coal trade bulletin - Clpdigital.org

his knowledge of the wants of one mining town
may not fit another. There are some who are not
adverse to overstocking.
Commissary managers are only human; if the
management requires a certain per cent, of profit
on each year's business it is only natural that he
prefer to inventory old stock at full value than to
sell below cost—thus making a poorer show.
Often a new manager finds himself saddled with a
quantity of old stock. If he cleans up this his
first year's earnings may possibly show no profit;
yet, the owner is the gainer, as the old stock decreases
in value rapidly after the first year.
I have known some articles to be kept in stock
and on the inventory as many as ten years at the
original cost when, as a matter of fact, much
could hardly be given away.
The only remedy- 1 know* of for these conditions
is to have the date of purchase put opposite doubtful
articles on the inventory, or, better still to
have personal inspection by a competent higher
official.
Do not look so much at the per cent, of earnings
as compared to sales; lay more stress on the total
net profit. Very often a reduction in price will
increase the volume of sales so that there is a
greater profit on the year's business. This is
the department store method.
Too manj of our sales are staples. These can
only stand small profits. Look into the possibilities
in your store for other lines.
Do not ask your superintendents, mine foremen
or office force to
SOLICIT BUSINESS.
Have it distinctly understood that there is no compulsion
to trade in your store. A man's place in
the mine must not be dependent, directly or indirectly,
on his trade.
Encourage salesmanship by keeping separate
records of each clerk's sales, and pay him accordingly.
By this method the good men do not have
to average with the lazy clerk, and you can weed
out the latter. Cash registers protect honest
clerks and the owners from dishonest clerks. Educate
your customers, by your prices, to buy in
bulk, not for each meal.
Do not substitute, and do not let the houses
from whom you buy substitute. One of the hardest
things we had to contend with was to break
our wholesale men from substitution and overshipment
on orders.
Let us all keep open to new ideas, search for
new devices which will lessen labor and legitimately
increase profits.
I had hoped to incorporate in this paper a table
showing comparative prices on 35 staple commodities
in commissaries and outside stores. Sufficient
time, however, was not allowed me to secure this
THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 45
data. I believe it would show interesting comparisons.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the
commissary store is a necessity at a large number
of our mines; but it must be conducted in a
broad-minded manner, and according to presentday
ideas.
*» PERSONAL !•
J-^l--_~-~„„„„--_~-_-_-_^_ „-__~_~ „^__/_iL
A recent addition to the staff of the centrifugal
pump department of the A. S. Cameron Steam
Pump Works, New York, is Mr. C. V. Kerr, the organizer
of the Kerr Turbine Co., and later with
McEwen Bros., of Wellsville, New York. Mr.
Kerr delivered an interesting address with stereoptican
views on "A New Centrifugal Pump with
Helical Impeller" at the monthly meeting of the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers, at its
rooms, New York City, Nov. 11.
Mr. J. J, Stoker, assistant superintendent of the
Cambria Steel Co.'s mining department at Johnstown,
Pa., has been appointed a state mine inspector
and on the 15th of the present month assumed
the duties of his new position. Mr. Stoker
for the present will take the place of Mr. Chauncey
B. Ross, of Latrobe, who has been unable to
attend to his duties for some time on account of
illness.
Dr. Aubrey Strahan, F.R.S., has been appointed
Director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain,
in succession to Dr. J. J. H. Teall, who retires
Jan. 5 next. Dr. Strahan is president of the Geological
society, and was a member of the Royal
Commission on Coal supplies.
Mr. William H. Godwin has resigned as general
sales manager of the Carnegie Coal Co. and has
associated himself with the sales department of
the Berwind Fuel Co., Plymouth building, Minneapolis,
under Mr. E. S. Kendrick, northwestern
sales manager.
Mr. James H. Sourtielcl, superintendent of the
Quemahoning Creek Coal Co. mines at Harrison,
Pa., has tendered his resignation. He left for
Johnstown to take personal charge of a grocery
store which he recently purchased.
Mr. D. S. Williams, superintendent of the Sunday
Creek Co., at Jacksonville, 0., recently celebrated
the 73rd anniversary of his birth. He is
one of the oldest mine superintendents in the
state.
Mr. George Watkin Evans, consulting coal mining
engineer of Seattle, Wash., has completed the
examination of the Matanuska coal field of Alaska
for the United States Navy.