NRA-L-000003 / 1847
Business letter from Ramón de Guardamino to José Manuel de Brunet concerning paper manufacture and industrial accounts
Spanish business letter dated 14 August 1847 from Bilbao to San Sebastián concerning paper manufacturing costs, sales, trade credit, account statements, competition and a traveling salesman.
Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000003
Transcript and English translation
working scholarly aid
Address / Cover
Original transcript
Al Sr. Dn. José Manuel de Brunet
Sn. Sebastian
Address / Cover
English translation
Al Sr. Dn. José Manuel de Brunet
Sn. Sebastian
Letter Text
Original transcript
[Letter - Page 1]
R. 17 dho
Sr Dn José Manuel de Brunet
Sn Sebastn
Bilbao 14 de Agosto de 1847.
Estimado amigo: Llegué de mi salida á Valmaseda
y Carranza, y contesto á su apreciada del 7. Ayer tarde y al
siguiente que llegué, me dijo Epalza que queria hablarme un
momento, y me indicó era sobre una carta que tenia de V.
y le dije que podia hacerlo cuando gustase; pero aun nada
me ha dicho nada; y no he creido deberle recordar porque
no sea que ni él ni yo estamos en el caso desesperado. Otros
industriales se hallan por aqui, y no en otras partes como
nosotros, y los de Sta Ana se hallaron en iguales compro-
misos el año anterior, pero por fortuna se abrieron las
ventas que siguen haciendo y no pueden llenar faltas de
conductores. Veré si Dn Tomas habla y si algo se hace.
El Dn Arellano es lo mismo que Epalza, y cuando yo
hablé con él me significó que daria 1/2 p% de interes por su
firma, y habiendome propuesto á que de una vez que
me daba apuntes magnificos que daria 1 p% y luego veo que
Epalza que habló con él á consecuencia de la carta de V.
ha fijado 1 p%. El banco les ha prestado dinero tam-
bien, y digo todo esto con reserva pues del mismo modo
se me ha dicho. No hay dinero y la industria en general
se verá mal, en particular aquella cuyas ventas
se entorpezcan, y no hay ningun remedio ni mas recurso
que fabricar en proporcion de las salidas que puedan
tenerse, pues todo lo demas es para mi [perdido?] y
mal cálculo. Del 25 al 27 saldré para Madrid si no
hago faltas y siento no poder salir antes.
Ya que VV. se ocupaban de preparar las
instrucciones fuera bien que saliese el Viajante, que debe
estudiar el caracter de las gentes con quien trate, pues
á unos les agradará un caracter y lenguage, y á
otros no. A unos alegria y trato cierto punto de
ligereza, á otros cierta formalidad. A las mugeres
frivolidades y cosas propias de ellas; y en ocasiones
pueden ser las que influyan. Nada puede hacerse
productivo, y creo que mucho de esto debe dejarse de de-
cir á ese Joven que hace la 1ª salida al
mundo industrial. Me dice V. que nada tienen
[Letter - Page 2]
que decir á los cálculos de Roestel, y yo por el
contrario creo deben VV. examinarlos para ver si
estamos conformes. La cuenta del coste de nuestro
papel, segun las mias fundadas en los preceptos de aq[ue]l
despues de cargar todo hasta los intereses del capital de movi-
miento á 10 p % y los de acciones y dividendo que son
20 p % permite vender caso necesario nuestro papel á saber.
1ª y 2ª calidad ó pasta cargando sobre ella
33 1/3 p % en lugar de 10 p % y 20 p %
á 5 rs. libra
3ª con cargo de 10 y 20 p % á 3 rs. 13 1/2 mrs.
4ª con igual cargo ................... " 2 rs. 23 mrs.
5ª id id ................................ " 2 rs. 21 mrs.
todo esto en trapos del pais y de Hamburgo mezclados por
mitad, y que no debe haber ni mezclarse tanto Hamb[urg]o y saldrá
mas barato.
