Page 89 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES. 89

reputation for keen judgment and thorough knowledge of his business
and its detail. His business premises are 38x108 feet in size. His stock
consisting of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves, tinware, plows, farming
implements, fence wire, etc., mechanics' tools, cutlery, paints, oil and
glass, etc., averaging $20,000 in value ; the yearly transactions amount to
$55,000. He is also agent for the sale of the celebrated Landreth garden
seeds, which have gained an extensive reputation all over this continent.

GEO. KOERNER & CO.—General Commission Merchants; Corner of
Houston and St. Mary's Streets.
Political economy is the science which teaches, among its important
objects, how to provide everything necessary for supplying the wants of
society, and to employ the people, so far as possible, in such a manner as
to create reciprocal relations, so as to make their several interests lead
them to supply each other's wants. It classes the occupations, and gives
them rank, estimating each, by its beneficial effects on the whole people.
In the mercantile branches, those branches, which both provide a supply
to consumers and by furnishing markets, relieve producers of stock, are
regarded as most important. Thus, measuring the relative importance of
branches of business, by their influence and results, which gives the most
correct standard as to position—those which are conneccted with the food
supply by logical laws, take precedence. Staples or articles of necessity, con-
trol the markets of the world ; others are merely auxiliaries, results of
the prime factor. The most prominent branch of business in this pre-em-
inent class, is commission; and in all cities this business occupies a leading
position, as its influence and effects extend to all classes of society. Pro-
ducers of material wealth have in it an elaborate system of commercial
machinery, by means of which they rapidly, economically and advantage-
ously market their products—consumers are, by means of it, supplied with
necessities. It therefore acts with dual effect. The commission merchant
in business centers, recieves the product of the farmer, the stock-man,
the manufacturer, or whomsoever it may be, to sell for him on commis-
sion, receiving for his services a certain percentage, called a commission,
and it is his business to know exactly where and to whom, to dispose of
his consignments to the best advantage of the consignor, or to hunt for it.
If required, he makes advances on these consignments. The extent of
this business in a city like San Antonio, is not generally appreciated ; the
transactions aggregate, an amount which would seem almost incredible,
and to properly conduct the buisness, the highest qualifications as to busi-
ness ability, integrity, industry, -in keeping posted on the fluctuations of
the market, and the employment of considerable capital are requisite.
The most reliable, enterprising and most extensive houses, as regards
transactions, engaged in this business in San Antonio, is that of Messrs.
George Koerner & Co. The other members of the firm are, F. Stresau,
Milwaukee ; H. Stresau, Galveston. Mr. Koerner brings to the business