The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-15
LEADERS IN THEIR LINE.
Remarkable Success Of the Firm Of
Hcnke & Pilot.
THEIR 1WENTY.FIF I'll ANNIVERSARY
WOnde rful Growth In the Past Quar-.
ter OF n Century-Business That
All Houston II Proud of.

1t is doubtful II there is any business
house in the country which can point with
greater pride TO It's success than can the
firm OF Henke e. Pilot. Wholesale and re-
tail grocers. cotton buyers and Ice manu-
facturers.
Twenty-Five years ago today, September
10, 1872. the senior member OF the firm,
then young man, but sagacious In bust
ness, prudent and energetic, opened store
on Congress street opposite the market.
The stock was small compared TO that car
ried by the other grocery firms then doing
business in Houston. but this did not deter
Mr.. Henkc He knew what the people, the
masses, wanted. and that was good goods
and cheap goods. He did not expect 10 be-
come suddenly wealthy, but he had ambi-
ton and it was but short time until Mr..
Henke had laid the foundation for what is
today the greatest retail and wholesale gro
Gerry house in the Southwest. With but
limited capital 1t was necessary 10 Keep it
active and this could only be done by
quick sales and small margins OF profit.
Every dollar earned was put back into the
by month and year by rear.
Fifteen years ago Mr.. Camille G. Pilot
associated himself with Mr.. Henke, adding
capital and industry 10 the ALREADY pros
porous firm, and the name was changed
Ten years ago to Henry Henke x %. ar
Pilot ASSUMED control OF the office duties
acting as bookkeeper doing the clerical
work by himself. AS the bus ncas pTos-
pered and grew the work Increased. tie re-
possibilities became greater and IL became
necessary iur Mr. Pilot to enter more into
the other details OF the business. Two
bookkeepers could not keep up with the
woek so rapid was the Increase, and more
office force was consequently employed.
The old building was found to be entirely
too small to accommodate the vast trade,
and Henry Henke K Co. moved into their
present spacious building, corner OF Con-
gress avenue and Milan street, opposite
the Central market. They remodeled and
enlarged the building, which occupies
piece OF ground 100 feet square, is tw osto-
lies in height and has magnificent base
ment. which is always stocked with heavy
staples and other goods cessary In the
retail department Even this building was
found to be lacking in room for the enor-
nous and rapidly increasing trade, and
mammoth warehouse was built on the
tracks OF the railroad. This large building,
nately destroyed by fire not long ago. but
the loss only accustomed temporary delay,
Ter in short time new plans were drawn
up, the contracts were awarded and large
force of Sorkmen were set To work re-
build the warehouse, which will shortly be
completed.
For the past few years the receipts of
wagon cotton In Houston have become
very heavy, and into this business Tn. firm
embarked and now buy the larger portion
OF the entire crop OF wagon Gotten brought
to the city, always paying the highest mar
ket price and spot each. To accommodate
this trade. which is under the supervision
OF Mr.. Jim Adair. a cotton yard. separate
from the other branches OF the business
las been established. This naturally re-
duces any risk Of loss by fire. as the yard
is removed from stores or warehouses;
In addition TO the grocery and cotton
business there Is the Henke Artes'an Ice
Manufacturing company which supplies a
large trade in and around the city and
serves as a refrigerating warehouse for
meats, buffers and such other articles as
require refrigeration 10
On February /. 1896, the name OF the
firm was changed from Henry Hcnke 4
Co. TO Henke a. Pilot, and its name is as
much household word as is the name OF
the city in which we live. Houstonians
point with pride to this firm and inform
strangers Of the enormous business. not
only wholesale. but retail handled by this
popular house. which supplies hundreds OF
families with their daily supplies 1t re-
quircs an army OF clerks. porters, drivers
and wagons and teams to carry on the
trade. The big salesroom is always crowd
ed. and on Saturdays and certain days In
the month it is simply thronged with dense
crowds
Everything In the grocery line is In stock
and. being bought for spot cash, in car.
train and whole shiploads at a time, the
housekeeper and consumers are given the
full Benefit of the discounts tlH firm is
thus enabled TO obtain. There are canned
and case goods to suit the tastes, and the |
epicurc can supply his table with the lux
uries as vel as the working man can his |
with the simple necessities A large |
stock Of wines and liquors. in bottle5 and |
cases as we'll as In barrel lots. are always |
In full supply, as well as all brands of ci- |
CARS. tobaccos and cigarettes. In fact the
stock is complete in every branch and the
prices are such that bripa the trade.
The marvellous growth and success of this
firm. while matter CT congr, tul,tion Ia
us invidual members, is also one which en-
lists the hearty good will OF the citizens If
houston and In celebrating today ths
twenty fifth anniversary of the firms es-
'abilshment TIE Post Joins with thousands
pf others in wishing Henke G. Pilot CON-
tinued prosperity and success in all thsir