Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-09
10 INCREASE TRADE.
cHEAPSs sAnRoAD RATES.
The Organization Wants Excursions
Run Into RichrAehA s.eu All Parts
of Virginia, and Pfcs~Asy North
oarolina-what Re.szss w..,s he.

The merchants Of the city anA shs |
businessmen generally, appear to Ne
much rratified because Of the organ
zatIon here on Thursday night OF the
Association for the Development OF Ricn-
mond Trade. While the BODY mas as
yet adopted no definite plans for accom-
plshing the ends sought, two very I'M
portant committees were appointed, ana
will commence the respective duties as
signed to them at once. These are
committee on plan Of organization and
a committee to confer with the passenger
departments, Of the several railroads run
ming into Richmond. The movement for
increasing the trade of the city is thought
10 have the encouragement Of those in
ali branches of business.
THE IDEA GOOD.
So far as Dispatch man could learn
yesterday Ii In the general impression
that the idea promulgated by those In
the association in this respect Is be-
lieved to be a good one. 1t Is the object
OF the organization to enlist the CO.
operation of the railroad companies in the
matter of inducing people to come to
Richmond. This Is TO be done by the
railways Offering reduced rates for
round-trip tickets from all points OF the
State, and while the question OF ex-
tending these low rates into other States
has not yet been considered. President
Rhoads yesterday said to Dispatch re-
porter that he thought IL would be very
desirable to have the roads run excur-
we'll as in Virginia, inasmuch as the
Carolinians do much of their wholesale
and retail buying here. He said that
great many people bought goods of the
retail stores In Richmond by letter,
and that this was often very unsatis-
factory. These customers would come
to Richmond occasionally. and make their
purchases-they would buy a number OF
things that they would otherwise never
purchase here-if they were afforded low
railroad rates.
WOULD HELP ALL AROUND.
The running OF these excursions into
Richmond he said would help every class
of business In the city. 1t would also
help the railroads, because the increased
traffic would more than justify them In
giving the cheap transportation. II
would benefit the entire section enjoying
the advantages of these low rates, be-
cause 1t would enable the people to get
away from their farms or country store
occasionally and learn a little something
OF city life and customs President
Rhoads said that while his association
had not heard anything from the At
lantlc-Coast Line regarding this move
ment. the Chesapeake and Ohio and the
Southern roads had assured the organlza-
ton of their encouragement. and he
felt that the other railroads would fall
into line and offer such inducements In
way OF rates as would be sufficient
Speaking OF the meeting on Thursday
night. President Rhoads remarked that
the representatives OF seserai large re-
tail houses could not be present on that
occasion, because they were just at this
time taking inventories and. getting ready
for spring business. Among these con-
Germs were the Fourqurean-Price Com
pany. Breeden, Talley & Co, Hutzler &
Sons, and others.
FOR ALL CLASSES OF TRADE.
President Rhoads. in speaking Of the
scope of the organization. said:
This association is not for the benefit
OF the retail trade alone, but is calculated
TO embrace all kinds Of business-retail
and wholesale. dry-goois. grocers, hard
ware. furniture. shoes. &c. 1t is not the
intention OF merchants to pay to the ex-
cursionlst a rebate on his or her ticket
Except where such an arrangement be-
comes PERSONAL. on the other hand, 1t Is
the purpose of the association 10 get rates
sufficiently low from the railroad COM
panies to induce large numbers of people
to come to our city 70 do their trading"