The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-06-08
TO GET A RATING
HOW 1T is SECURED BY THE BUSl-
NESS AGENCIES.
Routine Work of the Reporter-Method OF
Securing Facts and Information-Value
Of the System to the Business World.
Women Reporters.
Especial Correspondence

during the last year than they ever had
before in similar length of time. In
1873, when the last serious depression fell
upon the country, the system was not
nearly so well organized as at present, nor
so extensively patronized, nor, in the opin-
ion OF many competent to judge, was the
financial distress so acute then as it has
been this time. Besides the number of
business concerns in the country was not
SO great then as now, and consequently
there could not have been so much work
for the agencies, even if the depression
were then as generally felt as now.
Useful Files.
The life of commercial agency lies in
its files. 1t might have reporters OF the
most preternatural shrewdness-men who
could divine the business mans secret
thoughts-and if the almost countless re-
ports that ere turned in daily were not
filed in such a way as to make them easy
OF access they would be practically value
less. 1t must be feasible for the clerks of
an agency TO get together at a moments
notice all the-infOrmation there is on rec
ord about any individual or firm and
make a comprehensive synopsis of the
same without delay whenever it may be
C3tieu LOT.
The manner in which this is accom-
plished is simplicity itself. The routine
work of a commercial agcncy's reporters
includes the transcription daily of all
mortgages, transfers of property and dis
charges of mortgages. This information,
besides lin towns of, say, $4,000 and up
ward being printed in the daily ''sheet"
for distribution among the subscribers, is
81: IN oil
fed. Thus, if a mortgage is filed against
the property Of Timothy Johnson, the slip
on which is concisely written out all the
information known concerning the claim
is first sorted into the box, :" whence it
goes TO a big bundle of similar slips label
ed on the outside perhaps y. Jackson
johnson" This bundle is opened, the
'Johnsons" are found and then tho partic-
ular packet devoted to the business affairs
of Timothy johnson. This packet consists
Df card of extra stiff and tough MANILA
paper labeled with his name and bearing
the first piece of information that was ever
Gled concerning him. Perhaps this was
put away on the day that he began bust
ness for himself. If so, the date of his be-
ginning will be found on the card togeth-
pr with the facts as then obtained relating
TO his initial capital, his liabilities, if any
at that time, etc. Pinned TO this card are
oil the slips that have ever since been
written concerning him, and on these are
recorded all judgments, mortgages and
everything else that has come to light
about him that may be considered of in
terest to the business world.
Some of the slips bear records of rumors,
but in all such cases it is carefully added
that the matter is a rumor and nothing
more. Often the source of the rurnor is
also given and a note perhaps giving the
opinion of the Office or at least of the en-
ployee securing it, of the value of the al
legged information in the rumor. 1t may
happen, especially if the business sea of
Mr. johnson has not been placid one,
that there are many slips, and that the in
formation they contain is sufficient from
which to make detailed business biog-
raphy Of johnson. Perhaps he had been
in business in small way for some time
before he was of enough consequence to at
tract agency attention, especially il he be
small cooper, say, and by industry has
cauSed his business to increase until he
Is considered a manufacturer of barrels"
Very Likely it is then that he asks credit
for the first time, and the man OF whom
he asks it calls for report, thus turning
the agency's attention in his direction.
Then Johnson's entire business past viii
he looked up. II he own his house free and
clear besides his shop, that fact will be
noted; If there is loan association or 9TH
pr mortgage on his residence that will be
noted, too, together with the amount So,
too, the fact that the house is in his wife's
hame, if it be a fact, will be duly set down
md the circumstances-that is, whether
IT. was bought with money furnished by
The cooper or with funds originally be- |
longing TO Mrs. johnson or her relations.
Jones personal habits as to economy and |
The fact, if il be fact, that he drinks |
hard may become pertinent, and in such |
ease viii be included in the records.
Seeking information.
a thing that puzzles many persons is |
how the agency reporters come into posses |
sion of the facts concerning the affairs of |
business men, and it is believed in many |
quarters that there is some system of dis |
rovery thereof so mysterious as to be al |
most deserving of the adjective occult |
Nothing Is further from the truth The !
only system employed is one of persistent !
and close questioning first OF the business /
men themselves and then of any one else !
thought likely TO be able to shed light on |
the subject. OF course the information re- |
garding deeds and mortgages and judg- |
ments recorded is obtained without diff |
Guilty at the office of the county clerk or |
public official corresponding thereto. and /
30 FAR all is plain sailing But a business |
man may have run very deeply in debt |
without being obliged to file any evidence |
OF such action, and he may sustain losses. /
or he may make transfers of property. that |
are nowhere recorded. Any of these things /
VIII OF course have an influence upon his /
credit, If they become known and there |
is temptation, of course to keep back in |
formation OF this sort. 1t is when a special |
report upon man is called for that the |
agency reporter is required to find out IL |
there have been any transactions under the /
surface and 1t is then that the methods /
that are sometimes called "inuuisitoriaI' |
are brought into play
As rule, the sensible business man. |
who knows how essential it has been TO 1
him 10 know the truth regarding men |
with whom he has been doing business /
will answer all questions put TO him fair |
ly and honestly. II is certain. as he |
knows, that any apparent attempt 10 COW
er ANYTHING up viii expose him TO suspi- |
cion, and if he is really DESTROYS of hiding |
the facts he will find it necessary TO do so |
with a very smooth face and TO make sure |
that no one but himself is aware of their 4
existence for the reporter is certain not /
TO stop his questions until he has put /
them elsewhere as well IS 10 the man on 1
whom report is sought In more than /
one instance within the knowledge OF the |
writer slight prevarications concerning
really trivial matters have aroused; ssspi- |
rlons and brought on financial disaster. |
Fer contra more than one nan for TX. /
time in really pcriious circr,rnsr9rces ms |