El de Galicia sale con igual cargo de 30 p % á 3 rs. 19 mrs.
la libra en comun, de modo que el Galicia con 1/3 y 2/3 de las
Provincias y Hamburgo puede darse caso necesario á 2 rs. 20 [mrs?]
papel de imprenta, y rollos ya con la carga de 30 p %, esto es
lo que yo quiero que VV. examinen, para que sepamos lo que
aun ignoramos, que es el coste de nuestro papel para
poder vender y saber hasta donde puede irse en la
competencia.
Veo que me remitirá V. de Madrid el Estado.
Para otro año ya que por desgracia no lo hemos hecho
nunca, los estados deben comprender las diferentes calida-
des del papel que existan y las calidades diferentes de
pasta y trapo, y tambien que todo se pese para que sir-
va de confrontacion y si por nota pueden VV. ponerlo
este año en lo relativo á calidades mejor, y tambien las
diferencias halladas en pasta y trapo. Han
podido VV. notar que los Rs. 48,000, de depreciacion
han sido mal cargados en el estado y este en
realidad quedara reducido á 40,000 y pico de
diferencia en lugar de lo que representa.
Ruego á V. no se descuide la preparacion
del consabido papel y que esté en Madrid pronto
para ver que puede hacerse. Sin mas terreno que el
que tenemos podemos sacar 40, ó 50 resmas diarias
segun los calculos tirados por Pourvel y esta fabricacion se
hace indispensable. Todos establecen fabricacion á
mano si bien con cilindro. Nuestro sistema puede ser
[Letter - Page 3]
mejor y mas economico que aquel: hay que seguir
lo y buscar el medio de poner los [illegible] anejos
á otra cosa. La reserva es de absoluta necesidad, y que
la orden dada se cumpla, y asi se le previno y al mismo
Pourvel le dije que aun estando los jueves en casa alguno
que no permitiese entrar á la mecanica en el
momento hacia nuestro. Estaba aqui con varios que
consumen nuestro papel, y se hace fraude. Delma
me enseñó los pedidos de papel comun que pidio á
Zaragoza remiti muestra á Cardenal para que remi-
tiese el de VV es á 26 rs en Zaragoza, mucho mejor que
el nuestro á igual precio y aun que el de 32 y 34.
Que habia pedido muchas veces papeles comunes y
que no los habian VV remitido. Tambien de imprenta
habia pedido á Zaragoza, porque me enseño uno
hecho por nosotros para una publicacion, de buena
pasta si pero con arenilla que destruye la im-
presion esta es fabricacion del bribon que con
tanta facilidad nos engañó. Demasiado largo voy
siendo. De V siempre afmo amigo.
Apretones del amanuense Juanito
Ramon de Guardamino
Letter Text
English translation
[Letter - Page 1]
R. 17 of the same [month]
Mr. Dn. José Manuel de Brunet
Sn. Sebastn.
Bilbao, August 14, 1847.
Esteemed friend: I arrived from my trip to Valmaseda and Carranza, and I reply to your esteemed [letter] of the 7th. Yesterday afternoon and the day following my arrival, Epalza told me he wanted to speak with me for a moment, and indicated it was about a letter he had from you, and I told him he could do so whenever he pleased; but he has still told me nothing at all; and I have not thought it my duty to remind him so it does not appear that either he or I are in a desperate situation. Other industrialists find themselves around here, and not in other parts like us, and those of Sta. Ana found themselves in equal commitments the previous year, but fortunately the sales opened up, which they continue making, and they cannot fill the lack of drivers [transporters]. I will see if Dn. Tomas speaks and if something is done.
Dn. Arellano is the same as Epalza, and when I spoke with him he indicated to me that he would give 1/2 p% [percent] interest for his signature, and having proposed to me that at once he was giving me magnificent notes [promissory notes] he would give 1 p% and then I see that Epalza, who spoke with him as a consequence of your letter, has fixed 1 p%. The bank has lent them money too, and I say all this with reserve since it was told to me in the same manner. There is no money and industry in general will find itself in a bad way, in particular that whose sales are hindered, and there is no remedy nor more recourse than to manufacture in proportion to the sales that can be had, since all the rest is for me [lost?] and a bad calculation. From the 25th to the 27th I will leave for Madrid if I do not fail [if nothing prevents me] and I am sorry not to be able to leave sooner.
