Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-03
RICHMOND is FIRST.
EASILY LEADS IN THE SHOE TRADE
OF THE SOUTHERN STATES.
REMARKABLY LOW FREIGHT RATES.
This One of the Reasons why She
Stands Mt the Head-A Georgia
Venture Creates Amusement I'm
Richmond.
stands Mt Il
Richmond.

Richmond.
That the Wholesale dealers Of Rich
mond self every year far more shoes than
those of any other southern city is proba-
bly, not generally known.
It is certain that the reason therefor
IS not a matter Of common knowledge.
The advantages which Richmond enjoys
over other cities of the South In the
matter of freight rates are astonishing.
The difference between the rate from
Boston, whence all the shoes for the
southern trade come, 70 Richmond, and
from Boston 10 any other city Of the
South forms a very comfortable profit
TO the Richmond dealer.
HOW ATLANTA ABUSES.
An editorial in an Atlanta paper Of
Few days ago on the setting up in New
York by % Georgia shoe firm Of sample
room for the benefit OF the incoming
buyers attracted attention among the
shoe JObbers in this city and created
considerable amusement.
The Georgia paper spoke OF the enter
prise as something new under the sun,
When as a matter OF fact, Richmond
wholesale shoe house has had sample
room in New York and sold thousands
OF dollars worth of goods therein 10
southern and western buyers every sea-
son for years.
But the editorial created further amuse-
ment. The article says:
1--WE cannot ask that the merchants OF
the smaller towns and cities In Georgia,
Florida. Alabama. louisiana, Mississippi
Tennessee. and North ard South Caro-
lima should pay first for the goods which
they get from us; secondly. for a thou
sand-mile freight haul from Boston or
New York 10 Atlanta. and, thirdly, for a
local freight haul back 20 the afore-
said village or town.
ATLANTA Is SHUT OUT
Commenting upon this naive confession,
member Of one Of the best known
firm OF shoe jObbers in this city said yes
terday:
"Of course, Atlanta cannot expect her
merchants TO buy shoes at home. No
Businessman familiar with the facts
would expect it. Richmonds natural ter
ritory for the sale OF shoes is at least
the country lying between this city and
Atlanta. We can get our goods into
every town in that section cheaper than
Atlanta dealers could. for the reason III
no other. that we would not have to maui
them over the same road twlce-that IS.
South and back again.
But Rchmond's chief advantage lNs
in the fact that freight rntes from Bos-
ton. from which city practically all the
shoes sold i'm the South come, 10 this city,
are far more favorable than 20 any other
point in the South. 1 Will prove 1t 10
YOU"
The dealer thereupon presented figures
which fully sustained his contention. IN
1893 the twin cities Of Richmond and
Manchester received Isl 600 cases OF shoes.
which weighed 100000 pounds. The
freight rate from Boston 10 Richmond Us
s. cents per 100 pounds. This made the
cost Of transportation from Boston 10
Richmond Of this immense quantity Of
shoes only $3.50
HAD THEY GONE ELSEWHERE.
Had the same number Of cases Of shoes
been taken to Atlanta. whose rate is N1i
per 100 pounds the freight would have
been SlO2 C0O-$nO) more than Richmond
paid.
Had they been taken to Knoxville,
whose rate is 81 per 100 pounds from Bos-
ton. the freight would nave been $yOOJO-
SOS 800 more than Richmond paid.
Had they been taken to Nashville
whose rate is 81 cents per 100 pounds from
Boston, the freight would have Deen
y76 5OO-si5OOO more than Richmond paid.
rate is 81 cents per 100 pounds from Bos-
ton. the freight would have been S,29OJ-
81 800 more than Richmond paid.
This all goes to show" said the dealer.
"when the examination OF the figures had
been completed. that Richmond shoe
dealers can sell their goods al what they
cost laid down in Atlanta, Knoxville
Nashville. and St. Louis. and save the
difference between the freight rates from
Boston TO those cities and from Boston 10
Richmond.
1T seems TO me- said the dealer" that
every buyer must - that ne is COM
PEELED 10 take poorer sho-s,'o r pay more
for goods Of the same quality when pur-
chasing az markets other ,han Rich
mond.' ..
EFFECT OF RIVER COMPETITION.
How do you account for TIE remark
ably cheap rates enjoyed by this cityY'
was asked.
"River.' he said significantly, nothing
more.
Richmond Is FAR and away the leading
distributing point for shoes in the Souul-
Few cities in the United States surpass
her. Last year Richmond solo ljl.@2
cases of shoes: Nashville, 1883: Lynch
burg. lO66N; Atlanta. lOi09; Knoxville
1921: Memphis, 5S.2o3.
I'm addition 10 the 1jl5C2 cases received
in This city from the Nof.h Richmond
manufactured s. $500 worth Of shoes last
year.
ON Yesterday a Richmond firm shipped
forty car-lOads-12jO0J pairs-oi SHOES ID
oo'nts South from this city a number
of other houses are doing an immense
business. Ii is plain that the retail deal
c,e of the south are realizing that Rich
~ d is beyond peradyenture the market
In which they should buy. 1t is already
certain that the shoe trade Of THIS city
for this year will be far greater ihan last