Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-08
scenery along the various routes Is peao-
dful and picturesque.
TUE I0RRING TRADE.

scenery along the various iou'es 20 49,
dful and picturesque.
THE JoBBINc TRADE.
Richmond's jobbing trade tells s'ors
that 81 unparalleled in the history %
any city. IL IL story OK indlVioua.
and unaided effort for recupcrauoli ~
cannot fan TO elicit admiration where
ever II Is known. The records OF soino
Of the moro prosperous houses OF W
DAY read like romance. such was VIZ
cation the arm members suffered IN D"i'"-
mg mp business. ,.,s
April 3. 1865 not only saw rNeh,n'n.
without buildings In which 10 store s'oOns
~ good, but with all its railroads CUT
ara NO, n through system 10 any point.
Its peopie were without a medium OF ex-
change and the wolf WAS actually at
hearty every door.
ein,uifaueougly with the work OF re-
barring lines OF communications, northern
kites came into the field. and, "hiic
Richmond was slowly rising rom 'he
Ashes took possession. The Merchants
o, these cities had the means OF giving
long credits. and could thus place ""
southern trade under Obligations 20 tneHi'
They virtually pre-empted the southern
6eId. and In facing competition Rchmoho
had TO work on borrowed capital ana
under the burden OF a neavy interest &C
count.
But determination. natural ADVANTAGES.
fortitude. shrewd business sense. and
thorough study OF the needs OF theVirginia
and the southern markets. triumphed In
the end Gradually Richmond began 20
get back what was rightfuiy It's own.
Getting Il back was TO hold II. and
The law OF accretion began 10 work.
The young men OF Richmond put their
shoulders TO the wheels OF the car on
commerce, and. having once started II
along the highway OF progress. never
permitted II TO stop. As last as
new territory in the State ana soutn-
ward was opened by railroad extension
and connections. II was occupied by rep
resentatives Of Richmond's jobbing trade
Richmond soon made II apparent 70 'he
merchants OF Virginia. West virginia
North Carolina. South Carolina, Georgia
East Tennessee. and even TO the trade
as far south az Texas. that both time
and freight rates were in favor OF this
city. and as n consequence her CONNER
ciai relations with these territories have
been marked by continuous and profitable
expulsion. Year by year the Richmond
merchants have increased their stocks
and amount OF annual sales. To-day
their stocks are unsurpassed by those
of any northern city: they can and 40
defy competition, and they can ara 90
extend all the accommodation 10 their
patrons consistent with safe business
methods As a class, they have no SUI
periors in respect OF standing for com
mercial integrity The country merchant
who cannot stock his store from the
wholesale and jobbing houses OF Rich
mond. whether In the matter OF imported
d. t.1a
cannot stock II anywhere.
Some OF the retail stores OF Richmond
nro truly paiatial establishments. both
In respect Of size and stocks carried. In
fact, take the retail stock Of Richmond
by and through. II cannot be excelled in
1uality, variety, or the matter Of prices.
There is no necessity for any ones going
outside OF Richmond for any article
known TO the retail merchant. AS a
consequence. this department OF business
Is in a most flourishng condition. and
draws support not only from Richmond's
own citizens. but from large area o.
contiguous country. Nearly all the loose
tobacco and wheat rooney made within
4 radius OF fifty miles of Richmond goes
directly into the retail hands. to say no
thing of the truck money This in itself
Is a tremendous item.
As an evidence Of the growth of the
Iobbing trade OF Richmond. let the read
Or take the following figures. which
Dpeak more eloquently than would chap
tiers Of comment: In 1856 the annual
yales were about $1,000. $50: In 1896 they
we're &2g.SS50G2. The capital invested in
the trade OF 1896 was 1880 0)O showing an
Increase of $4,000 and some OF the sales
Items were as follows: Groceries and
liquors. Nz,25O,275; dry goods and notions.
S.l25.oO0; provisions, s2,T16,lJ0; fancy
groceries and tobacco. $2327. 622; boots
and shoes. s2,225,0p and drugs and leo
rice. tl,17s350. Several other departments
OF the jobbing trade made sales Of over
one half million dollars annually, in
Guiding railroad supplies. hides and
leather hardware and agricultural i'm
Elements. coal and wood. The figures
for millinery and straw goods. which
Is the lowest line, were $4,000, and for
sporting. bicycle and rubber goods-the
next iowest-Sl7o00o.
This is a presentation OF the advan-
tages of Richmond as a wholesale and
tobbing market that cannot fail to carry
conviction TO the mind OF the country
merchant who studies his own interest.
The wholesale and jobbing merchants
OF Richmond are among the most liberal
OF her citizens in everything that per-
tains TO the advancement OF tho city and
Virginia. and are merchants IN the high
est sense OF that term
Richmond's commercial organizations
are the Chamber OF Commerce. the To-
bacco Exchange. tho Grain. Flour, and
Cotton Exchange. the Produce Exchange.
and the Young Mems Business Associa-
ton, formed but recently These bodies
stand guard over tho interests, both Of
the businessmen and their patrons
They are the courts Of appeal that keep
adjusted the commercial balances. and
10 be member OF committee OF one
OF these bodies is no sinecure.