The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-10-22
E.T A.IlL merchants 3

business estimated at very
close to 100000 There
are something like 400 retail
houses here IN all lines Of
business, and; if The total Of
business should be distribut-
ed equally among the retail
stores it would mean that
each would realize an annual
business Of $50, 900. = +
However, there are many stores
here that do many times fifty thousand
dollars business. while there are small
err ones which fall far short.
The figures are rather startling in
size, and one is inclined to ask where
the money comes from. Recently
bushes man here who employs about
twenty-five people and who is inclined
TO pessimism, remarked that he did
not Sc how the local merchants could
pay for advertising, for they were do
ing no business. This man had not
figured that every dollar paid out by
him in wages eventually goes over the
counter OF some retail house, and all
the pay rolls in the trade territory OF
Fuirmont exceed $2o,OOo,OoO annually
by far. XII
Advertiser Gets Business.
And 1t must not be overlooked that
the merchants, here who are doing the
big business-who are making money
for themselves and commercial repu-
tation for the cityAare the men who
are most liberal in their. advertising
allowances. Watch the pages OF the
newspapers and then run over the list
OF the successful merchants here, and
you viii find few among those missing
from the list OF those found in the adj
vertising columns.
There is no factor In the CONNER
cial growth and prosperity OF Fair
mont OF greater weight and influence
than the retail merchants. They have
provided houses here that are far in
advance OF those found in many other
cities OF similar size-the equal Of
those in the cities of the hundred thou
sand class.
"Dry" Experiment Successful.
Fnirmont lost one large element OF
business here during the year-the So.
loon. And the merchants are practi-
cally unanimous in their opinion that
the-going OF the wet goods houses has
nided business. The clothing mer-
chant is selling more and better
clothes and the groceryman is selling
more groceries and making better col
fections. No vacant houses have been
left where once were the saloons. All
are occupied by other classes OF bust
ness, and certainly the city Is more
orderly and better place in which to
reside.
The growth OF the retail trade In
Fairmont has been fully in keeping
with the growth OF the city in all other
lines, and there are not to he found
liver, more progressive and up.to'date
merchants than those doing business
here. Competition is naturally rife
among the stores and each establish
ment endeavors to obtain goods which
are better and finer than those SHOWN
by their 1rlenaly business Sa i rsas" ~, 'on
puDllc patronase' ne na 1s,, I,so, me-
OF the CITY sustain sptenu'u nuS a.,sSs
Mems Assoclatloh uniilateu win o.ne'
cities having ior llelr on1tct 'te plo'
lection OF taclr interests ".'u sen
eral advancement OF shopping condt-
lions. a.
Modern Department stores
The appearance OIL Ihe hlouel1l "
partment stores in tairthoht gives inc
retail business OF the citv that metro
politan air which Is SO helpful to must
ness along all lines. Thesc stores as
well as the spectalty establishments
appeal largely to the FEMININE portion
of the population. one OF INC most up
todate OF these stores at great OK:
pensc. has established Il series OF dem,
constructions with living mouclS, anu