The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-12
THE WHOLESALE BUSINESS.
Roanoke Controls the Trade OF
the Southwest.

Seren Large Wholesale Houses In This
City-it IL Estimated That tile Grocery
establishments alono Did IL Business
Last Year Amounting to. 81, 500, 900
The openinE of the Roanoke ana
Southern VIII Greatly Increase tho
Trade Dealers Predict That it VIII
be Doubled During the Coming year
The wholesale business is becoming
great factor and is extending the ad-
vansages and prosperity of Roanoke
It's building up steady trade with
the outer world: it is establishing u
line of business that makes wealthy
mon and useful city; it is bringing
into Roanoke hundreds of men to buy
goods. Besides this, tho wholesale
business is adding thousands of dollars
to the prosperity of the city.
Five years ago the wholesale business
in Roanoke was n slim affair, and tho
trado was decidedly limited. Sinoo that
time 1t has sprung up as if by magic,
and today there are in Roanoke Two
wholesale grocery establishments which
did business of $500, 90 last wear
In other lines of business the whole
sale trade is limited. There is one largo
notion house which was opened up tho
hrst OF tho year and one hardware firm
which does wholesale business in CON
nection with its retail trade.
j. Nj. Gambill was tho first to open a
Wholesale house and ROW does an i'm
mense business. Speaking of the ex-
tension OF trade yesterday Mr.. Gambil,
said:
The wholesale merchants OF Roam
oke arc taking n the country for 200
miles around. Ne lead all the cities in
tho business, and now have nearly tho
exclusive control OF the Southwest.
The attention OF the merchants was
called to the country along the line OF
the Roanoke and Southern, and as soon
as it opened mp they began to work tho
field and have already secured n largo
trade, which 70 other city can compete
with. they are only ono hundred miles
from Western North Carolina, whore
Richmond has heretofore had tho trade.
Richmond is Gao miles from this section
and consequently Roanoke has an ad-
vantage. There are two houses here
which carry rs large stock Of goods as
any in tho State"
Huff, Andrews & Thomas have builtup
a large wholesale trade and are pushing
their business in every direction. Mr..
Andrews said yesterday:
Ten to eighteen years ago Richmond
had the run Of the Wholesale business
in Southwest Virginia. After that
Luxembourg made ap effort to secure the
trade and held it until five years ago.
Since that time Roanoke has had the
lead and the business has increased as
il by magic. Tho Roanoke and South
ern has opened up new field for us.
we have 10 day orders for four solid
carloads TO be shipped down the line of
this road. besides several Other small (
orders. To give somo idea OF the bust
ness. We received yesterday orders for
from eight 10 ten carloads Of goods.
Roanoke is away ahead in the whole
sale grocery business, but sh. needs
some wholesale dry goods and boot and
shoo houses. That is, firms who con.
fine themselves strictly TO the whole
sale trade"
Mr.. Andrews said that the business
last year will average $500, 90, for each
firm.
w. r. Deaton, another large whole
sale grocer. said that tho business was
increasing Inc merchants of South
west Virginia preferred TO buy in Roam
oke because they could got their goods
cheaper and much quicker. The open
ing OF tho Roanoke and Southern will
greatly increase tho business. Mr..
Deaton is OF the opinion that Roanoke
needs other Wholesale houses in the line
OF dry goods and boots and shoes.
Tho Roanoke Grocery and Milling
Company is another large wholesale
grocery establishment and has trade
in all parts OF Southwest Virginia. Mr..
Jamison. member Of the firm, esti-
mates the business done last year at
from 81, 500 0C to 81, 500, 00O He thinks
tho Roanoke merchants have reason to
he proud of tae reputation they have
built up in Southwest Virginia.
Those people, said Mr. Jalnison,
AL say that for honesty, integrity and
fair dealing, the Roanoke merchants
are unequalled.'
MT. Jamlson favors also tho opening
OF Wholesale houses in tho dry goods
and boot and shoe business, and ia snre
that itwould pay.
Il. \. Jones, who was formerlys part
ner OF w. f.. Deaton, has opened up q
large wholesale house in f. Ii. Stewards
building near the Roanoke anu Southern
depot, and is building up o large trade
along the line OF that road and / n SOUTH
wes5 Virginia
Nearly all of the merchants predict
that tue business will be doubled during
the coming year.
Moutt's Tour Ended
VALPARAISO, Chilli, Feb. li.-Presi-
dent Montt returned yesterday to San
tiagO from his tour through tha south,