The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-01-03
CLOSE CORPORATION.

The business interests of Caldwell
are organized on the basis Of close
corporation to an extent that bode:
no good for the growth of the town
There is too thorough an understand
ing between the business men in each
line of business. In short there is nc
competition. This statement, probably
is not true of all lines of business
but it is too true of many.
The farmers and others who live If
competitive territory are finding out
that they can sell to better advantage
and buy cheaper in other towns
Those other towns are getting the
trade. In particular difference in price
of farm products at Caldwell and
Nampa is causing trade to go to
Nampa. A farmer called the other
day and this was his message:
81 am very glad to see The Tribune
attempt to arouse Caldwell 1t needs
to be awakened Caldwell is a splen-
did town and you have some splendid
people but your business men are not
awake to your opportunities. I am a
friend of Caldwell. want to trade
here and l will do so as long as I can,
but object to some Caldwell prac-
tees.
"For instance hides are not a sub
ject of much importance to me per-
sonally for sell only four or five
hides year. Last week l had a
hide to SELL In Caldwell was Of
fered Is cents a pound. At Nampa |
sold the hide for 81 cents per pound
There is always few cents difference
in poultry, eggs and butter between
Caldwell and Nampa.
"You remember last fall consider
able stir was made over the fact that
wheat brought more at Nampa than at
Caldwell I sold in Caldwell. Some
of my neighbors sold at Nampa. They
received more for their wheat than
did. That, however, is story that is
told. Do you know, that today, you
cannot sell clover seed in Caldwell?
There is no market in Caldwell. They
are buying clover seed every day at
Nampa and at a few cents higher
price than Caldwell offers when the
dealers want it at all
Caldwell is losing trade every day.
If Caldwell business men cannot COM
pete with Nampa business men Cald-
we'll will have to dwindle down to a
wayside village. But Caldwell bust
ness can compete. They will compete
but are not ready. When they awaken
to the fact that Nampa is getting trade
from under their noses they will
awaken. I have faith and confidence
in the Caldwell business men but I
can tell them this that there is no
profit to Caldwell, as a trading point,
in trying to get rich from one cowhide.
The hide is entirely too small. The
gain is more than offset by the loss of
trade in general.
You know that we farmers are
little queer about some things but we
are not fools entirely We know, for
instance, about what cowhide is
worth. We know when we are offered
fair price and when we are robbed.
NJ is only natural that we should trade
at that place where we can sell to the
best advantage and buy the cheapest.
Your business interests have elemi
mated competition among themselves
They have been unable to eliminate
competition with other towns. 1t is
high time they were beginning to
realize what they are up against"
We give the above message for ex-
actly what it is worth with the hope
that the business interests of Cald-
well will give it their attention. Cald-
well business men realize that the city
is unpopular among the farmers. They
have attributed this unpopularity to
the Non-partisan league and the innate
cussedness of the farmers. Perhaps:
perhaps, we say; few Caldwell bust
ness practices ought to be reformed.