scale because large capital was lacking and extended experience
is yet to be gained. They have, however, even from the days of the
Colony, when they were held as slaves, shown a decided propensity for
trade, and since state emancipation this has been increased by a
desire for economic independence and has expressed itself in
enterprises in several lines of business. The variety and number of
enterprises have increased with the years. In 1909, Southern born and
West Indian Negroes comprised nearly all who had entered business, the
latter far in excess of their proportion in the Negro population. This
is probably due to initiative developed in an atmosphere freer than
that from which the Southern Negro comes. Although confined largely to
domestic and personal service occupations, Negroes have had the thrift
and initiative to enter many lines of business into which neither the
experience nor the capital derived from such employment would be
expected to lead. In size, the typical Negro business enterprise has
from one to two paid employees, has a floor space of less than one
thousand square feet, and pays a rental of between fifteen and forty
dollars per month.

FOOTNOTES:

[66] _New York Colonial Laws_, p. 157.

[67] _Ibid._, pp. 519-21.

[68] Williams, _op. cit._, vol. i, p. 142.

[69] _New York Colonial Laws_, vol. ii, p. 310.

[70] _Minutes of the Common Council of New York_, vol. iv, pp. 497-98.

[71] _New York State Laws, Eleventh Session_, p. 675.

[72] S.R. Scottron in _Colored American Magazine_, Oct., 1907, and
several others interviewed by the writer.

[73] _Vide_, pp. 68-69.

[74] The 48 miscellaneous establishments were distributed as follows:
boot and shoe repairing 6, hand laundries 6, cigar, tobacco and
confectionery retailers 5, boot-blacking and hat-cleaning firms 5,
fruit and vegetable dealers 4, cigar manufacturers 3, house-cleaning
firms 3, garages 2, upholstering and mattress-making establishments 2,
watch and jewelry dealers 2, bakeries 2, and bicycle repairer,
photographer, hat-cleaner and repairer, hardware and notions, painter
and plasterer, tea, coffee and spices retailer, fish retailer and
storage firm, one each.

[75] _Cf._ Part 1, Chapter III, pp. 58-59.

CHAPTER II

THE VOLUME OF BUSINESS

Indications of the volume of business are in accord with the
conclusions from the size of Negro business enterprises. Volume of
business was measured (1) by the valuation of tools