HARDWOOD RECORD 



69 



I I I.i:V. DOOLKY-STKRN 



COMPANY 



INMillKin 



sieitn. dooley stern i.tm 

 i;er company 



Ki;i.r.ni;(;, dooley-stern i.t'MBEjt 



COMPANY 



The above couversation took place at the Indianapolis office of E. 

 ' . Atkins & Co., way back in 1887. 



'J"he speakers were the late Elias C. Atkins, founder of E. C. 

 Atkins & Co.. Inc., inventor of Silver Steel, and Nelson A. Gladding, 

 now vice-president and manager of sales. The wisdom of Mr. .A.tkins 

 in the selection of so capable a representative and Mr. (iladding's 

 ability to make good has been emphatically ■ demonstrated. 



The comparatively small business which exi.^ted at the time men- 

 tioned above has enjoyed a constant and healthy gi'owth until it has 

 become one of the greatest factors among the business enterprises 

 of Memphis. 



The development of vast lumber iuterests throughout the South 

 necessitated the establishment of a distributing bureau within easy 

 access of the large mills which were constantly being installed and 

 in 1885 a small storeroom was rented from which shipments to the 

 adjoining territorv could be made with convenience, economy and 

 <lispatch. 



Th'i!- enterprise was, therefore, one of the pioneers in tlie u|>buildiug 



of Memphis and perhaps the oldest of its nature in that territory. 



A big impetus was given affairs with Mr. Cladding's connection 

 with the Memphis branch. The business immediately showed marked 

 increase, which continued throughout his administration during the 

 next eleven years. 



The territory of the ilemphis branch at that time included most 

 of the southern states and additional salesmen were constantly 

 added as the facilities for taking care of more business became 

 apparent. 



In visiting mills, there were constant inquiries as to where certain 

 lines of general mill supplies could be purchased to the best advan- 

 tage, which eventually led to the installing of various lines of mill 

 supplies such as are u.-^ed about all woodworking plants. The accom- 

 modation of these different stocks necessitated larger quarters, and 

 in 1SS9 the company moved into the large four-story building at 141 

 North Main street, wliioh it occujiied continuously until the disastrous 

 fire of 1908. 



Tlie destruction of the .\tkins .>^tore at tl'.at time is an event still 



W. I, 



UKNSHAW. HELI.<;RADE I.U-MBEK 

 COMPANY 



.1. \v. McCLUKE. bell(;rai>e lumber 



COMPANY 



l- -M CATHEY. BELLCRADE LT'.MBER 

 COMPANY 



Men Prominent in Memphis Hardwood Lumber Affairs 



