The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-14
Time for state Fair and Other Attrac.
ffOns.

RICHMOND, VA, January IL, 1885.
j. ~ Moulin, Esq, Secretary, etc., Com
mittee on Trade, Commercial GLIB:
Dear Sir,-In reply to your circular
bearing date November 81, 1882, and ad-
dressed "To the Real-Estate owners and
Businessmen of Richmond" wherein IL
set forth the advantages that are TO accrue
to those addressed from the additional at
fractions that you fully describe as an adj
junct TO our annual State Fair, and asking.
by way OF subscriptions, the secohdIng OF
what is deemed the most attractive mea-
sures and the most desirable time for the
display OF same, / beg to say thorough
canvass of the subscribers to our last years
attractions leads me 10 believe that all were
satisfied with the money then expended,
both rs a display and as success as
business investment. While / heartily
agree with your honorable committee as to
the attractiveness OF the inducements they
have provided, am unable TO understand
how the time selected can possibly be OF
any benefit to what undoubtedly c0nstl-
tutes by far the larger share OF subscribers
of the necessary funds TO carry out the
same.
As YOU quote the Baltimore Oriolc rs an
example TO induce subscriptions to our ef-
forts, / beg TO submit for your careful con-
sideration the almost unanimous opinion
of the ,chOlesale trade and the unanimous
opinion of the retail trade of that city Tex
cepting only the hotels, bar-rooms, and
places of amusements) that the date OF their
last festival was, so far ash benefitinS them,
n failure, and any number OF the retail
houses threatened in the future to entirely
withhold their subscriptions, while large
numbers promised double and treble the
amount if ii icdS held a month later. No
one questioned the beauty Of the display
! ESPECIALLY in the evening". Few, however,
could be found who. save the class already
mentioned, were willing to acknowledge
the expenditure a good one In a business
uielo, while the one held in October, 1881,
was unqueStlonably one Of the best invest
ments that the businessmen o. Baltimore
| ever made.
By way Of proof Of my assertions refer
you TO the columns of the Baltimore Amer
lean, Sun, and .EUening NelcS the day after
the Oriole, where the opinions OF over two
hundred OF the leading businessmen OF
Baltimore are stated. Having given you
the benefit OF the views Of those who gained
them by experience, | ask your considera'
ton and indulgence OF my own objections to
the time selected by the committee for the
holding OF our display.
September is entirely too early to hold ht
same, as ii is entirely too early for conSu
ners to purchase their 'ointer supplies. In
promulgating this opinion | am fully aware
Of the fact that it is very proper time FOL
the wholesale trade; as your circular truth
fully SAYS. ii is Il time "when the south
ern merchants 90 North to replenish theil
stocks.'' No one more than /, as retailer
i willing to foster and encourage with my
time and purse any interests that will ado
TO the growth of the city of Richmond ol
any Of its varied industries, and any
scheme to attract visitors or purchasers IL
behalf of these enterprises | deem merito
rious. / am, however, not unSelfish enough
to waive all my own claims for similal
state Of feeling, and while the Fair trade Il
an Acknowledged "bOom'' and benefit tC
the retail trade OF this city, | firmly an(
fully believe it would be, If not enttretl
lost. practically of no benefit, If the date o
of the Fair exhibit which is now deemed
indispensable, other attractions were helt
at the time suggested bv your committee
AS stated, the firm Of which | am th'
resident partner will subscribe to anything
that will prove advantageous to the city
/, however, most respectfully ask in behal
OF mvself and large number OF retailer
consideration Of our claims for - shar'
of the plumS i'm the pudding"
In order to have the views OF others
have taken the liberty Of addressing yo'
this open letter.
Assuring you of my best wishes for tn
enterprise OF your committee,
am, sir, respectfully yours,
w. CANS,
(of A. Saks & Coz