The San Francisco call., 1896-08-14
The Fight Was Started When
One Company Was Re-
organized.
WHY A CIRCULAR CAME OUT
Trouble Arose Through the Changes
and Some Ugly Thing
Developed.


gaging themselves in a merry war for a
month or more, so that in their circles
nowadays the condition of affairs is sug-
gestiye of the recent conflict among fire.
insurance companies when rates of insur-
ancs were reduced 70 per cent. With the
mercantile agencies special inducements
have been offered to get business, and it
may be said that old rates no longer pre-
vail.
These agencies go along so>quietly that
their existence is scarcely known outside
the commercial community, and yet they
employ large forces of men and women
gathering, compiling and distributing
statistics and Information on the condition
OF business enterprises, the standing of
mercantile firms and the general status of
trade and commerce on the Pacific Coast.
From this it may be seen that the volume
of their own business is considerable, and
indeed an important factor in the econ
omy OF commercial affairs.
Their contracts with business houses
and bankers for supplying information in
statistical and other forms upon trade
conditions and upon private houses are
taken as a reflex OF the business of a COM
munity. So the agreements that have
been signed since the fight began have
agencies and of those men directly inter-
ested outside the agency offices.
1t was stated by a representative OF one
of these agencies that contracts were writ
ten for two and half years ahead at
greatly reduced rates.
Under ordinary circum stances contracts
would be made for six months, year, or
any time over a year, at schedule rates.
The yearly contract however, was usually
considered long enough, so the extension
of time at low rate was genuine sur
prise.
Bradstreet's claimed that there really
was no change IN their method of business
with regard to contracts, only that the
volume of business was increasing. Dun
d Co. were making a vigorous bid for
new business, and this, it was said, if not
directed at the Pacific Coast institution,
Pickens, Fulton & Co., would have the
effect of cutting into their business in the
future. In fact, several contracts have
been dated six months hence, so that
when existing contracts shall then have
expired the rival house will be astonished
to find that part of its business is in an
others hands.
About six weeks ago there was change
in the agency of Pickens, Fulton & Co.
1t seems that under the former manage
ment this well-Known concern was not
wholly successful in a money-makiDg
point of view. although it gave an excellent
service and amply satisfied its patrons.
The old officers retired, new directors took
their places and the institution was prac-
tically reorganized with George f. Neal,
the publisher of the Commercial News, as
president. This put the agency on a
sound basis, but rivals took advantage of
the change to secure contracts at time
when the state of affairs was not thorough
ly understood.
From it, too, the war began for business
,,olI IL
started by two former employees of the
reorganized agency. This further COM
plicated matters in a certain measure,
and in the heat of the fight some state
ments were made rejecting on Pickens &
Co. Letters said to have been written by
q partaer of the new local concern to mer-
chants were found. They contained dam
aging statements which were promptly
met. The result was that Pickens 81 Co.'s
Offices in Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle,
Tacoma and in other Northwestern cities
were notified and circulars sent to SUBJ
scrlbers to the agency on this coast and in
the East. These circulars were dated
August 10 and mailed yesterday. They
are as follows:
PIcKENs, FULTON & Co. (INCoRPoRATED), !
THE COMMERCIAL AGENCY,
130 Sansome St., corner of Pine.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Aug. 10, 1895.
1t has come to our know edge that certain
former employees OF this com pany are circu-
lating false and malicious reports detrimental
to our interests.
In order 10 correct the mischief intended by
these parties and for the information of our
patrons we deem it necessary to say that GER
lain changes have recently taken place in tais
company, which have added new life to the
concern, its new president being George F.
Neal who, for the past eleven years, has been
manager of the Commercial Publishing Com
pany of this City. and through whose efforts
That company has been placed in the enviable
position it holds to-day. New capital hes
been brought in and the company is now on
souud financial basis.
Messrs William Fulton and E. Goeller are
stfll connected with the company, doing, if
such thing could be, more than ever for the
furtherance and advancement of its interests
F. c. Matthews, who has been connected with
the company for the past seventeen years, dur
ing the last eight OF which he has had entire
management OF the reporting department,
still retains that position, being further ad-
vanced to the Office of secretary.
All of the old employees are retained, with
the exception of two reporters and one stem
ographer, and the places of these parties have
been filled bysmere competent people. In ad-
dition to this there has been considerable
increase in the working force so that to-day
the same is larger and more efficient than it
This has already resulted in the Office being
complimented on the Improvement in the
service rendered, and within the next three
months we will guarantee our reports to be
better than any heretofore issued. To satisfy
anv doubt that might arise as to this state-
ment we will be pleased to have our patrons
carefully compare our present reports and
service in general with that which has been
rendered heretofore.
Our law and collection department con-
tinues under the charge of our attorney, Will
liam Rigby, who has been associated with us
for the past six years.
While we are willing to extend to competi-
tors the utmost fair play and all the business
they may he able to maintain by fair means,
we yet claim the same treatment from them,
regretting, however, to say that 1t has not
been granted for some time past
Thanking you for past patronage, soliciting
a continuance thereof, and assuring you OF
our hest efforts to give you every satisfaction
in regard to business Entrusted to US, we are,
''- PIcKENs, FULTON & Co.
GEO. +. NEAL, President.
DEVELOPMENTS are being watched by the
attorney. and it has been stated that if the
embittered fight should bring to light any
further wrongs q suit at law will be the