Since you [plural] were occupied with preparing the instructions, it would be good if the Traveling Salesman set out, who must study the character of the people with whom he deals, since to some one character and language will be pleasing, and to others not. To some cheerfulness and dealing with a certain degree of lightness, to others a certain formality. To women frivolities and things proper to them; and on occasions they can be the ones who influence. Nothing can be made productive, and I believe that much of this should be left unsaid to that Young man who is making his 1st outing into the industrial world. You tell me that you have nothing
[Letter - Page 2]
to say to Roestel's calculations, and I on the contrary believe you [plural] should examine them to see if we are in agreement. The account of the cost of our paper, according to mine founded on the precepts of that one [Roestel] after charging everything up to the interests of the working capital at 10 p% and those of shares and dividend which are 20 p% permits selling in case of necessity our paper namely:
1st and 2nd quality or pulp charging upon it 33 1/3 p% instead of 10 p% and 20 p% at 5 rs. [reales] a pound
3rd with a charge of 10 and 20 p% at 3 rs. 13 1/2 mrs. [maravedíes]
4th with equal charge ................... " 2 rs. 23 mrs.
5th id id [idem idem] ................................ " 2 rs. 21 mrs.
all this in domestic rags and of Hamburg mixed by half, and that there should not be nor be mixed so much Hamb[urg] and it will come out cheaper.
That of Galicia comes out with an equal charge of 30 p% at 3 rs. 19 mrs. the pound in common, so that the Galicia with 1/3 and 2/3 of the Provinces and Hamburg can be given in case of necessity at 2 rs. 20 [mrs?] printing paper, and rolls already with the charge of 30 p%, this is what I want you [plural] to examine, so that we know what we still ignore, which is the cost of our paper to be able to sell and know how far one can go in the competition.
I see that you will remit to me from Madrid the Statement. For another year since unfortunately we have never done it, the statements must comprise the different qualities of paper that exist and the different qualities of pulp and rag, and also that everything be weighed so that it serves for comparison and if by note you [plural] can put it this year regarding qualities better, and also the differences found in pulp and rag. You [plural] have been able to note that the Rs. 48,000 of depreciation have been badly charged in the statement and this in reality will remain reduced to 40,000 and a bit of difference instead of what it represents.
I beg you not to neglect the preparation of the aforementioned paper and that it be in Madrid soon to see what can be done. Without more land than what we have we can get out 40, or 50 reams daily according to the calculations drawn by Pourvel and this manufacturing becomes indispensable. Everyone establishes manufacturing by hand although with a cylinder. Our system can be
[Letter - Page 3]
better and more economical than that: it must be followed and the means sought to put the [illegible] annexes to something else. Secrecy is of absolute necessity, and that the order given be fulfilled, and thus he was warned and to Pourvel himself I said that even if someone was in the house on Thursdays he should not permit entry to the machinery at the moment he was making ours. I was here with several who consume our paper, and fraud is being committed. Delma showed me the orders for common paper that he requested to Zaragoza I remitted a sample to Cardenal so that he would remit yours is at 26 rs in Zaragoza, much better than ours at equal price and even than that of 32 and 34. That he had requested common papers many times and that you [plural] had not remitted them. Also of printing [paper] he had requested to Zaragoza, because he showed me one made by us for a publication, of good pulp yes but with grit that destroys the printing this is the manufacturing of the scoundrel who with such ease deceived us. I am being too long. From your always affectionate friend.
Handshakes from the amanuensis Juanito
Ramon de Guardamino
Discovery Terms
- Spanish business correspondence
- paper manufacturing
- industrial accounts
- paper costs
- sales strategy
- trade credit
- traveling salesman
- competition
- Bilbao
- San Sebastián