The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-21
MERCHANTS Up AND DOING.
THEIR PLUCKY FI0BT TO BRING
TRADE To NEW FORK.


Reduced Rates Tor Ruysrn have nesn Already
secured or Many Railrona ana Steamboat
Lines-LocaI Business men Appealed To TO
support the Associations In Etc EnOrts.
The Merchants Association Of this city, which
did so much last year to bring back to New
York trade that had gradually drifted to In
terror cities. has decided to enter upon another
active campaign. Last year the association
tackled tho railroads. and until thoy 30 reduced
their rates that 1t was practicable for every
merchant In tho country to como to New York.
no peace was given to them. Tho result
OF this effort was a bigger spring trade for
New York than II had enjoyed In n long
timo. This year again tho Merchants AsSocia-
ton has secured reduced rates for It's mon,bor
who desire to make New York their purchasing
place. Not only the railroads but the steam
boat lines, too. have fallen into line again, and
announced their willingness to help along tho
good work. This places almost every part Of
the country in tou h with New York, and tho
association is confident OF doing as much for
the merchants OF New York this spring and
fall as 1t did last year.
Just at present tho directors Of the associa-
ton are waiting to hear from the Western Pas
sengSr Association, and q great deal depends
upon what news comes from that combination
of railroads during the next few days. Last
year this association declined to grant conces-
sions. 1t stood out almost alone, and, although
every effort was made to bring to New York
the trade in the territory its railroads carried.
it was impossible to accomplish anything on &C.
count of the obstinacy Of the passenger asseciA-
ton.
Merchants starred in on the Western Pagssn.
gers Association early this spring. They didn't
west of 81. Louis. clear out to the Pacific coast,
get away from them II they could help 1t. To
a Cordial greeting from these WesterH rail-.
road mon and positive assurance that con.
Association. This meeting took place on june
Is, but as yet NO word Of the decision arrived at
in the matter Of reduced rates has been received.
To-day the Southwestern Passenger Associa-
ton win hold its annual meeting. The railroads
included In its territory are those southwest Of
st. Louis 10 the coast. Last year q number of the
individual roads In this association granted the
combination. It will DO Impossible to obtain any
CONCESSIONS not indorsed by. tho combination
have representatives at to-dRy's meeting, and
It is hoped that they will succeed in inducing
the, southwestern Association to follow the
lead OF the other pig passenger associations ana
II the Merchants Association succeeds in
winning both of those fights, n fall trade of I'M
Precodented proportions, Is, predicted for New
York. A new field will be thrown open and
their homes. on account Of the high railroad
fares, will be ablo to como through to New York
and do their shopping here.
In the meantime, however, tho merchants OF
the association as enthusiastically as the direc-
tors think they should. The result Is that the
association is spending much more money than
1t is taking in. The deficit is regularly made
t]entlon Of keeping tho association going until
1899. II they have to pay Al Al OF the expenses s
t ,he nssoCfa;;,o mere 1e,e war was a b wi'G dn rgSn 70 tb sS T;n ahep
some of the merchants lot their interest die out.
What the association wants. to do now 10
going at it hammer and tongs. There
are 1900 merehSnts in New York. but
show 1000 resident members: From these
1900 an annual income of $4,000 is derived,
$500. ' Tho Sfns e%s do Ss'D Hot regard dG It as spe en-:
tirely fair that they should have to stand all
the the expense * en- @oT They give th1lI time %,t 1nd st Item.
out Of their own pockets. But they think that i
city t to- Join in' the Set association. With ali Of the
10000 merchants in New York on the member
ISOLATION could easily accomplish all it proposes
to undertake..
Money, g needed to conduct the fall cam,
just where 1t Is coming from. unless tho direct
fTs pSt 1t Of pp Go rs a %y't spS 1n %1sn sse w sSs5o +
an organization conducted on the Same lines al
the Merchants Association. found itself unable
Of a lack of funds, Mayor Quincy of that city
came forward with a proposition that the mu
h htiIpI along a work WHICH was pfound to BE- O
such benefit to tho city. The Merchants Assoc
citation hasn't considered the adyisabllity o.
consulting Mayor Van .Wyck on this point, bul
who are prohtinR by their labors, but are keep
ing out of the association. Tho directors say
that If the association is obliged to give up tn;
struggle for existence after Jan. l next It will
be many a day before another effort will b
made to keep New York's trade from drifting Il
other markets. Tho Merchants Association
will be missed when II, Is gone, they say, ant
there will be no one to blame but the merchant
who refused 1t their support.