Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-17
LARGE CAPITAL INVESTED
In Mercantile Enterprises Which Ara Lo-
Gated in This City.
Some Advantages which Shoppers
Enjoy and Why They Prefer to
Do Their Buying Here.

l NC ucdlh VI w. DcNcTluS6 was
the source of sircere regret in business
circles in this city, where he held such an
honorable place. Naturally incidents in
his career, as well as his business ability,
have been frequent themes of CONVERSE
ton. The other day group Of men, VINO
are more or less identified with the inter-
ests of the city. were talking about Mr..
Beveridge, and one of them incidentally
remarked that the stock in his store was
valued at 100000. Some one who heard the
remark said that while he had no doubt
Mr.. Beveridge carried a large and expen-
sive stock, yet he hardly thought that in
this city a business could be done that
warranted such an outlay of capital.
The speaker. however, was quickly en-
lightened on this point and was told by
the others that the volume of business done
in this city not only warranted but re-
quired such a capital, and much larger
one In many instances. If business was to
be done on an extensive scale. 1t is alto
gether possible that the speaker, who Is sup
posed to be reasonably familiar with the
city and its daily life, represents quite
cons tituency among the residents of this
city. who perhaps look upon the local
mercantile interests being comparatively
slight in the volume of business done as
we'll as the money required to carry them
Large Capital Invested.
For the benefit of those who have not
kept pace with the development of the city
in this respect it many be we'll to state that
there are retail bushes establishments in
this city which carry stock, the value of
which is three Of four times as great as
that which is stated above to be the value
Of the stock in the establishment of the
late Mn Beveridge. These business con-
cerDs are not merely one or two houses in
one line of business. but they comprize
soodly number of firms carrying on bust
ness in several lines. 1t may be said with
cut eXaggeratton that it is not uncommon
for business houses in this city to carry
stocks ranging in value from $1J0,000 to
SFO,UOO. 1t is also known that there are
retail firms in this city which do a business
amounting in the course of the year to over
N,UO,001 gross, and it was currently re-
ported of one large business house several
years ago that it was doing a business of
couple of million dollars a year.
1t may be considered as a remarkable in
dicatfon not only of the growth in popula-
llon OF the nations capital but of its pros
perlty' that SO many retail establishments
DONG an extensive business are in exist
cree One explanation lies in the fact that
wholesaiing Is carried on in a rather limit
ed way here. Retail houses find it neces-
sary and also profitable to carry more and
larger lines of goods.
Advantage to the Retailer.
The merchants are also, for the same
cause, as there are no wholesale establish
ments, manufacturers are able to sell
directly to the retailers in this city without
uolns INJURY to their customers, as they
would If they were supplying wholesale
houses located here. 1t is said that the
variety which is offered to the shopper ir
TINS city is for this reason greater than
Sail Ne iound IN such large center as
New York for the reason that in one store
Tor example, the product of several manu-
facturers can be found, while in places
where wholesaling is carried on the re-
taliers are confined to the product of the
wholesale firms from which they purchase
BUSINESS houses in this city are also able
TO buy what is called the balance of stock
from manufacturing firms at wholesale
rates and on very favorable terms as
manufacturing concerns are as a rule nm
afle to dispose of their goods to any ex-
cept their own customers in wholesale
cues, and these customers are the whole
saiers. here there are no such restrictions
and as result the stock carried by local
retail houses is large and varied. and
prices are better than purchasers can find
in what are regarded as the large trade
centers of the country.
Appreciated by Shoppers.
The conveEiences of shopping in this city
are so striking as to be recognized by all
intelligent customers, especially by those
who have been accustomed to trade in
some Of the large business centers. 1t is
possible here to make complete line of
purchases in any one establishment The
variety offered, as well as the prices. be-
ing such as can only be found in a number
OF retail stores as they are conducted in
other places. 1t is therefore the rule now
even an ong people who spend only the
winter in this city, TO do all their shopping
here. as they find it not only more con.
venienl. but more economical. In view of
these facts, it is therefore not surprising
to know that the volume of the business
OF the city is of tie extent which the fig
ures above given indicate.