The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-07-09
A MATTER OF BUSINESS.

What Shall We Do to Protect
Our Commercial Interests?
How to retain our trade is a
matter of much concern at this
time to the business men of Cor
wallis. For years past Albany,
! Independence, Harrisburg and
Junction have steadily striven for
Benton county business, and each
of these towns has succeeded
surprisingly. Although this EN-.
croachment upon our territory has
been slow, it has been none the
less subtle, determined and vigi
liant. The trade that Corvallis
merchants enjoyed five years ago
has fallen off to a marked degree.
and in the aggregate the loss may
safely be estimated at from 35 to
SO per cent. Beginning at Gran
ger and taking in Fairmount pre-
cinct and the eastern hal of Soap
Creek precinct, we find most OF
the trade going to Albany, and
from Soap Creek North, and as
far west as Kings Valley a consid-
cradle amount OF trade finds its
way to Independence. In the
southe n portion of the county are
found many citizens whose grocer
les, provisions and clothing are
purchased IN Junction and Harris
burg, while even in Corvallis we
see large amount of business
diverted to Albany.
This is a matter that has grown
gradually, and only recently have
the local business men awakened
to find that while they slept their
pushing neighbors had surrepti-
tiously encroached upon the terri
tory Heretofore tributary 10 Cor
wallis, and captured much business
which our merchants might con-
troll. This trade has been wrested
from their grasp so quietly and
slowly that the loss was not appre-
ciable for some time and only
now has the matter assumed such
proportions that there is demand
for prompt and vigorous action on
the part of Corvallis business inter-
ests to reclaim their losses.
There are many influences that
have tended to divert business
from Benton's metropolis which
will be hard to overcome. In the
first place, the free bridge at Alba
ny affords the residents of the
north end of the county more
convenient market, while the
deplorable condition of the roads.
during portions of the year, lead
ing to Corvallis, rendered trading
here inconvenient and often i'm
practicable. We might have
equalized the loss in the north end
of the county, after the Albany
bridge was constructed, by Duild-
ing bridge here, and although
the matter was disc ssed consider
ably and some liberal subscriptions
vouchsafed by enterprising citi-
zens, among them Judge Burnett.
who offered to head the list with a
donation of $500, the plan failed
TO be properly encouraged and the
matter came 10 naught. Another
reason for our losses has been a
woelul lack of unanimity OF pur
pose on the part Of our business
men. We have no board of trade
or other organization of business
men for the furtherance of ouI
commercial interests. In fact we
have gone to sleep wailing over
the hard times, and until we arouse
ourselves from our prolonged leth-
argy and organize thoroughly fol
a vigorous campaign the retriev
ing of our losses will be impossi
BILE.
| Another matter many of oul
business men overlook or fail te
realize the importance of, is pub
licity. Says prominent writer
OH this subject, advertising is
business. The man who canno,
utilize advertising in his busines.
has no business to be in business
and generally isn't. The mos
successful business men prove, by
liberal expenditure, that there
never have been times so dull thai
extra advertising did not pay
The foolish business man cuts hi.
[ publicity appropriation when bus
mess appears to be poor ane
, allows the neighbor in business tt
cut into his old customers, ane
llynan g., Il.