The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-08
ACALA DAY FOR MERCHANTS.
The EXCursiOniStS Produce a Great Re-
YiVal in Trade.
HUNDREDS OF VISITORS III THE CITY.
The Broad-Street stores Thronged WIN
Purchasers-The Merchants Say the
Movement was Signal success-i'ail-
way Facilities Unequal TO Cr"wds'

the auspices of the Association lot 'h1
pevelopruent OF Trade. which was run
TO this city yesterday. was n conspicuous
success in every particular. 1t brought
io the city a much larger number OF
people than the most sanguine members
of the association had expected; 30 ala
a good deal towards showing the good
ueoule from the rural districts and the
small towns in several parts OF the state
just what the Richmond merchants OF
this city can offer I'm the way Of bargains.
10 was tie source of much enjoy ment to
hundreds who came 10 the city 10 see
the sights. 10 accomplished a great deai
hy way Of better advertising the city ln
various parts Of the State, IL helped 90
link together for mutual advantage the
retail merchants of Richmond, as well as
many other business men Of the city; 81
left something like $4,000 or $4,000 in
Richmond, and last. but not least it
stirred up among the merchants OF tre
city a great deal of enterprise and enc fF'
which was by no means lacking, Dut
which needed something 10 act as a
stimulus TO make itself felt In the busl-
ness circles Of the city.
ACCOMMODATIONS LIMITED.
IL was unfortunate that more extensive
accommodations were not provided IL
was known that a large number Of peo-
pie would come, but the railroad people,
as well as the merchants. were surprised
and were unprepared for the large crowds
that gathered at the stations TO gct
aboard. True, 10 was an experiment
but a most successful one. Everything
points 10 a much greater crowd next
time There Is no reason I'm the world
why the excursions cannot be repeated
every month or six weeks. SO say the
retail merchants. and so say many Of
those who Joined the excursionists.
This is but the beginning The great
results are 10 come hereafter The peo-
pie who came here yesterday were pleased
with their reception for il has been cor
dial wherever they went and they have
found the stores and the bargains just
as represented.
Moreover. the movement begun yester-
day is q movement TO popularize travel
Many people have come who have not
taken trip before FOR a long time Some
Of them never saw Richmond before
They were not willing 90 pay The regular
railroad fare but the reduced rates
caught thDm ana WIFI catch them again.
FROM CHARLOTTESVILLE.
Vhlo tine three OF four hundred people
who came from South Boston and along
the Southern road between that place and
Richmond were enjoying Themselves see
ing the sights and doing q lot of shopping
yesterday morning the delegations from
other parts of the state were rolling along
towards Richmond as fast as steam
could bring them. From Charlottesville
and along She main line of the Chesapeake
and Ohio came perhaps the largest crowd.
The train left Charlottesville with five
coaches. including combination pas
seneer and baggage-car, promptly at Z
o'clock.
When the train left Charlottesville
every seat contained at least two grown
persons. and some of them three. The
aisles were crowded, and the person who
had even enough standing room consider
cd himself fortunate.
At shadweI Keswick, Campbell. Cob
ham, and Lindsay good-sized crowds
boarded the train. They We're jammed
into the already crowded cars.
There were more than one hundred per-
sons al GOrlOnsNille waiting TO get
aboard Although two extra coaches
were added at this point, the jam on the
train seemed just as great. All along
down 20 Louisa crowds boarded the train.
AT Louisa some who intended - make
the trip did not DO so owing 10 the crowd
ed condition Of the train.
There were at least 900 on the train
when it reached Gordonsyiue.
When e. reached Richmond there were
not less ;han 600 people who got off at
the depot.
OF The eN-urs,o1lsts it must ba remark
ca that they took Che discomfort occa-
stoned by inadequate accommodations
good naWlodlv. Unfortunately some of
the men were not polite enough TO give
Up their seats TO ladies and a number Ot
the gontlcr sex stood almost an the waY.
Those who boarded the train al Char
l0ttesv,Ge we're able 10 get seats but
their sisters farther down the road were
not so fortunate.
When Richmond was reached a 1905
the depot platform WAS soon crowded.
u was not lO-e. however before the wise
itOrs scattered Olt in different directions.
an on either business or pleasure bent.
THE FARAlNILLE CONTINGENT.
The excursion from Farnyille was q
success Tar exceeding the expectation
not only of the railroad company but the
most sanguiue merchants and members
of the association
Tie number of people that came was so
large that an ine resources of the railroad
at hand were unable TO accommodate all
the people desir0us OF coming.
Two additional coaches were taken on
at Farmyllle. making seven passenger
coaches and one baggage-car when the
train drew out Of the station there At
least 400 people. it is estimated. came
from Farmville. among whom were
many students from Sidney
College and the Female Normal School
Probably twenty-five people were taken
on az the next STOP Rice, and fifty or
more az Burkeille. At Crewe two addi-
ti0nal coaches We're secured making n
train OF nine coaches and baggage-car.
which were at once filled with people
from Crowe and those who had been
standing from Farmvlle down.
The management endeavored in every
way 10 secure additional coaches but
were unable TO DO 50. and the train was
compelled 10 pass NottoWay and Black
stone. leaving several hundred people.
wearing sorrOwful faces. unable 20 be ac-
comm0dated.
10 IS estimated that the train from
Farmyille brought down COO people. only
one coach OF which was composed Of
colored people. BY far the majority OF
the excursionists were well-to-do farmers
and businessmen, and a very large num-
bcr OF ladies.
The train left Tarmville on time. but
owing to the large crowd of eXcursionists
and inability 10 secure coaches 10 was n
little late IN arriving an Richmond. the
train pulling into the depot here about
10:f5.
Farmyile people say that. though they
have seen a great many excursions go
from that city 10 different points. never
before has enc equalled this. both in point
Of number and character of the people