Inland Transit/Purkess Westall
Mr. Richard Purkess Westall.—p. 88.
1. Are you a linen-draper at Birmingham?
I am.
2. Where do you get your silk mercery, haberdashery, and drapery goods from?
The bulk of them from London.
14. If the proposed Railroad was to take place, would that be an advantage to you, and persons concerned in the same trade?
A very decided advantage.
15. Both in point of rapidity and cheapness of conveyance?
In both points.
16. Is expedition in the execution of an order in your trade of great importance?
Of considerable importance.
17. Is it of that importance that you have goods such as you mention conveyed by coach at so heavy a cost as you allude to?
The majority of goods received from the London market we have by coach; in consequence of the necessity to have them delivered at an early period, in consequence of the change of fashion, we prefer paying treble or quadruple to get them by coach.
18. Are you obliged to make frequent journeys for the purpose of purchasing?
Yes; we go twenty-four times a year.
19. Would the expedition of the Railroad save you time in these journeys?
Unquestionably.
20. Would you come more frequently?
We probably should; we should be compelled to come more frequently. The additional expedition would be a motive for keeping a less stock of goods, and would consequently bring us to the market more frequently.
21. You would require less capital by keeping less goods?
Decidedly.