| | | | | | | |
pressing, etc. | 1 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 13 | 24
Saloons and cafes | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5
Undertakers | 1 | 5 | 3 | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 3 | 11
Hairdressers | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 3 | 8
Miscellaneous | 1 | 1 | -- | 1 | 1 | -- | 10 | 24 | 48
-----------------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+-----+-----+-------
Totals | 12 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 63 | 118 | 309
-----------------------+----+----+----+----+----+----+-----+-----+-------

The full showing of classified gross receipts of the 309
establishments is given in Table XXV (p. 115).

Measured, then, by valuation of tools, fixtures, _etc._, by
merchandise on hand, and by gross receipts in 1907 and 1908, Negro
enterprises with a small command of capital and credit do a
comparatively large gross amount of retail business.

CHAPTER III

DEALING WITH THE COMMUNITY

The severest test of a business enterprise is its relation to the
community, both the commercial houses with which it deals and the
consuming public to whom it sells. With the former a firm must
establish credit, with the latter it must build up confidence. Credit
is established by the prompt payment of bills, the length of time a
firm has been in operation allowing time to make a good reputation and
its business methods in dealing with its suppliers. The confidence of
customers is secured by the care and accuracy with which orders are
filled, the length of time the firm has been in a certain locality and
patrons have dealt with it and by the whims and prejudices of the
community or locality.

It was out of the question to get data which would cover all of these
points, but sufficient material was gathered to throw considerable
light on (1) the length of time the firms had been established, (2)
the length of time they had been situated at the particular address
where they were found, (3) the means used in keeping the accounts of
sales, expenditures, _etc._, (4) whether they gave credit to customers
and whether they received credit from suppliers, and (5) what
proportion of their customers were white and what proportion were
colored.

I. AGE OF ESTABLISHMENTS

Negroes are often said to be able to start but unable to continue in
undertakings which require determination, persistence, tact, and
which involve strenuous comp