Middletown transcript., 1868-02-01
publif Afalirs.
wholesale Trade.

In his recent ADDRESS before the board |
of Trade of this city, says the Wilmington
Commercial, Mr., Hugh Il. Steele, Prcsi-
dent of the Wilmington & Reading Rail
road CO., alluded to the astohishment he
had experienced many years ago, in seeing
the entire commerce Of the Delaware river
sweep past Wilmington without our people
doing a single thing TO prevent it.
A closer examination would have given
him much cause for astonishment in af
fairs as they exist to-day. Now not only
docs the commerce of the Delaware what
is left Of it) sweep past our city, but rail-
road built in part by Wilmington's money,
carries through our city, past the very
doors of our merchants, almost the entire
trade Of this State and the whole PENN
sula.l .frtpl,
Do we ask why this is, and some re-
taller who. has never done any more to-
wards becoming Wholesale merchant than
irish he could be one, says ,it.Ohl its the
odious discrimination of the Railroad Com
pany," or some other answers People
would rather go to Philadelphia; it is a
layger,eity they can see a greater variety
Of goods and think they can get them
cheaper.N A9 ~ 81 1r,a'4,5o
Now let us consider these assertions.
Remember it is the ,Penisular trade, tap
ped by the Delaware Railroad of which we
speak. Does this road discriminate against
Wilmingtoni This is an interesting ques-
ton, we have examined with some care,
and we believe we can positively deny that
there is any such discrimination! There
! is not station on this road from which a
passenger cannot come to Wilmington fifty
cents cheaper than he can 60 to Philadel-
phia. In regard to freights it is the same
We know that the officers of the road have
putthenselyes,to no ine6nsiderable troublt
to afford facilities for fruit and Other
freights reaching this city, running car,
specially for the purpose 80 lightly loadet
that they did not pay, at time when they
! were taxed to the utmost to meet the de
: mands upon them for cars to 60 elsewhere
: 1t il not, then, the fault Of the 1nahage
. ment of the Delaware Railroad Compan,
. that Wilmington does not get the PENN
sular trade, while it, loffefs country mcr
chants saving of $1.00 each trip, 81
/ cents each way, by stopping here, AM
= what is Of more consequences, gives then
I tthree hours more time here than they cai
: have in Philadelphia when they wish t.
= come up and go back on the same day.
I Now let us consider the other objections
\ Philadelphia is larger" True, ,lbut store
I keepers do not go there to see how large
!, city is. "But they. can see greater va
y y riety of goods and think they can get ther
\ cheaper" This brings us then to the gil
= y Of the matter. Why can they see d gres
y ter variety because we have no larg
J wholesale stores, where large and var;e
" stock is kept. Why have we not sue
> stores? " Because they will not be SUI
= :. ported because if we do start them Il
\ =, merchants of the Peninsula will yet thin
- they can buy cheaper in Philadelphia ar
- Still 60 there, is the ianse Ell made 4 Y
s answer, how do you know they will
n they are mistaken in the sppResitipn, al
:, :, can get goods here as chcaply as in Phil
I delphia, the advantages we have alreat
x mentioned will bring them here. Nj
y are easily convinced that they can NAL
= more money by change, if it be true.
II 7 The business then of Wilmington If q
wants this trade is To, prepare herself
N meet its demands, to really sell as low
II 7 Philadelphia, to keep large and varii
- stocks. and to advertise these facts, TO t
= people through the papers of the Peni
10 sula. Not merely to advertise but to .
9n personal. solicitation to secure this trade
Baltimore is successfully doing, and
~ keep doing so until attention is attractt
IA and presently men will stop hereto find
,,S ~, they can do as welfhere as in Philadelphi
mr they will probably then go on to the latt
H. city to test the matter, and if they find I
-, ~ prices, of our merchants as low. as tn,
: ~ !, elsewhere, they will save time, freight a
"a passage money, by buying here, ,.o1I
sf af They cannot be convinced of this in
- day, nor possibly, in year, but it can
-, done by persistence in the course we h;
, ~ ~ indicated, while Wilmington cannot sec,
~, :, this trade by the, course she, is now p
suing, in century. .,