ABSTRACT
Chapters IV and V dealt with the changes and the probable reasons for the changes which took place among wholesalers in the United States between 1860 and 1900. As indicated, this was generally a prosperous era for the individual wholesaler even though he was constantly confronted with numerous difficulties. Some of the principal problems arose out of the competitive climate in which these middlemen functioned. The purpose of this chapter is to examine some of the particular competitive problems encountered by the wholesaler during the period, the manner in which the problems were met, or evaded, and to attempt to assess the net effect of these phenomena upon the wholesaler and his position in the marketing structure.
