Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-06-16
commercial ST PREMACY HAS
never Been CHALLENGED
CONTINUED from page l.l

drugs On a conservative basis, the
amount of business done involves
more than $12,O00,000, exclusive of op
arations in lumber; and the capita
amployed in furthering these concerns
amounts to more than $1,50O,OOO. Ir
ne distribution sof business, the gro
GERS lead, with seven wholesale
houses.
The Hammett Grocer Co. was the
nioneer in the jobbing field here, com
mencing as a commission and broker.
ace house in 1883, with a capitalization
\ $4,000. In 1894 the character OF
the business changed to that of ex.
clusively wholesale. Since them, 81,
other wholesale grocers have entered
the field without appreciably diminish.
ing the opportunities for others. They
are the Southern Grocery Co., c. M
ferguson & Son., Gillespie & Bro.
John H. Talbot & Co., w. J. Shepherd
and J. B. Speers Co. These houses
with the wholesale produce mer.
chants and other wholesalers, have
probably been more instrumental in
the extension of the railroads here
than anything else. All of them have
from one to ten men on the road con-
tinuously. As indicative of their con.
tribution to railroad expansion, they
are annually responsible for the pay
ment to the railroads for freight
charges abou, s2,O00,O00.0O. The
wholesale grocers do approximately
s5,0OO,O0O worth of business in a
year, on capital investment of half
a million dollars. Their warehouses
cover manay blocks of the city, occu-
plying a large section comprising the
Wholesale district, which also con-
tains the quarters Of several of the
grain and commission houses and fur
niture companies. Of the latter there
are three or four which have repre-
sentatives on the road, and operate
on capital of more than 100000
expanding no inconsiderable sum in
the city. The grain and commission
busiress has also become an import
ant factor in the commercial activities
Of Pine Bluff, involving the expendi-
ture of hundred thousand dollars
per year, and an investment of three
quarters of million. The wholesale
drug business is conducted very large
ly the Mann ankersley Drug Go. and
W. L. Dewoody & Co., who, in con-
nection with wholesale patronage,
have large retail trade.
Public Utilities.
Usually associated with the manufac-
turing plants are the public utility
companies, which are always in the
forefront in advancing city's growth.
Practically all of the public service
corporations doing business in Pine
Bluff have improved their plants in
the past few years, and are, with few
exceptions, rendering satisfactory SER
vice. The holdings of the public utili-
ty plants in Pine Bluff represent an
investment Of several millions of dol
lars, and the returns have been such
as to permit Of the many recent i'm
provements. Probably the most mark
ed expansion has been noticeable in
the operation Of the street cars. There
are now about fifteen miles of up-to-
date street railway trackage, upon
"nASh ViC OCSt C4u1pPOu Col al y Wy
Grated. OF the companies supplying
public utilities there are three tele-
graph lines, the Postal, Mackay and
Western Union; the Pine Bluff Nat
ural Gas Company, supplying gas from
the famous Caddo oil fields; the Pine
Bluff Company, operating the street
railway, light and water plants; and
the Southwestern Telephone Company
which has offices in the attractive
building on West Second. Pine Bluff
IS relieved from any apprehension re-
garding the healthfulness or supply OF
water as that is obtained from arte-
san wells, which may be made to
yield over 100000 gallons day. In
THIS respect, Pine Bluff is in advance
OF most of the cities of Arkansas.
Social Activities.
Fine Bluff, within the influence OF
tne old-time Southern graciousness
ana geniality, is noted for the socia.
oillty of its people, their warm-heart-
eaness and consideration for those
VINO sojourn in their midst. Here one
can always expect a hearty welcome
!, .oAooAlJ dCICutlOu. AOOVO "AA
.here is no caste system, and he who
deserves it, will assuredly receive
recognition and enjoy the benefits Of
ae social life of the city. Strictly
ue citizens are home-making ano
aome-ioving, but they are always
ready to contribute to the success OF
every healthy form of diversion. The
wy Is usually full of visitors, and
uuring the winter season there is
Soatlnuous round of social activity in
ualsed In by young and old. During
me summer, all the outdoor forms Of
entertainment are resorted to, thus
,ounelng out the year with plenty O.
parties parties, dances, and similar forms o.
an Quite a number Of socia
sau literary clubs afford variou:
A0 sans OF enjoyment to their mem
S;1, s, and foster the spirit of socia
NV s' Among such organizations arr
th e Lotus. Frat and Country clubs
s ne City Beautiful club, devoting it
t;o m 70 civic affairs, church organiza
mo and host of others.
p, .ae Eiks' theatre brings to Pine
on n !. some of the leading attractions
du,'a ne stage, and is we'll patronizet
ms the theatre season. There arr
and lper of moving picture shows
-. rEp Poi