What application, enterprise and capital can do is particularly marked in the growing business now conducted by Mr. John Kentner, who has since his birth resided in the County of Halton, and has been a resident of Burlington for some years. He has held the position of Justice of the Peace and member of the Municipal Council of Burlington, together with other responsible positions, and from time to time has interested himself particularly in commercial and municipal affairs, but of recent years has placed his whole energy into his business, which, owing to the different branches embraced, engrosses his whole time.
The business personally superintended by Mr. Kentner embraces three branches :
1st. Lumber yard and planing mill.-It is universally conceded that the secret of success in the lumber business is to know how, where and what to buy, and by careful attention to these branches this lumber yard is kept supplied with a very superior stock of carefully selected lumber of the varieties required for his patrons, as well as shingles, lath, etc. Along with the lumber yard is owned and conducted a planing mill business, with the latest machinery capable of turning out up-to-date builders’ supplies, from the plain dressed lumber to matching, moulding and sash material ; also some considerable attention has been paid to- the manufacture of different branches of boxes and crates required by the fruit producers.
2nd. Wood yard.Hand-in-hand with the lumber yard is the wood yard, where the best supplies of hard and soft wood of all grades are constantly kept on hand, and sold and delivered either in the cordwood condition or manufactured ready for the stove. Here also the selling price is kept at the lowest notch by careful buying and stocking up at the proper season of the year.
3rd. Cider press.Owing to the fact that large quantities of apples are produced in the fruit belt in the vicinity of Burlington, there are large quantities of fallen apples unfit for foreign shipments, from which cider is made for vinegar and other purposes. In the autumn season this branch of the work is crowded to its utmost. No effort is spared, on the part of Mr. Kentner, to satisfy his patrons in all these branches, and the personal attention given to each department has led his customers to feel that it is in their interest to deal with him, and while not strongly given to advertise from the standpoint of printer’s ink, yet he always in his business carries a strong advertisement by the work he does and by the material supplied, which is recognized by all as the most convincing argument in favor of any concern.