The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-04-05


successful grocery merchant OF life
long experience, Suppose you were
now out Of business, would you accept
as gift 100000, on condition that
you risked it all starting in the whole
sale grocery trade in Chicago, deyot-
ing all your time and energy to max
ing it a success?' His reply was
prompt and emphatic. mo, ne
said, the chances are too great that
I would lose it all, my time and labor
besides.
There are only three really large
Wholesale dry goods firms in Chicago.
Twenty years ago there were eight or
ten. A Few years ago a large firm in
that line failed. The remaining firms
were very anxious to have the busi-
ness rehabilitated and continued.
They felt that there ought to be more
competition than the three firms could
give, bat although there was no lack
of money, men who knew the condi-
tions were unwilling to riskit and the
firm went under.
Last week, in conversation with the
president Of one Of our largest banks,
he spoke Of the difficulty OF lending
money safely at better than alIost
nominal rates Of interest. asked
him if he knew of any line Of manu-
featuring in which he would advise
anyone to engage, no matter how well
he understood the business. mo,
he replied, IT wish [ did" I then
asked him if he would be willing to
lend money to man of good habits
and good business experience who
promised to engage in the manufac-
turing Of any stable article Of which
he had a 6horough knowledge, in COM
petition with existing factories.
Studying moment, he replied. mo,
unless he had abundant means OF his
own to meet losses.
No man living has ever seen bust
ness and financial situation like the
present in our county. For the first
time in cur history, we are creditor
nation. Chicago is called Western
city, get Chicago banks have millions
loaned to German bankers. Interest
is higher there than here. Foreign
trade is hundreds Of millions annually
in our favor. Products from both
farm and factory were never so large,
yet more existing factories are being
closed than new ones opened. True,
many large factories are being further
enlarged and better equipped with
labor-saving machinery, but still
larger number Of small factories are
being dismantled and the workmen
and statesmen discharged. Times are
said to be improving, and they are;
business is said to be excellent, and ii
is. Hitherto, good times and high
prices have always gone hand in hand,
yet prices now, on manufactured arti-
ticles at least, have. never been SC
low. It is clear, however, that as the
consolidation of manufacturers and
the establishment of department. stores
increase prices will go lower still. The
people insist on low prices for every
thing they buy, and these are the only
known methods by which they can be
obtained.
The future Of wage-earners, which
includes not only workmen in fac
tories, but clerks, commercial
travellers, etc., is problem. How
far the law Of supply and demand will
affect the wages Of those who retain
their positions is uncertain. One
thing, however, is certain: concentTa-
ton Of business and the improved
machinery will continue to lessen the
number Of places to be filled. Those
thus thrown out Of employment
must find other means of making a
living.
Making living Yes, that is
after all, all that any man can do, OF
get out Of this life, no matter how
hard he may work or how much he
may worry. The actual necessities OF
life are just four, no more; food,
clothing, fuel and shelter. The aver
age rd-working poor man eats more
and enjoys his food better than the
average rich man, especially if the
latter be brain-worker as he usually
is. Years ago boy friend OF the
writer was sent on an errand to the
home of very rich banker. Hefound
the family at bl eakfast. Ishall never
forget the expression on his face as he
said, "Why, they had nothing to eat
bat plain bread and butter, oatmeal
IL