Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-19


The Programme and Entertainment
Committee for Merchants Day got
down to work again yesterday, and this
morning will submit a very compre-
hensive and interesting report to the
Executive Committee, which meets at
10 o'clock.
During the day members of the COM
mittee interview caterers, wine mer-
chants, dealers in cigars, makers of ice
cream. bakers Of cakes, railroad and
steamboat people, the directors Of
Wheeling Park, Of the Wheeling & Elm
Grove Railroad Company and of the
Wheeling Railway Company, CORE
sponded with theatrical people by tele-
graph, and sent a member of the COM
mittee TO New York engaged a band
and. interviewed sundry others, and
wound up the day with a business
meeting last evening at the Chamber
of Commerce., where representatives
Of those interviewed during the day
were present. AS a result the pro-
gramme, which involves a wealth of de-
tail, is well in hand, and everything is
working smoothly, with the certainty
that by Monday at the outside all de-
tails will have been arranged and the
rest will be plain sailing. During the
Gay the committee had its disappoint-
ments and its pleasant surprises. At
the outset ii was disappointed in re-
ceiving intelligence from Cincinnati
that 1t was an utter impossibility to pro-
cure either the Boston Lyric or the
Mackay Opera Companies, now playing
in that city, as both companies are IN
der contract for a time certain. The
committee met early, heard this report,
and promptly determined 10 send Mr..
B. K. McMtchen to New York. with
cast iron instructions to bring back a
competent company at all risks. Mr..
McMechen got away for the metropolis
at $3.50 over the Pennsylvania road.
and will report to his chairman by tele-
phone at S o'clock tonight.
a surprise came in the shape Of
the unsolicited intelligence from the
Wheeling and Elm Grove Railway
Company that there would be no
charge on the line Of that company,
on the 25th inst, for the business men
OF the city and their invited guests,
properly equipped with merchants day
badges This made the programme
committee happy and little later this
feeling was augmented when word
was received from the Wheeling Park
Association that there would be no
charge for the use of the park or
casino to the merchants and guests on
the same day. Both these substantial
contributions were rendered voluntari-
ly, for the good Of the movement, and
were cOrrespondingly appreciated.
Later in the day the Wheeling Railway
Company sent word that it would ten
der the free use Of its cars to those
Ipy, the 25th inst, and also on the
following day. The offer was most
gratefully accepted.
Ate last 9eyePtiBngse session of the as COM q
the menu for the dinner at the Park
on Wednesday evening, with detailed
provisions for all the accessories, and
arrangements were made for midday
luncheon for the visitors, either on the
boat or at the headquarters Of the ex-
o,utive committee, No. 1901 Main
street. AS to the steamboat trip. Mr..
CrOCkdrQ stated ludJ every OuLuS uC-
pended upon the stage Of water in
the river. and he was given till Mon
day to locate his boats and figure on
the probable condition Of the river
next Wednesday, Mr.. T. c. Burke was
unable to report as to the railroad
train for the local excursion last even
ing. but will probably be ready to-
day. The menu for the dinner at the
Park. before the theatrical perform
ance. has been reduced to writing and
the cost figured per plate, and the fig
ures have been recommended to the
Executive Committee for approval
this morning at ten o'clock.
Many details, not Of public interest,
have been attended to, among them
the printing Of badges and official pro-
crammes. menu cards, provision for
committee of ladies to see that the
tables at the Park look just right,
flowers for the tables, brass and string
music for the day, etc.
Responses to invitations are coming
in at lively rate, and every indica-
ton is for a large representation OF
those invited.
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