The Republican journal., 1892-07-14
Sale of the Dana SarsaparilIa.


the sale of the Dana Sarsaparilla business
is now in progress, the transfer being made
to syndicate of Boston gentlemen for $780,
00O Among the purchasers are James <.
and William A. Whitney, who before held a
portion of the stock, West & Jenney, whole
sale druggists. Other parties are also inter-
ested. Mr.. William A. Whitney is the gen
tlelnan. who recently purchased property at
Saturday Cove, Northport, and is now sum
mering there.
Mr.. II. +. Dunton, attorney, and DR.. Kill
gore are now in Boston making the trans
fer. The sale is absolute, every dollar of
the new concern being owned by the Boston
gentlemen. Mr.. f. F. Hanson the gentle
nlai who has so ably managed the company
Since its corporate existence, will still man
age the business at handsome salary for
three wears. The syndicate would not nur-
chase unless he would become the manager
The new owners tell him him he can have
all the help he demands. The new COM
pany will organize in Belfast The factory
and manufacture OF the medicine will also
remain in Belfast. 1t is recognized that Bel
fast is the home of Dana's Sarsaparilla, and
that the medicine can be manufactured
cheaper here than elsewhere
Let us briefly review the enterprise which
has had such successful career. The med
Kilgore, one of Belfasts leading physicians,
and was used in his practice. The sarsaI-
arilla was manufactured in the drug store Of
kilgore & Wilson, who then owned it. The
doctor put it on sale in his drug store where
it soon acquired a local reputation. He
manufactured it until the sale reached 1000
bottles yearly, when it outgrew the capacity
of the back room of his drug store. In 1888
Mr. e. F. Hanson bought an interest in the
medicine and begun to push it in his own pc
culiar manner. 1t was then owned by Kill
gore, Wilson K Hanson. The manufacturing
was done in the building on Bridge street,
Gow owned by the Skoda Discovery Com
pany. The sales the first year We're 1000
bottles. The company had limited capital
and the expense of putting a new medicine
on the market was great. More capital was
needed and it was evident that unless money
was forthcoming the concern must 90 to the
wall. In November 1889 a stock company
was formed with capital stock of S25 900.
Capt. Charles Baker was elected president
and Mr.. Hanson manager. The propretors
found it hard work to capitalize the medi-
cine. Business men of means, knowing the
lIaZardness OF patent medicine enterpzes,
would take no stock in it, Mr.. Hanson
thoroughly believed in it, and through his
energy with that of DIR. Kilgore the amount
was raised. The stock was all held by per-
sons of limited means and in small quantities;
Mr. Hanson holding nearly one-quarter of
the stock The sales for 1880, tile first wear
of the corporation, reached 10000 bottles.
Mr.. Hansen begun new system of aelvertis-
ing which was most striking, and has since
been initiated by nearly every patent medi-
cine in the county This style has been
kept up until to-day Mr. Hanson ranks as
one of the shrewdest advertisers in the
country. 1t became evident that the medi-
cine would become great seller, and mon
eyed men began to buy stock, paying hand
some premium The sale for 1891 Went be
yond 100000 bottles. A twenty per cent.
preparations We're made ON a large scale
the company having purchased the old foun-
dry building and fitted up one of the best fac
tories in the country. The sales for this year,
six months, are between 100000 and 6OO, 900
bottles, and is still selling finely. Prepara-
tions for next years business is being made
on IA basis Of 100000 bottles. A new S3O,-
t1,a,,
pany, and many other new improvements
will be inaugurated. The outlay for next
seasons business must exceed quarter mil
lion dollars.
West & Jenny, of the new proprietors,
have handled large quantities Of the nedi-
cine, and as they are large and enterprising
wholesale druggists, will make great effort
to push it. 1t will not he surprising if in a
few years Dana's Sarsaparilla Company will
become the leading Sarsaparilla in the coln-
try.
What effect will this sale have upon Bel
fast, and what will be the results? If the
medicine is to be manufactured here in the
future, we have been the gamer All will
mourn to have it removed.
OF the amount of the sales at least S225,
600 will remain in Belfast, which must nee
esarily make itself felt \ ma iorty of this
amount is owned by persons in small cir
cumstances, who will use it to forward their
interests and better their conditions. We
shall expect new houses to be erected and
new business enterprises established. The
wealth acquired by Mr.. Hanson, the largest
owner, is something astonishing for a staid
and conservative town like Belfast. 1t is
presumed that three years ago, when he enl-
barked in this enterprise, he exhausted his
limited capital. To-day he is worth at least
south OF west it would have been heralded
as wonderful. Mr. Hanson is Il gentleman,
who with his sudden acquired property, will
make himself felt in the community. He is
in love with Belfast and believes in the f,l-
ture of the town. He is now erecting what
will be the best dwelling house in the city.
While much of the success of the medicine
is due to Mr.. Hanson, the services of DR..
Kilgore should not be overlooked. Largely
through his tact the sale has been effected.
We have before spoken of the increased
revenue to the Belfast post office, which will
We all derive more or less benefit from this
industry which we hope will continue to
thrive