The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1911-03-02
WHOLESALE HOUSE
THAT'S MAKING GOOD

STARTING IN MODEsTLY THE
MITCHELL HARNESS co. HAS
ASSUMED BIG PROPORTION
IN A YEAR.
1t was just a little over a year age
that John d. Kress and Charles Rod
dy, rented a room on Main street,
half an addition built on back to the
alley, and announced that the Nit
chell Harness Co., was ready for
business, both retail and wholesale.
1t was an experiment with them, but
believing strong in the fact that there
was an opening for a wholesale bust
ness of this character pushed it with
all their energy, with the result that
they are now out of their infant quar-
tiers and occupy a portion of the
basement of the Mitchell Steam
Laundry and all of the upper floor
of n building that has a 20 foot front
and extends back 80 feet. 1t shows
that these two men were not mis-
taken in their judgment, which, how
ever, was backed by their ability to
make good. When the firm moved
into their new quarters they gave up
the retail business and are now de-
voting their entire time to the whole
sale trade, and they have all they
can do to keep pace with the orders
which are constantly rolling in.
When the firm wanted to branch
out into a larger capacity they need
ed more capital and they opened up
their books and their methods and
laid their business opportunities be-
fore o. L. Branson, president of the
First National; t. j. Spangler and
Henry Swindler. 1t appeared to these
men that the investment was good
enough for them and they took stock
in the company to the extent Of
$4,000 each, giving the institution a
paid up capital of $4,000. The new
company was formed With John d.
Kress as president and manager;
T. ]. Spangler, vice president; Henry
Swindler, treasurer; Charles Roddy,
secretary, and George Osborne, as
sistant manager and foreman.
Out in the factory room, which is
25xS0 feet, there are ten men en-
.ployed in making harness, which is
supplied with one power sewing ma
chine. These msn keep this machine
running full time, and in the course
of a few weeks another machine will
be in position. and this will mean
that an additional force of men will
be installed. In this department the
men are engaged solely in making
harness, and for which the company
has an Unprecedented uemand. Mr..
Kress said there was not the slight
est trouble in selling all the harness
that they could make up.
Adjoining is the stock room, where
is kept the myriads Of articles which
go to make up the saddlery hard
ware, which is a very extensive line.
This department has a floor space of
55XS0 feet, and there is not an inch
of space wasted to take care of the
immense stock that is carried. Every
thing that is needed in the harness
trade is carried by this company.
Recently Henry Othner, the Sec
reta~y OF tie Vho'esa!e Sadd!ery As
ISOLATION, of Chicago, came to this
city for the purpose of inspecting the
business of the company to determine
whether it should be recognized as a
wholesale house to the extent that
the members of the association
would sell to it. Mr.. Othner found
the company abundantly able to be
classed as a wholesale establishment
and accorded it the privilege of pur-
chasing it's goods from the ~associa-
ton, and which, Mr.. Othner stated,
is the only house in the state that
can make purchases direct from the
all others having to buy
through the agency of the jobbers.
This concession makes a big differ
enc in the selling ability of the COM
pany. \
The trade TERRITORY of the Nit
chell Harness Co., extends west
through the Black Hills up into
North Dakota, and all over the state
Of South Dakota. Mr.. Kress stated
that the business for the coming year
will be exceptionally good and that
with the crops being good they would
reach the sum of 100000. There
are two travelling statesmen covering
the territory.
The company has been the means
Of bringing a good many workmen
to the city and this force will be in
creased this spring when the new
machinery is added. It means a big
thing for Mitchell in a business way
and Its force Of men on the Payroll
will add materially to the income Of