The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-02
Business.

founders and promoters. 1t Is only a few
months since the idea of It was conceived;
but within that time 1t has rendered most
valuable service to the business interests
Of tho city. 1t has been the means of bring
ing here, for mercantile purposes, thou
sands of merchants from most of the States,
men who, but for the influence of the asso-
citation. would very surely have made their
purchases at other places.
The association is deserving OF the sue
cess which it has gained. 1t sought for a
definite object in n practicable manner it
was organized by men of business expert
ence and enterprise it adopted an excel
lent method for the conduct of its opera
tions; it secured the funds that wero
needed for liberal expenditures, and it
quickly gained the approval and support of
the shrewder members of the mercantile
community, the leaders in nearly all lines
Of trade and traffic. With but n short roll
of names as recently as the month of July,
it already count its city members by the
thousand and its nonresident member by
the ten thousand.
The objects of the Merchants AssocIa-
ton of New York, as set forth in its ar
ticles of Incorporation, are to foster the
city's trade and commerce, to promote
the interests of those engaged therein, to
reform abuses relative thereto, to diffuse
accurate business information, to secure
uniformity In commercial customs, to pro.
vide for more satisfactory intercourse be.
tween business men, and to do such other
things as may be lawful, in the favor of the
mercantile community.
The first duty undertaken after the es.
tablishment of headquarters for the asso-
citation was that Of entering into ON
munication with merchants and traders
all over the country. Circulars of ap-
prisal were sent to tens Of thou.
sands Of business men whose names had
been procured, containing information as
to the founding. the character, and the
purposes of the association, describing the
services 1t would seek to render them, and
cordially inviting them to become mem.
beers, without any dues, any expenses, or
any responsibilities. 1t soon became
manifest, through the piles Of let
tiers received daily at the %hcadquar-
tiers, that there was a strong and wide
spread interest in the association, n that
1t had begun its duties in the right way.
In a short time another and an enlarged
circular followed the first one. 1t contained
information as to the unparalleled ad-
vantages that were offered by New
York to the country's merchants and
traders, told Of the vast superiority Of his
city as n market for purchasers. gave
figures relative to the city's prodigious
productive industries, invited them to par
take Of the privileges of the associa-
tion's headquarters, and referred to the
pleasures of a weeks visit to the Ameri.
can commercial metropolis. Everything
went well. Hundreds of our business men
made haste to inscribe their names upon
the books of the association and thousands
Of out-of-town busincs men made applica-
tion for cards Of nonresident member.
ship. The desirable results Of a good
purpose, good plans. good management,
good ways and means, and good opportuni.
ties for procuring the best staples and
novelties Of all kinds on the most favorable
terms became visible within q few weeks
after the Merchants Association had been
formed.
The next undertaking was one Of a very
serious character; it was that of securing
reduced rates Of railroad travel for out-of-
town merchants coming to New York
In August and September for the fall
trade. A number OF obstacles were
encountered, and, in some cases, strong
opposition was presented. Negotiations
with the managers of the various
railroad companies, corporations, or com.
binations were entered into. The first
success was gained within a week after
nn,,,nuuinra had Inn, rt,n t
OF Managers of theJoint Traffic Association
OF the railroad trunk lines adopted
a reduced schedule of fares for out.of.town
merchants dealing here during a restricted
period of time. Then came the negotia.
tions with the Western Passenger and
Traffic Association, which ended with better
promise than some Western cities desired.
There have been negotiations with vet
other railroads, the latest of which to
end successfully Is that with the South.
eastern Passenger Association. This part
of the business of the New York ~institu.
tion lasted for weeks. and was trouble.
some; but the results Of 1t nave been very
largely favorable.
The new business brought to the city
since the beginning of August, through the
Oioit VI Ia <hoopSAubtOht LUIS
been very large. Many thousands of out
of.town merchants, who would very Ger.
tainly have followed their habit of recent
years and gone elsewhere for their autumn
supplies, have been drawn to New York,
and our news columns have contained
much interesting information upon this
subject. Their purchases have run far up
into the millions, which must be counted
by tens. The influence of their coming has
been felt In all branches Of trade. 1t
has stimulated the city's manufactur
Ing industries. The buyer not less
than the seller has prohted by 1t.
The fall business Is much brlsker than
it has been for years past. New York has
regained lots of the customers who had been
lost to 1t for too long a period through the
negligence of the commercial community.
The Merchants Association Of New York