Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-04-26
The Way Merchants Did Bust.
ness Sixty Years Ago

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ferent from the plan as is now in
operation that it will be a revela-
tion to the modern shop keepers
to know how the old method was
ever successful.
To do business in my early day
required a capital OF from five to
fifteen thousand dollars, from the
fact that we purchased stock OF
goods to supply our trade for six
months at a time. We went to
the cities to purchase goods twice
a year (then there were no drum :
mers or commercial men on the
road as is the case now }. We
made memorandum OF such
things as our trade required, went
to the cities, bought our goods for
cash or six months time and car
ried our money on our persons
(there were no banks here then 4,
paid off old scores, frequently saw
our goods packed and shipped be-
fore we left the city. The city
merchants were always POLITE and
attentive to us. invited US to their
homes and entertained us and
gave us a good time.
TIVE at that day shipped our
goods by water to Richmond, where
our commission merchants received
them and forwarded them by
wagon to this place; so that our
purchases were from two to three
weeks on the road and cost from
one and one.half to two dollars
per hundred pounds by the time
they were. in our stores. 1t took
US about two or three weeks to go
to market to make our purchases.
| In old times our merchants went
to Richmond or Baltimore on
hol setback.
| In my early days we staged to
Winchester or Gordonsville, thence
! by rail. (The railroads were built
with stills and strap iron at that
day.. After waiting two or three
weeks our goods came to hand.
Then we worked night and day
until they were exhibited to the
trade. Then there was rush for
choice of patterns and styles by
our customers. We were worked
almost off of our feet for weeks
fter the goods were received and
opened. Our sales were chiefly
on credit and the bills were large.
Customers bought a supply for
their families for the season. The
goods were delivered at the coun-
ter. We kept no porters or delivery
wagons. Our stock of goods con-
sisted of everything people needed
dry goods, groceries, hardware,
queensware, shoes, hats, bonnets,
ribbons and everything that peo-
pie required. After while we
dropped off groceries, hardware,
aueenswars and other things
which did not mix well with dry
goods.
The business then required an
education to make it success, be-
cause it was quite complicated.
Clerks had TO serve term OF years
before they were competent to
carry o. business. They were
trained to practice rigid economy
in the expenditures Of the store.
No waste OF paper or boxes or
Irvine or anything else was allow
ed. They were required to be
truthful and honest in all their
dealings. A clerk who would take
advantage of his customer by mis-
representing his goods was
promptly discharged. AS con-
sequence the customer had conf
dsnce in his merchant, knowing
that he would deal fairly with him.
The writer had some customers
who bought his goods and did not
ask the price, except to limit their
expenditures.
Tho profits on goods at that day
were not greater than they are
now. l mean that We sold goods at
about the same per cent that our
merchants do now. Our expenses,
although we were remote from
market, were not greater than
they are to the merchants of the
present day. Clerk hire was
cheaper, we had no expense OF
delivering goods sold,, rents about
the same, wastage much less, etc.
We traded for country produce,
paid in goods, and sold the pro-
duce for the same as We gave for
it. Our profits in the transaction
were on the goods exchan ged.
Now our merchants charge pro-
fit on the produce az well as on the
goods.
Goods Of all kinds were much
more expensive than they are now.
For instance, calicos IL to 25c per
yard, ginghams 25 to BIC per yard;
broad cloth from So to $40 PER
yard, sugar l24c, coffee from II
IT, 25c per pound, and ether things
in the same proportion. Our PEG
pie made fewer goods do them
than now. The writer had custo-
mers who once year bought II
suit of clothes for which they paid
from $50 to $75 for the materials,
The tailor's bill to be added. This
suit lasted the whole year. The
Aid ono WAS worn every dav. this