Business English Part 83

1. OFFICE MAN--who can handle correspondence and general office work for growing North side manufacturing company. Good opportunity for the right man. State experience and salary expected. Address A.

H. Stanton, 17 Elm St.

2. MAIL ORDER MAN--up-to-date, experienced; must have ability and be capable of handling a large volume of correspondence; must also be a pusher and systematizer. In reply give references, age, and detailed experience. Address X. W. 291 News.

3. AMBITIOUS YOUNG MEN--who are willing to start at the bottom to learn steel and iron business; must be high school or college graduates, or have equivalent education, and furnish exceptional references; very good opportunity for the future. Address A. F. 361 Times.

4. BRIGHT YOUNG MAN--for office work in large manufacturing plant, Northwest side; must be neat, quick, and accurate at figures. State age, experience, and salary expected. Address J. F. Holtz & Co., 320 W.

Exchange St.

5. OFFICE CLERK--a girl who can write a plain, rapid, legible hand; desirable, permanent position, and excellent chance for advancement. Give age, experience, if any, and where formerly employed.

Salary $6.00 to start. Address T. P. 514 Chronicle.

6. HELP WANTED--salesman having established trade on rubber or leather footwear in Michigan, northern Indiana, northwest Ohio, or eastern Wisconsin. Good chance to become connected with live middle-western jobbing house. Give late experience. Address G724 Boot and Shoe Recorder, Boston, Ma.s.s.

=Exercise 240--Contract for Painting Iron Work=

1. James W. Walker & Co., 325 Second St., Pittsburgh, are receiving bids for painting the iron work of the bridge to be constructed over the Cheesequake Creek at Morgan Station, New Brunswick, N. J. The Barnard Emerson Co., of Harrisburg, Pa., write saying they would like to figure on the work. They ask James W.

Walker & Co; to send plans and specifications. Write the letter sent by the Barnard Emerson Co.

2. James W. Walker & Co. reply that they are sending plans and specifications. They say that bids must be in by March 10. Write the letter.

3. The Barnard Emerson Co. write that page two, line four, of the specifications for the bridge to be constructed (state in detail) reads "and paint all beams underneath two coats of dark green," and page four, line ten, reads "all upright beams above and underneath to be painted two coats of light green between shades three and four." They ask which is correct. Write the letter. Be exact.

4. James W. Walker & Co. reply that page two, line four, is correct. Explain in detail.

5. The Barnard Emerson Co. agree to do the work on (repeat exactly what bridge you mean) for three thousand dollars. They guarantee to finish the work by April 30, according to the specifications. They will forfeit fifty dollars for every day after that date until the bridge is finished. Write the proposal or bid.

6. James W. Walker & Co. write, saying that they accept the bid above and that they enclose duplicate contracts, one of which they have signed and which the Barnard Emerson Co. is to keep. The other the Barnard Emerson Co. is to sign and return to James W. Walker & Co.

=Exercise 241--Contract for the Delivery of Property=

1. The Arlington Coal Company, Old Colony Building, Chicago, Ill., write to the Red Rock Coal Company, Auburn, Ill., saying that they need several cars of egg coal per week throughout the year. They ask if the Red Rock Coal Co. wish to offer some on contract. If so, they must state how the coal is screened, and give their lowest price. Write the letter.

2. The Red Rock Coal Co. reply that they will offer egg coal for shipment at the rate of two cars per week throughout the year, at $1.15 per net ton, cars f.o.b.

mines. If a contract were drawn up for three or more cars per week, they would give the coal for $1.12 per net ton. They say their egg is an excellent steam producing coal and gives general satisfaction. It is shipped from the Red Rock mine via the Chicago & Alton Railroad, freight rate being 82 per ton. Write the letter.

3. The Arlington Coal Co. write that the Red Rock Coal Co. may send a one year contract drawn in triplicate for three cars of egg coal per week at $1.12 per net ton, cars f.o.b. mines. Of course it is understood that the usual clauses regarding accidents or other unavoidable happenings on either side will be inserted. Write the letter.

=Exercise 242--Contract for Construction=

NEWS ITEM.--Bids will be received until Dec. 12 by the Chairman of the Board of Public Works, North Bend, Washington, for the construction of a solid concrete bridge over the Snoqualmie River at North Bend; double arch, with one pier in the river; span of arch 92 feet; width of bridge 50 feet. Plans may be had by addressing the Chairman.

