The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1896-01-30
THE ELECTRIC ROAD.
Will it Take Kenosha shoppers to the
Cities for Their Goods?

Cities Tor Their Goods?
The proposition in regard to the cleo
trio road is met with widely different
reception in different places and by
men whose business interests are widely
divergent There are some who fear
that the facilities thus afforded them
will induce women to do most Of their
shopping in Chicago and Milwaukee.
Now, as q matter Of fact, the electric
road, while it will be a convenience to
those who must make the trips fire.
quently, as we'll as those who go less
frequently, will not really bring those
cities so near us that it will be matter
of only few moments to run up to
Milwaukee or down to Chicago, to the
busy housewife whose cares are many
and whose purse is not lnexhaustible
in it's resources. 1t is true, many Wom-
en- in Kenosha go to the cities now to
do their shopping, and it is for none of
us to dictate to them where they shall
make their purchases. However, we
do not believe that we shall be regard
ed as taking an unWarrantable liberty
| if we discuss the question. We be-
lieVe that our merchants and our stores
here are needed; if they are necessary
adjuncts to our city, then it behooves
us to have a certain amount Of patriot
ism in patronizing them. No merchant
can keep up first class store if those
who ought to be his patrons take their
patronage elsewhere and come to him
only when the within seizes them, eX-
pecting that he will keep on hand a
| full line of the goods they are in the
habit of seeking outside of the city.
The merchants here will keep just as
full lines and just as large stocks as the
patronage Of the city demands. They
regard it no trouble to buy stock if they
can find market for their stock. The
women who now do their shopping in
the cities will continue so to do, but the
majority of women in our city have
neither the time nor the money to go to
the cities for their trading. 1t is to
their OWL interest to trade here rather
than to go to the city and trade with
strangers who care nothing for them
and their interests. Without a doubt
they occasionally "strike bargain, /"
but the number of times they get shod-
dy goods palmed off on them, in the
course of year or two Of continuous
bargain hunting in the great depart
ment stores of the cities, will show
them that after all their bargain has
cost them dear. The customers who
trade here with local merchants are
known to them, and it is no eXaggera
ton to say that these merchants really
do look out for the interest Of their GUS
toners, they study to please them, and
when the customer has any fault to find
or wants any article changed, she knows
right where to go and receive courteous
treatment and many an accommodation
that the city stores would never grant.
It is the interest of the women OF Ke-
nosha to trade at home. 1t is a way
by which they can show their patriot
ism and devotion to home institutions,
and at the same time get the best re-
suits for the money expended.
Although the electric cars may travel
at high rate of speed, yet there will
be the waits at stopping places; the
traveller must take the time and trouble
to reach the cars just as she now does
the steam cars, and though the dis
lance NAV be shortened by the electric
road, time and expense will still cut
enough figure to prevent an exodus of
shoppers to the city.