Latti-
more, ]. Lippmsn 81 Bro, Ludden & Bates,
John Lyons and J. J. McGratn the gro
cerymen; McDonough & Ballautyne, Mein-
hard Bros & Co., George N. Nichols, G. W.
Parrish. j. Perlinski, Joseph A. Roberts &
Co., Savannah Bank and Trust Company,
Merchants National Bank, Henry Schroeder |
John Schwarz, Charles Seller, Solomon q
Co., the druggists; the Southern Bank, q. |
J. Taggart, P. Tuberdy. r. d. Walker & |
Co.. Fred Vessels, A. M. & c. w. West,
J. P. White, Wilcox, Gibbs q Co., and A. |
K. Wilson.
There were no ratings signifying specific
amounts in those days. couple of "As"
after mans name sigDified that his credit
and character were well established, and
the more As there were attached TO mans
name the higher was his rating.
FIRMS THAT STOOD HIGH IN II.
Among th Sc firms and corporations
which were given the highest ratings then
IN Savannah we're Edward c. Anderson,
Jr., and Bates & Conner, banking and com
mission; K. Bradley & Son, dealers in fer
tilizers. and II. Brigham. The Central
Railroad and Banking Company then had
as many As after its name as could be got
ten on the same line with it. So had the
Southern Bank, the Merchants National
Bank. and the Savannah Bank and Trust
Company, which latter corpora
tions are still rated up in
Sc" The commission men enjoyed
high ratings. Among them were Octavus
Cohen q Co., Cope & Ripley. Duncan q
johnson, n. A. Hardee's Son & Co., A s.
Hartridge. Andrew Low & Co. and J. G.
Rowland g. Co. David r. Dillon and J. w.
Lathrop & Co. we're rated high among the
bankers. Andrew Low & Co., Muir
& Duckworth and Tison 81 Gordon
were rated high among the cotton men.
Wilder & Fullerton, shipping and commits
sion men we're rated very high. Other
high ratings were Lathrop & Co., dry
goods, Lowell & baltimore, Meinhard
Bros. & Co., T. r. & J. s. Mills, w. c.
O'Driscoll. H. & J. Weed, Wilcox, Gibbs &
Co., and Wood and johnson and others.
]. NJ. Brsdstreet & Son published their
first commercial reference book in 1919.
They are now engaged on their Tooth
volume.