Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-07
old CONCERN MAKES GOOD
Sunderlsnds Preparing to Celebrate
Thirtieth Anniversary Next Year.
HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 1883
From Ncry small Beginning
LnrRe and Prosperous Business
~ Evolved by Sunderland
brothers.
HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 1883

! tonsldcflug the fact that government
statistics show the ultimate failure OF ~
per cent OF all business ventures, the un-
usual record OF conspicuously successful
concerns becomes the more interesting
To old-time residents OF Omaha the
sight of loaded wagons, hub deep in the
mud Of down town streets, was not un-
common, and It was not easy TO haul
load OF coal from tracks near the smelter
to the outlying residential sections
/ il was under these conditions that the
coal business OF Sunderland Bros. was
started In 1883. II was very small be-
ginning. The company le1sed ground for
a yard at Eighth and Davenport streets,
near the Bmelter, and rented q small Of
flee room In one-story frame shack at
200 South Thirteenth street. The total
investment In coal sheds building ma
terial warehouses and the stock Of goods
to sell was less than the amount OF money
now invested IN teams and wagons alone
In the early days teaming was done
by contract. Proprietors OF teamIng out
fits made contracts with the coal dealers
to haul coal at certain rate per ton.
The teamsteTs were responsible only to
their direct employers who owned the
teams. II was not matter OF much con-
sequence whether or not the coal was de-
liyered in a manner satisfactory to the
customer. The driver made money for
the team owner (and for himself, for he
shared In the per ton basis), by deliver
ing as many tons in a day as possible
This resulted I'm gross careessness, and
II was common practice for the driver to
load his wagon with unscreened coal, fun
OF dirt. dust and screenings Cellar win
dows were broken or left open: gates,
fences and houses damaged by careless
| driving, countless annoyances resulting
from the failure OF coal drivers to do
their work as II should have been done.
But that was In the old days II Ia not
so now. The Sunderlands could not stand
for that sort OF service long. BY persis-
tent hard work and constant attention
to business, by dealing fairly and squarely
with their patrons, the company built up a
large trade and by thrift and economy
ir their management became able to buy
their own teams and wagons. This was
the turning point in the coal business OF
Omaha. With company ownership OF the
teams and with drivers working under
company direction II became the rule that
all coal must be thoroughly screened and
all deliveries made in a manner sRtisfac-
tory to the customer.
Another custom back in the eighties
(stln In vogue except with companies oper-
ating exclusively their own teams) has
been entirely abandoned by the sunder-
land company. 1t was the custom to have
teamsters keep their teams In their own
barns on the outskirts OF the city. This
saved much time. because the dealer could
4 lofs In. ha aft A laaA of
to some address near the home OF the
teamster. This was a dangerous custom,
for II was found that some OF the team
sters seldom. II ever. bought any coal,
the conclusion being that the customer
who was not watchtul did not receive all
Of the coal that was sent to him.
To avoid this and 10 improve upon the
service generally. the Sunderland COM
pany has built up the most extensive and
best delivery service known 20 the coal
business OF the country. All teams must
be returned TO the yards each night and
be inspected by the superintendent Only
trustworthy, teamsters are employed. for
| II requires dependable, experienced drivers
TO properly handle the big, powerful,
proud Sunderland teams; but, In order
to remove temptation loads OF coal are
sent out In the direction opposite from
where the teamsters live.
Improvement in the delivery service
| logically called for the building OF yards
in various parts OF the city, and today
the SunderlandA can reach almost any
address with a short haul from their near
est coal yard.
The Sunderland company sends a signed
guarantee certificate with each delivery
ticket 80 that every purchaser can de-
mand money back IL not satisfied. The
use OF the guarantee certificate has es-
tabllshed a high standing OF excellence
for Sunderland Certified coal, OF which
thirty-one different kinds are carried in
stock.
| At the main office more than forty
people are constantly employed aud a
busy sight meets the eye OF the many
who call there. The sunderlands have
private branch telephone exchange doth
kinds) In charge of a trained operator.
who first receives all calls and connects
the proper department
| Sunderland Brothers Company Is one Of
Omahas biggest institutions, doing vol
ume OF business equal to that OF some OF
the largest Wholesale houses. Measuring
success from the standpoint of personal
wealth the SunderlaRda do not lay claim
TO any special achievement, but from tho
standpoint OF developing vast CONNER
cial business that comes into contact with
nearly every citizen OF Omaha Sunderland
Brothers Company il conspicuous sue
| cess.