The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-25

ing. good business is that which pro-
duces the desired result"
| The principle of satisfaction guar
.anteed or money returned seemed
absurd to most merchants when II
was first put In practice by one far
, sighted business builder They in
sisted that such plan would eat up
all the profits and then some
l. They had been used to taking small
as well as large advantages of their
customers In various ways known to
dishonest dealers--and not known to
the average purchaser. Let the pur-
chaser take care Of himself. and we
will take care of ourself." said that
type Of merchant. He judged the peo-
pie by his own standard of honesty
and therefore he did not trust the
people. Distrust breeds dlstrust just
as confidence breeds confidence
| 1t applies to the dealings between
communities as well as between in
dividuals 1t is a question of atti-
tude-a matter of mutual good will.
At Skagway, Alaska, in 1898, the re-
lations between our people and the
Canadians were very much strained
because Of the disputed boundary line
between Alaska and British America.
There had been no dispute while Rus
| STA owned Alaska. British maps and
Russian maps agreed and Russian
monuments made 1t easy to run the
line. But when gold was discovered.
thousands of prospectors made a
market for liquor. The United States
laws pertaining, to the District OF
Alaska permitted no liquor there ex
cept as medicine under a physician
prescription. Great quantities wer,
shipped under bond through that 8,
mile strip Of Alaska and delivered to
the Canadian authorities across tn
boundary line.
But 1t was very expensive to sent
United States Revenue Department,
envoy with every such consignment.
of liquor 10 far.
While sAe-tEa!l tt.-wefst
| the Canadian and United States rev
enue officials winked at the custom
OF delivering the liquor at the head
of Lake Bennett, instead of mile.
further down the lake. where ths
line ran; then it was PRACTICAL,
moved eight miles nearer at 'Lo.,
Cabin: then to White Pass, only
twelve miles from Skagway--at the
then terminal Of the White Pass Rail
road. where the United States flag
was planted on one side of the rail
road track and the British flag on
the other. That was very conven
lent for xmugglers. who simply roll
ed barrels and kegs and cases OF IL
quor back across the boundary line
into Alaska. and then. our own Of
ficials cenniving. 1t was returned to
skagway and other points in Alaska
In short time they avoided the
delay OF the haul to White Pass BY
emptying the liquor at Skagway. and
sending the bonded barrels, empty OF
filled with good mountain water, on
to Canada. and everybody WAS satis-
fed. Then came discovery Of gold
and other valuable deposits in the
belt Of Alaska, 70 crossed by the
British nag. and trouble begaaT-
trouble which necessitated tho Alas
kan Boundary Commission and many
complications in Congress and else
where.
The feeling in Alaska was very Bit
ter against Canadians, and very near
Iy resulted In local border war:
such a war would have broken out
more than once, perhaps but for the
Arctic Brotherhood. secret social
society. IN which the officials and
prominent men Of both countries mel
on common ground with opportunity
10 become fraternAlly acquainted
and to learn that thsir Interests were
so mutual that good fellowship was
good business, and that any kind OF |
strife would hurt the interests OF all |
People were not endur
Ing the hardships Of that rough
country for glory, but for gold-and |
things generally were reduced TO a |
gold basis az soon ~ possible. The |
right kind OF cooperation always |
ma kes for good business. Sec what |
has been done by the mayors OF va |
rious citiess getting together. COM |
pairing notes and doing all that could |
be done to establish mutual conf |
teree. What really develops one le |
Ultimate business IN legitimate way |
Is beneficial. directly or indirectly, to |
every other legitimate and useful
business. The automobile business
demands constantly increasing mile
age Of good roads. Tho automobile
proposition: however tlssy differed on
other propositions. and the result is
A transformation Of many a rich dis
trict little known before. because Its
residents were not fsrst9hted enough |
TO build good roads ~ an essential |
factor in building good business A |
Of education and practical |
has produced wonders
Many farmer who would not have
donated dollar towards |
good roads had had riches thrust |
upon him by bringing his out OF the
way land into notice. and making II |
possible to market his product to ad-
Good business In good sense. good
judgment. good win and good fellow
ship. with the motto, Live and Let |
Live"
What is good business for an indi- |
vidual or for certain community,
certain section Of the country. may
work hardship on another individual.
another community or section OF the
country.
With such immense territory. taking
IN almost all climates and the nat
lral conditions, as well ~ natural and
unnatural artificial conditions. the ap-
ra~ent interests OF various sections
q