New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-30

also for IL extends to Canada Mexico and the
Antilles The business as 1t has both enlarged
and concentrated has required greater admins
trative skill and finer trade tactics The
2JOO0OWO gross transactions alluded to
only yield estimated return Of | per cent
net. Great houses doing So.WO'WW bust
ness year. with perhaps s5oO,oOO or 100000
capital invested. will have at the end Of the
year no more than $4,000 net for the risks and
keen work that have been used in Juggling with
their capital laid out in cargoes and tranoads
of groceries subject 10 conditions that the wsest
trader can only guess at.
The wholesale grocer who used to handle only
a limited line OF staples has become the pur-
veyor Of prepared foods He is the vehicle
whereby the manufacturer Of things to eat and
Of many household convenences finds market.
The principal business and the principal profits
Of a wholesaler not in sugar. coffee. tea dried
fruits. cured meats and cheese. but in prepared
table articles. The wholesale grocer is for the
factory as against the kitchen. The index to
grocer's price list begins like this: Acid phos-
phate. alum. almond paste. almond powder. am
monia anchovies. anchoves In kegs arrow root.
artchokes. axle grease baby food bags. manila
wrapping. baking powders. Bar lie Due" jelly.
pearl barley bath brick. bay rum. dried beans.
French canned beans. beef. wine and iron. bees
wax picked beets blrd gravel BIRD seed bird 8
custard powder backing. blue and bluing. Hal
steads boilers. powdered borax. crystal borax.
Maggi's bouillon bread preparation. birthstone.
fruit buffers butter butter color. butter dishes
and trays. camphor. candles and candy.
The extent to which prepared foods have taken
the place Of the is amazing to the inexpert
inquirer Immense quantities Of vegetables that
, formerly were sold ny the market gardeners TO
commission men and thence to retail grocers
are now canned for a-the-year trade and
distributed by the wholesale grocers. The whole
salers that is most OF the big houses have fact
cries Of their own for canned goods. condiments
pickles and soups. Wholesale grocers are SELL
ing enormous quantities Of perfumes, brushes
sponges and herbs Of various sorts. The liquor
and cigar departments are important ones in
many firms Others do not touch them
The extent to which the use OF factory pre-
pared foods is stmuate(i by the wholesaler and
the excellence Of them we're illustrated at a
| dinner that the head or one wholesale grocery
firm gave To a company OF gentlemen In the
blue points from sealed glass jars. The terra
pin soup had been prepared by the $1,000 chef
! in a canned soup house. and was from ordi-
nary commercial lot. The entree the roast the
three sorts OF vegetables the lobster salad and
! the plum pudding all from the store
S6rn. of the Wholesalers reaching out for the
! prafts OF the retailers have retail stores also.
4 One wholesaler in the city has thirty such
stores and a wide jobbing trade besides
TIL, administration OF Il wholesale house is a
| matter Of much dclicacy. Judgment and expert
euce5 Special agents are sent To Brazil for cof-
! fee to the far East for tea. to France. and