Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-10-31
CLOSING OUT THE RHODES FURNI- TURF COMPANY WILL CLOSE
 PINE BLUFF STORE.
An Interview WitWh MT. D. Lee G.v- ing Reasons for Abandoning
 Business Here.

Having heard it rumored that the Rhodes -Ifaverty Furniture company I.intended to close out their furniture business here, our reporter called on Mir Lee, the manager, for an eXplana- ton. Mr. Lee says. There is hot much to explain except to say that We have decided to close out the Pine
 Bluff store and few others. HoWey
 CT. I will say that it is not altogether q pleasant job to begin to tear down something that I have taken great pride and interest in building up, and of course, it is with some feeling of
 regret that I make this announcement and see our building all decorated
 with close out signs. When I came here six years ago to take charge of this store, it was a very small affair as you know, located farther up Main street. We were doing business of
 about s15,000.00 a year. The next year We put up this building. and ill three years our business increased to $50 1000 % a year; all retail city busi- ness, and it has grown and prospered
 ever since Therefore, it is but natu-
 ral that I should feel attached to the business and hate to close it up. How ever, a man cannot always do busi- ness according to his personal feel ings. It is matter of business and dollars that rules. The decision to close out this store was reached last
 spring, when Rhodes-Hayerty Furni- ture company closed out their Little
 Rock business. They wanted to start this sale then, but I persuaded them
 to wait until this fall, as on account
 of the two crop failures. there was no money in the country
 "The decision to close out this bus
 mess was mutual between myself and
 partners. It is perfectly agreeable to
 all parties concerned. and We did not
 reach this decision because We have not made money. On the contrary, we
 have made good money here and are still doing so. We showed 21 per cent net gain last year on a 100000 capital and have already drawn out on this years business, for six months, $4,01200 in cash dividends.
 I do not think that is bad for hard year. However, am willing to close
 out because I think l have something better. Mr. Haverty and Mr. Rhodes wishing to close up this business is simply beginning of a partial retire ment Mr. Rhodes retired from active service several years ago. The firm has been very prosperous under MT. Haverty.s management since, and
 now he is getting very tired of being
 on the road nine Or ten months in the year, looking after eighteen or twen- ty stores and wants to be with his family more Last year they closed out the Fort Smith house, and two or three others across the Mississippi
 river. This spring they closed out the
 Little Rock business. and now comes
 Pine Bluff It is their intention to
 close out q few more stores in the
 smaller cities and retain eight or ten
 in the large cities, bacause tie stores
 in towns of over 7.5Ho population pay
 them best, as they cater principally
 to the city trade While they expect
 to withdraw from this town in a mer-
 camille way. thel have great hopes
 for Pine Bluff, and believe f is the
 coming city of the state