The McClaine Construction Co., of Spokane, Wash., send in a bid for $25,000, guaranteeing to use Atlas Portland cement, crushed rock for the coa.r.s.e aggregate, and torpedo sand for the fine aggregate, the concrete to be reinforced with the Kahn system of reinforcement as set forth in the specifications. The company specify, further, that they shall be paid extra for excavation, on the scale of 25 a yard for earth, 75 a yard for loose rock and hard pan, and $1.00 a yard for solid rock. Write the letter that they send.

=Exercise 243--Form Letters=

It frequently happens in business that you receive a number of letters requiring practically the same answer. In such cases, the best plan is to have one letter that is as good a letter of its kind as you can write. Use that as an answer to all those to which it can be made to apply. You may have to add a bit of information or change a word here and there, but, practically, you are using the same form for all the letters. When you have mastered the form, the answering of letters of this cla.s.s will be a simple matter. The letter accompanying a catalogue may easily be a form. (See the second letter in Exercise 223.)

The danger, however, is that the use of form letters tends to make work mechanical. When letters are different, they must receive different replies. A form letter should never be used just because it is easy to use when it does not really apply.

Mandel Bros., Chicago, Ill., announce their annual sale of silk remnants. Make this a good advertis.e.m.e.nt that will reach several cla.s.ses of customers. Have in it as one item white wash silk of heavy quality, 36 inches wide, at 47 cents a yard.

1. Make out a sales letter for the above.

2. Several mail orders have been received in excess of the supply. Make out a form letter that could be sent when the money is returned. What is the advantage of a form letter in this case?

=Exercise 244--Circular and Follow-up Letters=

There is a cla.s.s of letters that usually originates in the advertising department of a firm. They are not sent out to answer inquiries, but to solicit new customers and to keep old ones. Such letters are printed in large numbers in imitation of typewriting, and the introduction and the salutation are afterward carefully filled in on the typewriter. The intention, of course, is to make the recipient feel that he has received a personal letter. Firms are generally careful to fill in the signature in pen and ink. These are called _circular_ letters. (See the last letter in Exercise 223.)

These letters are very important and each year more numerous. Frequently a series of them is written, each one expanding one argument in a series of arguments. If all the letters are read, one after the other, you have a complete list of reasons why you should buy the particular article which the letters advertise. These letters are sent out regularly, so that the effect of one may not quite wear off before the next arrives.

It is frequently the case that not until the third or fourth letter is sent out does any reply come. Such letters should be definitely planned in order to present arguments that are true and attractive. They must be simply and clearly written. They are called _follow-up_ letters.

The following series of follow-up letters was intended to be sent to women who keep no maids. The series was planned to contain five letters.

Write two more, using different appeals from those in the letters here given.

1

Dear Madam:

Do you remember the fairy tale of Little Two-Eyes?

A fairy, out of pity for the child's hunger, spread a table before her each day as she was watching the goat in the field, and when her appet.i.te was satisfied all the child had to say was, "Table clear yourself," and the dishes magically disappeared.

"This is a beautiful way to keep house," was Two-Eyes'

verdict, and every woman, thinking of her own distaste of dirty dishes, will agree.

"How I hate dishwashing!" You have said it hundreds of times--after every meal, probably.

"I like to cook and bake," you declare. "They are really interesting. There is fun in trying new recipes--but the dishes!"

You enjoy giving luncheon and dinner parties. It is a delightful way of meeting one's friends. Moreover, you are justly proud of your skill in cooking, and you like to show your beautiful china. But what a damper it is on your spirit of good-fellowship, after the guests are gone, to have to spend an hour or more washing the dishes. Then you would like to say, with the child in the story, "Dishes wash yourselves!"

Wouldn't you?

Well, you may. For thirty days--ninety meals--we will put the Fairy Dishwasher in your home, without charging you a penny.

The machine is simplicity itself. Wheel the cabinet into your dining room, alongside your serving table, and, as a course is finished, without rising from your place, stack the dishes into the washer. When you have finished the meal, wheel the cabinet into your kitchen, make the connection, and turn the switch. In a few minutes the dishes are washed and dried. Having friends in to dinner is fun when the Fairy washes the dishes.

Let the Fairy do yours. Simply return this letter to us in the enclosed envelope, making sure that your name and address are correct, and we'll send you the Fairy. Use it three times a day for thirty days. Then if you think you can get along as well without the machine, all that you need to do is to send us a postal card, telling us so. We'll take back the Fairy and ask no questions.

But send to-day.

Yours very truly,