A Credit To Ann Arbor

hen any individual or firm or corporation which by reason of active operations or extraordinary enterprise ad'ls to the prosperity of our city and bestows a direct benefit on the public we consder it our duty to give the tact or event the publicity which it deserves. For this reason we desire to direct attention to Mack & Schmid and thelr remarkable transió tioas this f all. For 40 years connected wlth the business interests of this city the public has learned to know them for what they are - the hustling, ruirtHng trade makers of the coujity. Pushing themselves to the top by their progressive and aggresslve methods they have done more to legitimatize the dry goods business and bring themselves into favor with the saving people who live and shop in this county than any other concern in the state. They have gained the confidence and good will of the public, their every effort being directed toward maintaining the hlghest degree of excellence in their business. But, great as has been their many triumphs in merchandising, espeoially in the past two or three years, duiïng which their busin3ssnas been conducted upon metropolitan lines, their business ventures this fall have been th mcs-t remark&.ble of their entira business career, the most gratifying feature being that the public is sharing in their enterprise. Going into the dry goods market this fall when many importing a.nd manufaeturing houses were being driven to the wall on account of the unfortunate stringency in the money market, when flrms of unquestioned credit were unable to obtain money at the banks at any price to meet their present obligations, the time was ripe to purchase goods at practically their own figures for spot cash. Importers of fashionable dress goods unable to take their consignments from the custom house were compelled to sacrifice part of them for less than cost of production to obtain money to pay the duty. Other houses, not so fortúnate in finding spot cash buyers were forced to make assignments and see their goods sacrificed for ready money to satisfy the demanda of their creditors, among others being J. H. "Walker & Co., of Chicago. Although heavily loaded with fall purchasea when the replevin suit brought by foreign consigners to this firm was decided and the goods thrown upon the market for cash they could not allow themselves to miss the rich bargains that were sure to drop from such a sale. As a result of all this purchasing they found themselves with over $100,000 worth of dry goods, cloaks, carpets, house furnishing goods, notions, etc., every dollar's worth of which was bought for spot cash for less than cost of production and which they have been selling at prices that have brought people from all parts of the surrounding country. Curiously interested in this great collection we took the trouble"to visit the different departments of "The Store" and by personal inspection satisfy ourselves of the merits of the bargains found there. Commencing at the dress goods department we were shown printed India silk from the Walker sale at 19c which had been selling in a regular way for 50c. This was fout a specimen of the many bargains found in every department. 1'2 yds for 95c was the legend one lot of dress goods bore, the actual valué of which wae 35c a yard. Fine all wool serges and novelty goods 29c, was another card that.caught our eye pinneU to a lot of 50c goods. Regular 25c goods were marked 17c. Fancy mixtures and changeable effects bore a 25c sign, though of 40c value. Hopsacking in all colors at 50c looked good enough to sell for Jl. Henriettas, serges, mixtures, whip cords, black dress goods of every possible quality and style, all fresh and new, but all of them bearing prices one-third to one-half their actual value. Superb imported dress goods were shown us, imported for the high class New York and Chicago trad e and sold there at $1.50 to $3 a yard were 75c to $1.50. Passing through the other departments we found the same condition of prices reflected everywhere. The very best ginghams, the Amoskeags, in fancy dress styles everyone has to get 12%c for, these were 7c. Dark prints Standard goods, were 3%c instead of 6c. World's Fair towels, bought in the "Windy City," for 50c were 19c, and so it went. In underwear, notions, trimmings, blankets and shawls there were the same sweeping reductions throughout the house. Having flnished our inspection of the first floor, our attention was next directed to their cloak department, a splendid room 24 x 100 feet. Whatever surprises we found on the first floor in the way of quality and quantity of goods and value of bargains, they were entirely eclipsed here, and here we were taught an object lesson demonstrating the power of ready money, and how it was possible for Mack and Schmid to give such splendid bargains. Their buyer for this department was negotiating for the entire product of an eastern cloak house, the outcome of which was that the entire stock was bought at 50c on the dollar of the manufacturer's cost. As an example of what this means, a gartnent, the manufacturer's price of which was $20 and which would retail for $25, was bought for $10 and sold for $11.25. Another, the manufacturer's price $26, would sell for $33, bought for $13 and sold for $15. Elegant imported novelties which if purchased at the regular price would put them out of the reach of ordinary mortals, when bought for 50c on the dollar, makes them possible for all. It is a marvellous display in extent and character of goods and prices and has well earned for them the title of "The Bargain Givers" and "Price Makers of the County."