The Topeka state journal., 1897-03-08
In New York City Are Driving
Out Of Business
The Small Shop Keepers and In
creasing the Unemployed.
GREAT ADVERTISERS.
They Attract the Crowds and
Sell at a Loss
Many Things to Get Rich On
Others.

New York, March S.-There have not
been as many millionaires, idle work
men and empty store houses in New
York within 20 years as today.
Discussion of the first two has moth
ing novel 1t is in the latter statement
that interest attaches. A real estate
dealer, experienced and conservatives
authority for it. He points to the shop
districts and shakes his head at the de-
partment stores as being the cause.
Others have done likewise and a legis-
lative investigation of these stores has
been proposed, and Lexow and a COM
mittee will probably be sent down
from Albany to learn how they are run
and what is their effect on trade.
These stores are superlative for evil
or good, as one sees them. There are
four mammoth establishments here
which are probably not surpassed in
the world. One has 1000 employees and
each of the others from 5000 to $500.
They sell anything from paper of
pins to house and lot, not excepting
wedding outfits, macheteS, collins and
the new style of plows. Photographs
are taken, riding lessons given and fam
cy dances taught. The prices are US
ually low. and as they are the chief ad-
vertisers of the city the stores are
crowded. Small tradesmen and others
similarly handicapped see nothing be-
sides the bad in them, and it is at
their solicitation that the investigation
will be made These houses have from
so to 200 departments, each fully equip
ped for carrying on the particular line
of business assigned to it Many small
shOpkeepers have powerful rivals who
lose in half of their departments only
to become rich in the others. The re-
suit is bankruptcy for the shopkeeper.
1t may be a narrow view that is
here given, but 1t is a view of the
shopkeeper and is what his observation
teaches him. The shopkeeper thinks
that if the big dealer We're prevented
from a n n M wealth
was prohibited from selling confessed
ly at a loss, so as to profit elsewhere,
he could keep his shop open and have
an opportunity to live fairly we'll There
is a limit to the number of persons
possible to be put to work in one house
consequently while the small man is
being sent to the wall there is not a
proportiOnate increase in the number
for whom employment is found in the
big stores. Then, too, while one de-
partment may wreck the business of
ten shops which support ten families.
that department is run by women and
girls whose combined wages would af-
ford no luxuries and few comforts for
one family. The result is misery all
around.
On the other hand, the selfish bar
gain hunter votes the big stores de-
light and joy. When she can jump in
to one of these houses at 6 a. m. for
salt bath in time for the hair dresser
at $50 and breakfast at o'clock, SO
as to be on the field when the poor
clerks are prepared for her at o'clock,
she is nightly nearly in a seventh
heaven. Then with a page of marked
lads in her hand and a determination
to tumble everything advertised she
begins her rounds and is pounded from
pillar to post by the thousand and one
others who were just as sly she, on
ly they brought their breakfast and
went in to the lunch room instead of
the restaurant to eat it. In her ram
bles she slakes her thirst at numerous
fountains where soft" drinks on up to
sherry f1ips and good old whisky are
obtainable. She eats at the many free
food product counters until it becomes
necessary to go to the prescription de-
partment for relief. and when she is
feeling real good again she visits the
phOtOgra pher, then rides a half hour in
the bicycle academy and sees the dis
appearing head in the side show or the
newest addition to the art gallery Hav-
ing visited the 200 departments in her
rounds she keeps her appointment with
John in the luxuriously furnished par
lors and together they go to tha roof
garden for dinner and music. Size de-
clares she has had a delightful day all
under one roof, and what's more, John
1t only cost me my breakfast -