The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-02-19
Wichita's Supremacy as a CONNER
ciaI Center Recognized by All
Lines Of Trade,
The Van Zandt Implement Company
Now a Wholesale and JObbing
Concern

COnCcEn,
Today Wichita Is the home Of over 400
commercial salesmen, and is by far the
largest wholesale and jobbing city in the
state But few Of her citizens realize the
magnitude Of Wichita's wholesale and job
bing interests. Only a few years ago and
most any school boy could have told the
name and gave the location Of every whole
sale house in the city.
Today not many Wichitans could even
name them all. and the number continues
TO increase until now almost every line
of trade is represented in Wichita whole
sale concerns.
The last. and one of the most important
10 southern Kansas and Oklahoma, is a
wholesale implement house. The Van
Zandt Implement company one of the
most substantial, enterprising and sue
cessful business concerns in Kansas, has
launched out into the wholeale business.
The younger members of the firm have
been raised in the implement business, and
the great success OF their houses, which
are located in several towns in southern
Kansas. is the result of good business tact
and ability. They tarted a small business
in this city a few years ago and their
trade has steadily increa sed, compelling
them 70 seek larger quarters almost every
year, shipping by carload lots until last
year, when they increased their business
10 train loads being the only Kansas firm
that ever run their own special train from
the eastern fac 'es TO their houses. They
have an announcement on another page
which gives a brief history of the growth
of their business.
An Eagle reporter learned Of the firms
intentions TO enter wholesale trade and
yesterday called on Mr.. A Van Zandt,
manager of the company's Wichita house,
on West Douglas He was asked if it
was true that his firm would enter the
wholesale and jobbng business this spring.
to which he replied in the affirmative and
stated that they had just completed ar
rangements and would start their force
of travelling statesmen out the first of
March. Last week they renewed their job
bing contract with the Joliet Manufac-
turing company to handle their Power
Shelters in southern Kansas and Okla
homa and have also closed a contract with
the Port Huron Engine and Thresher Man
ufscturing company, mention of which
was made in a recent issue of the Eagle.
4lltg VIII lldllAtc llliS COMPANY EOOuS III
the same territory.
Yesterday they closed with the Detroit
Carriage company. one of the largest man
ufacturers Of vehicles in the country, to
wholesale their goods, which include sur
reys, carriages, buggies, phaetons, traps,
road wagons delivery wagons and all
Vehicles.
The Van Zandt company will also keep
a supply depot and Will carry all kinds of
supplies for threshing machines. This Will
doubtless be greatly appreciated by thresh-
ermen in the southwest. as in the future
they viii not be compelled to lose several
DAYS time waiting for repairs TO come
from the east.
The reporter inquired about their retail
business. and asked if they would give UP
th=ir large and rapidly increasing retail /
trade. We'll hardly" was the reply. |
I'VE expect TO look after and push our re- |
tail trade as heretofore. In the first place, |
we have too large q retail trade to think |
o. giving it up: and. further. unlike other |
lines of trade. the retail implement bust |
ness IS done by the wholesalers and job |
bers exclusively in all large cities. You /
may not know it, but nevertheless II IS a ]