The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-01
BUSINESS MEN TALK.
YHETR yIEHs .iBOLJ JR1DI DUR
JSG JHE JIST CLOSED.
Think 1t Was Very Good when All Things
Are Considercd-Thc Outlook For 1896
l. Quite Encouraging.


/ sidcration that merchants IN nearly att
J branches had 10 battle against general
/ depression in business circles extending
| all over the country. there IS great
/ deal 10 be thankful for ana the ldea
seems 10 prevail among the most con-
sentative business men that "A brighter
and more prosperous year lies ahead.
( Below VIII bc found statements from
/ some prominent business men IN various
I branches OF trade:
COTTRELL. WATKINS q. co.
We consider the condition OF the whole
I sale business as far a. 10 extends 10
/ hardware. during 1895. especially since
July as very healthy. ours has been
/ satisfactory in every respect
The condition of the iron market ls
quite firm whilst goods are not unreason-
ably high. The country. during the de-
! preston Of the past few years has be-
come comparatively bare Of goods. so That
the demand for them has been large. The
people in the South where our trade
! lies chiefly, are nearly out Of dcbi. iher
crops have been excellent and prices re-
ceiycd for same highly satisfactory. our
collections have been as good as could
Doe expected undcr the circumstances
| and are altogether satisfactory
We are 4lns preparation for large
trade next spring and see no reason why
the Improvement i'm business which hsf
been so manifest all along the line. should
not continue for some time 10 come
STEPHEN PUTNEy d co.
Our business IN 1895 has been very active
and much more satisfactory than usual
/ The shoe trade generally was greatly
stimulated 10y the large advance early m
the year Of everything that goes into
Nrsf4 al Nfa
[ the large advance OF cotton. not tess
I than 80 per cent over 1885, which put
planters in possession az much r.orc cash
than for several years.
The prospects for 1896 are good, because
I there is every indication that tine next
cotton crop. however large. viii bring
"a highly remunerativc price. We. at AN
/ events. believe $50. ana have consequently
/ largely Increased our force of statesmen
who nave already taken large orders FOR
spring delivery.
Collections have been most excellent
Attributable partially 10 improved p'ices
for cotton. but principally because we
have discarded the uuhusiues like prin-
ciple of dating ancad. then giving long
time We no longer sell time and dis
count bat sell shoes and boy making bills
net. no discount. and not dating ahead.
we give the trade such advantage they
see them al "a glance and. as a rule. are
glad to- exchange the old terms for the
new
The saving of bad debts 10y net terms
is a profit in itself which Is shared with
the purchaser We cover the whole
Southern country south Of the Ohio and
cast of The Mississippi. which we believe
10 be to-day the most prosperous ana
inviting section Of the United States.
THOMAS POTTS AZ co
The business OF 1850 in many respects.
was a great Improvement over 1894. but
Was not aa great "a success as many exc
pectod. The facts are that we nave
passed through a great business aeprcs-
sion. not only I'm our own country but
an over tine carih-f0r the same cry came
! from Europe and Australia. We have
seen the darkest clouds, and inc sun -hih'
Of real prosperity is not faf on Tie
low prices of farm products nave caused
/ much depression. and was only relieved
Joy the advance in cotton which proved
blessing To our Southern States ln
alaHciug over The business of the past
year one thing comes Ip as cheering
sign. and that is the reduction of debts
in our Southern country. At no time
since 1865 were the merchants as Tree
from debts rs az The close Of 1870. BUS
mess is being conducted on shorter cred
it's and tine merchant who wants 10 buy
close must be ready TO pay cash ana get
The advantages
" u" an "vii'7t "''ii''iit9' f''"" ~.
'uDnC "i"liS' nav 7oou 80 ,,,,of
"opti"'' "hu 'l' '"'"'' ioi'''''7
c.,,I, H., ann. b,,si,ese o., lo,,, and abroad
-. ,.l.,.,.,.,,,.
H. - i'' MIN
do nor believe that lN.9 mas pcen
satisfactory year with me "noies"le
trade, although am confident me ia7t
SIX months OF 1870 mas "e'h "a n'''uv" i'i'-
proVemehi over inc la"t SIX months oi
'Nt OF ihe Aisi SLY hoH'ns Vi ~.
no reason why l>.p shouiu h'' n' " '"'-
isfactoiy year IN the wholesale business.
lhlnh our FARMERS owe Tess lot 7"plN',9
IMAM usual ana they nave E'"''"iiS
raised sood crops al smaH expense anu
h ihe 'ohS"ihihE Grass MoDiu i"D'' '",
oullkauohS more ieS"i'iil anu i'"l,P"t
VIII oH'I ''ail XIV .''"l,. ,''' "ou'" Wv
as Iuch y any '"i"S ,''"t ga" quo
To ihelp ne NnoI'si'e ll"'e' "i'' VIA
hch'',' 'h' "Hoies'' ,Id"' '.''.''''
manu- 'uIeI' """ ".i"'
iniilu' "c',Iti N'"'i,'S 'l'' ,.,. "a.
every ihui, l""dl s'"lt D' .,',,.......',...
'"' .'',-i,. ~. me-. ol,,i,e-
pIoi'i','s 1'l , - +t,,. ,,,lo No. ob-
''9,'a ri,',,1'., a., s,,ort vTie We would
nm wv ,ro'ocrole Hr.taf dealers whole
ssl. 1oslers mantfacturers. ana consum-
,rs
.,,.,,,,,,. r,-,rr,,r,roD- coppt.s A.
'''li ''r' i''' l.0
We nave p'en more ina" E'"''l," gu
demand for hlgher-class goods increases.