The Washington times., 1913-07-28

'Washington is .precluded from the
possibility of commercial competition
with Baltimore, Richmond, Norfolk, and
Northern and Eastern cities under pres
ent railroad conditions. These condi-
tions must be remedied. We must fight
for the remedy.
The entire fabric of rate adjustment
in this territory works to the disad-
vantage Of the Washington merchant
and business man.
These facts and conditions that have
arisen therefrom, such as small jobbing
shipments and lack of extensive indus
try, have, in the course Of years,
shaped UP commercial conditions which
furnish a grave handicap to the Capt.
tai.
ANY man who goes for business in
near by States will Immediately have
these facts thrust home In telling fash
ion, when the merchant significantly
reiterates behind his statement, And
you are located in Washington? why
we can't do business with Washington.
It's impossible. We can't get deliver
les from washington, and, besides, the
costs are greater"
Situation Here Explained.
These are the telling statements Of
]. n. Hunt. Of J. W. Hunt & Co..
Washington paint manufacturers. job
bers, and shippers.
Mr.. Hunt has some startling and
unique ideas upon the questions now
confronting Washington business men
in the proposed withdrawal of free
deliveries. He is fortified in his views
perience and a long, hard fight.
Washington merchants seeking trade
in nearby States are confronted with
the fact that big shipments from this
territory are few. and freight is held
sometimes for days to make ship
ment Of sufficient bulk to be forward
ed, he says. And the reason is plain.
declares Mr.. Hunt. You cannot blame
the railroads. 1t would be poor busi-
ness for them to haul partly loaded
car. Better service cannot be had
until there is more business, and more
business cannot be had until there is
an adjustment Of the conditions which
close natural outlets to Washington"
Mr.. Hunt presents the startling view
that Washington must develop Job
bing interests to get volume and, to
get the jobbing interest, free delivery
abolishment, taking a different view
from all Of the merchants previously
heard
Opposes Free Delivery.
What you get for nothing" he says.
'1s generally worth that much, and II
is my idea that the free delivery of
freight is more apparent than real;
that we pay all that 1t is worth in a
high freight rate. and that If the free
delivery Of freight was abolished we
atxh ,
rate.
Besides, the delivery of freight to a
merchants door from out of town
works as a decided disadvantage TO
the jobbers of Washington. This is
manifest by the fact that Washing
tons jobbing interest is almost moth
ing because it is so easy to get what
ever is wanted delivered to the mer-
chants door from Baltimore. This is
one reason why Baltimore Is so inter-
ested in having free delivery system
in Washington. Should the free de-
livery be abolished jobbing houses in
TIE several lines of merchandise would
come into existence by the necessity
for supplying the trade here. the trade
that has formerly been supplied from
Baltimore and elsewhere"
Mr. Hunt cites facts that tend 10
prove his contention. He declares that
in endeavoring to sell alcohol in Wash
inEton, he has met merchants who
bought in Baltimore in preference 10
stimulating Washington trade. and
this, toe. despite the fact that prices
quoted were the same as Baltimore
prices ard the alcohol offered by his
firm was OF better grade. being slightly
higher proof
"One merchant told me-" he said
wig. / can buy from Baltimore and
get delivery here for the same price
and l would rather continue doing
that
Jobbers Benefit To City.
"Jobbing interests" says Mr.. Hunt
ARE a benefit TO any city. They in
crease the volume of commerce and
bank clearances. Besides. they kecr
the consumers money in the community
in which ii is spent There is no dirt
or necessary nuisance connected with
a jobing house. At least not any more
so than with a retail house. Even
manufactures Of a certain kind should
| be welcomed. We are operating q
paint factory in Washington today, ir
Georgetown to be exact, by electricity
There is no noise, smoke or Other
nuisance, and we are one of the possib'
Iy three firms that can go 10 Baltimore
and do business in competition with
Baltimore merchants. Our first out-of
town sale was in Baltimore"
TaFing up the general perspective oi
Washington commerce again, Mr.. Hum
sa;-s. I'VE now experience difficulty il
getting an equitable freight rate OF
Shipments out Of Washington with Bal
tirncre, but our greatest trouble II tn,
delaI- experienced by our customers II
getting freight from Washington. Their,
is so little freight originating here. II
he he Nif "