Los Angeles herald., 1905-09-03
Los Angeles Deal.
erS Command
the Territory

ne WHOleSdlt u duC VI ILOS <Ah6OACo
has grown to be a wonder in volume
and extent, and while, for obvious rea-
sons, no reliable figures can be secured
from any central source to tell the story
OF growth in figures and strike a COM
parison for general information, 1t can
be stated that the wholesalers in every
line Of trade are more prosperous than
ever before in the history of the vari-
GUS enterprises. The business mounts
into millions of dollars. that of some
of the leading firms aggregating $3,OOO,-
900 to s5.OOo,OOO annually.
A few of the principal wholesale
houses may be mentioned. Groceries,:
Haas-Baruch & Co.. Stetson, Preston &
Co.. the United Grocery company, R. L.
Craig and NJ. A. Newmark & Co. Cloth
ing: Brownstein, Newmark & Co. Dry
goods: Johnston-Barret company and
Boston Dry Goods company. Fruits,
ETC.: Bishop & Co., whose goods are
sold everywhere. Notions: Klein-Nor-
ton Notion company. Pickles: James
Hill & Sons. Vehicles-Baker & Hamil-
ton. Hardware: Union Hardware COM
pany And hundreds of smaller firms
that supply Los Angeles and the terri
tory tributary to this city with goods
dustries.
Goods From the East
In the early days supplies were
brought overland in OK teams and in
slow sailing vessels. Now goods come
from New York and other Atlantic coast
cities by rail in twenty or thirty days,
the supplies including groceries and
provisions, glassware, iron and steel,
hardware and various manufactured
products, such as dry goods, clothing,
boots and shoes, drugs and sundries,
paper. cardboard and twine, paints,
oils, etc.
From a recent estimate of the guam
tity and variety of supplies brought by
rail from eastern points to Los Angeles
for local use and distribution 1t is
claimed that in iron, steel and hard
ware 100000 tons a year are received;
groceries and provisions, 5000 carloads
from the Mississippi valley, 1000 car
loads from Atlantic states and 100 car
loads from Europe; drugs and sundries,
5000 tons; dry goods, etc, 10000 tons;
paper, cardboard and twine, $4,000 tons.
The Wholesale Territory
The market for goods received ex-
tends north to Fresno, south to the in
ternational line and to limited extent
into Mexico; east to the eastern boun-
dary of Arizona and to Salt Lake. west
to all points on the coast. The enter
prise Of the wholesalers through their
travelling representatives is extending
the territory every year, and the busi-
ness is growing steadily, keeping pace
with the increase in population.
Outlook for Expansion
Comparatively little effort has been
made in past years to establish trade
conditions in Mexico, but a movement is
now on foot that may produce profitable
results for the wholesale interests of
Los Angeles. William V. Lanphar of
Los Angeles, who is familiar with trade
conditions in Mexico and has an office
at Sinaloa, Mexico, represents a syndi-
cate that is about to establish line Of
freight steamers to run from San Pedro
to Mexican ports for traffic purposes.
The efforts of Mr.. Lanphar are receiv-
ing encouragement on the part of
wholesale interests, and 1T is expected
that the proposition will take definite
shape in the near future when the
plans are submitted to the Los Angeles
chamber of commerce for Endorsement.
May Extend to the Orient
There is still another and greater
field open for Los Angeles wholesalers,
one that may revolutionize trade con-
ditions and establish scores of great
establishments in Los Angeles and on
the coast at San Pedro, Long Beach
and Redondo, wherever there is deep
water and suitable wharfage. No one
pretends to say what Henry z. Hunt
ington and the millions of capital
under his control may attempt to ac-
complish. 1t is conceded that great
things are doing in shipping, railroad
and commercial lines, and it is no idle
dream to state that within few years
Los Angeles will become a strong COM
petitor of San Francisco for the trade
of the orient. Those close to Mr.. Hunt
ington assert that he has great plans
for the greater development of the
sunny southland, and one of the big
schemes is to establish a line of pas
senger and freight steamers to connect
China and the Philippines.
The Retail Trade
The retail trade of Los Angeles is re-
ported to be in very healthy condi-
ton. All of the merchants appear to