Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14
Ill his country store with what be needs
for years trade.
Attractions of Washington.


Attractions of Washington.
This city because of It's special attrac-
tions invites all Americans to its portals.
They never tire OF coming here to behold
It's beauties and to seek the inspiration of
its broad avenues. shady parks and splendid
public buildings The capital city has
charm to the dweller in the states that no
other city has. Why then should not the
merchant who comes with the throng of
sightseers mingling pleasure and business
In the one trip he is able to take each year,
be able right here to make the purchases
which he requires? To ask the question
Is to answer it. He should be able to do
the CITY Beautiful" Commercial enter|
prise is the mainstay of the American ma
ton. and to suppose that 1t can be, ought
to be, kept out of the capital is an absurd
ity. In the final analysis ii Is necessary
only. to enlarge upon the facilities the city
possesses to meet all the requirements of
wholesale trade
The problem presented is to be solved
mainly by the enterprise of the business
men of the city. The adjustments of
freights, to which much attention has
been directed. is only an incident of ship
ping to be threshed out with the trans
portation companies Back Of 1t lies the
much larger proposition of establishing
new lines Of trade to meet the wants of
the merchants who seek this point as
buying center. For wholesale trade to sue
coed in the largest sense the new stores
must be established. when the business
could expand with the growing up of the
territory to be supplied Strong rivalry
will continue to exist in the whole field.
50 long Washington does not pre-empt
the region which rightfully belongs to it.
To pre-empt it means provision for supply
ing all branches of trade and not few of
them.
Advantages of MiddIemen.
Experience has shown that nothing takes
the place of the wholesale store The cry
has been raised a thousand times that
great point would be gained by dealing
direct with the manufacturer. Millions Of
dollars have been spent In sending drum
mers about the country and men with
catalogues and samples from the factories
in the effort to dispense with the middle
man. The effort may have succeeded TO
some extent in special lines. notably fur
niture, but generally speaking. the medium
of the Wholesale store is required by the
eXigencies of business. Manufacturers
and their agents not always honest,
and the country merchant has learned
In the hard school of experience that the
middleman with his stock that can be seen
is more reliable Ian the maker who offers
to sell him stock unSight and unseen" 1
Indeed the secret IS out that the manu-
facturer Is not inspired with any philan-
thropic motive in his attack upon the
wholesale store. 1t Is a shrewd business
move to swell his own profits at the ex
pense of the retail merchant.
moreover, the country merchant mas
other reasons for going annually to the
trade centers to buy goods. The journey
takes him from home into a new environ
ment, gives him fresh ideas and a better
insight into business methods. There is
large variety of goods to select from; he
has choice OF styles and fabrics, and
can better serve his customers In that way.
1t gives him prestige a home to go away
to the city each year to buy goods, and to
return with descriptions of the pleasan
time passed among his trade acquatnt-
ances. He sees the world for a brief
period and is thereafter a broader and
better man, who rises constantly in the
respect of his friends. All these advan-
tages to the business man from the in
terror should be considered by the
who keeps a wholesale store in Washing
ton, and furnish a strong argument for
branching out into new lines of trade.
which Will invite a much larger clientele
from the retail dealers of the adjoining
states
Local Enterprise.
From this review it is seen that there is
not an element lacking for the expansion
Of jobbing business in Washington. Every
force which makes for success is active,
except the one of expansion into new lines.
Capital lies ready in abundance to finance
all the stores needed to fill the gap in this
city What is needed is men of experience
and energy to start the stores and claim
the territory within 500 miles of Wash
ington their legitimate theater of oper-
atoms. The problem consists largely IN
the adaptation of means to ends to bring
about the object sought. Large success
has attended wholesale trade in Washing
ton under conditions which now exist
There can be no reason. therefore, why
the lines of trade should not be multiplied.
With strong association Of shippers to
look after the adjustment of railroad facil-
tiles and the general matters affecting
wholesale trade the time Is ripe for the
investment of capital in those branches of
business which are lacking Thus the
question finally centers in the enterprise
of local bushes men and In the ability
they may bring to meet the difficulties of
starting several new business houses on
the faith which has its foundation in the
profits derived from the trade now flow-
Ing out Of Washington into the "Hinter-
land"