The sun., 1898-01-04
McELWEE Is PROGRESSIVE.
He Makes u StOp-Over Privilege of His
Own and Pays the Price. Col. A.
l.. Ajnst.Ow Also AdODts II.

l.. Ainscow Also Adopts II.
William McEIwee the furniture dealer
is progressive wide awake business
man.
Too keen to let the necessity for spend
ing a dollar stand in the way of his bus
iEc.s interest, he has f'r long time
had his eye upon the trade OF the lower
counties which for many reasons is one
of the most important considerations to
Wilmington merchant.
For years this trade has been carried
to Philadelphia while the merchants Of
this city sat by with hands folded and
bcmoancd the fact. Then the Board OF
Trade took the matter up and called upon
the merchants to co operate with them
in an effort to remedy this state of affairs.
This the merchants failed to do and
the effort failed. Still no effort on the
part Of the merchants to help themselves
Meanwhile the trade of Wilmington
suffered and there was no help in sight.
Then the Board OF Trade solved the
problem in theory.
The Pennsylvania Railroad runs its
Delaware division in peculiar fashion:
Though Wilmington stands at the head
OF its lines down the peninsula the rail
road could not be indnced to grant what
is known as stop-over privilege.
For instance ii woman llvlng IN
Harrington wished to 60 to Philadelphia
and on her way up to stop IN winning
ton. she could not buy return TRIP 10
Philadelphia and on that ticket stop over
even for a train in this city without
forfeiting that portion Of transportation
between this city and Philadelphia. 10
avoid losing this amount 1t thus became
necessary to purchase a 'ound trip
ticket to this city and from here to pay
the regular round trip fare to Ihl'adel-
phia.
This cntailed quite a little extra eX'
pcnsc and in the majority Of cases the
person who would otherwise have stop
ped here rather than incur the extra
expense foregoes the visit here ana
makes the purchases that would other
" ise have been made here, in Phlladtl-
pha. j.,
Mr.. McEIwcc, after waiting for the
Board of Trades committee to make
their report, and seeing the way IN
which they were hindercd in their work
by the tardiness Of the railroad company,
concluded to take matters into his own
hands
The hole problem is one OF dollars
and cents. II this objection is overcome
the trade will come here as readily as it
now goes to Philadelphia.
William McElwcr' IS offer Is this:
To all persons living below Middle
town he will pay the difference in rail
road fare upon the purchase Of any ar,
t'clc in his stock. no matter what the
amount OF the purchase. The purchasers
has but to show their tickets to secure
the prompt payment Of the extra ex-
pcnsr incurred by stopping here.
Mr.. McElwcc deserves Il great deal OF
credit for his public spirited proposition:
Not only will he profit by the influx of
down the State trade, but once here the
people will most assurcdly purchase
other goods from other dealers. In this
way Mr.. McElwee's enterprise and sound
business sense is direct benefit to the
commercial interests OF the whole city.
He realized that now was the time
and that II positive action was inpcra-
tive ul.,, lie took it without the least
hesitation.
He was the first. Recruits are begin
ming to fall in.
The man who has come to the front to
second hi. public spirited offer Is Coz. \.
T. AinScnw. who will hereafter give Il
discount OF 20 per cent. to all patrons "l
his restaurant who come from below
MddIrtpNn, on this home made stop
over privilege.
CnI. Ainscrw is never caught asleep
when ANYTHING Of h"nrtit to the city oi
is in question.
William McElwrc and Col. \. l.. Ain
scow have amply demonstrated heir on,
dorSc'ncnt o! the st"p-ovcr privilege and
have done it in the most practical way
by giving up the hard cash to benefit The
interests Of the city II; large.
1t is expected that other merchants
will realize the importance OF the move
and fall in line.