The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-09-26

instances where my prices actually
 have been misrepresented. Such busi-
 ness methods l would not. could not
 stoop to, have been indulged by local
 merchants.
 When 1 began business here some
 six years ago. business was good. The
 prices for beds were very high, and
 beds that foreign makers sold for
 $1150 to dealers, l sold for $2 less
 I simply couldn't take such an enor-
 nous profit. However, the prices have
 been going down steadily for the past
 few years. I brought my price down
 as low as I could make it. Foreign
 makers sacrificed quality and brought
 the prices lower. The local merchants
 bought their product and sold 1t to
 the public. Some local dealers ac-
 tually have told me that they didn't
 won't last they say. We want the
 people to buy more often
 'I can't sacrifice the quality of my product I can't give the people some
 thing that is not worth what they pay
 for it. But l cant stay in business in
 Birmingham unless the people patron ize me. The demand may be created,
 but the local dealers will have to | practice their preachments, and give Birmingham people Birmingham made beds when they ask for them.
 T buy my material in Birmingham so far as it is possible Some of the articles l use are not made here and I can't get them here. Birmin gham is the most ~uncharitabIe city l have ever seen as regards small industries. Our Chamber of Commerce has been talking of the value of diversifying industry, of getting small manufacturers here ever since 1t was organized And when they get small manufacturer l here. they let him languish, and fi- mol 11r dia fnr of rn-nnarQfi0n know half dozen instances of where the Chamber of Commerce has induced
 men of small capital to come here and start factories, only to let them go | bankrupt a few months later
 'In six years in my business I have 1 made 1000 beds. I have lost between | $18,OO0 and $20, 1000. Had I made a 1 profit of 50 cents on each bed made. would show a profit now of $1S,00O. l Had I made even 25 cents profit on | each bed could show 5000 profit for l the six years. l am mechanical en- gineer and by following my profession 1 I could have made $1S,000 in six years,
 without having the worry and work Of | keeping my business going.
 "At the present time l have two all l ternatives. One is to sell to the peo- l pie of Birmingha direct. The other ! is to retire from business, accept my loss of $1S.OO0 and six years valuable time. l don't know just yet which I'll accept At the present time my aver age production is about 50 beds a month. have a capacity of 50 beds day. When the factory was started | employed IA men, Now l employ four men,
 "I am now engaged in making medi- cine cabinets The cabinet make can- not be better. It is steel throughout, and is finished with baked enamel. can foresee what will happen to the product when I put it on the local market The dealers here will use it as lever to get lower prices from | out of-town makers.
 ! "When Birmingham becomes more | charitable to small manufacturers, she | may hope to have them. But talking about diversifying industry and bring | ing small manufacturers here will not | hold them. Cooperation and helpful