The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-01-07
STOP OVERS KNOCKED OUT.
Board Of Trade Decides to Stop Cheap
Fares. A Blow at Communications
Ticket Abuse.

The Board of Trade last night declared
that energy, enterprise and business abili-
ty on tho part of local merchants would
do more to increase tho business of the
city than any other method.
~ NJ. Hopes brought up the matter
To him had been referred the subject, and
when he reported that d. G. Walsh: Dis
trict Ticket ngent of tho Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, had showed that i, per-
son living in Dover could buy an excursion
ticket to Wilmington, stop off In this city,
and buy an excursion ticket to Philadel-
phia for eight cents less than they could
by an excursion ticket from Doyor to
Philadelphia without stopping here, the
talk was then and there shown to be uss
less.
The committee alse reported that somess
thing should be done to stop the people OF
Wilmington from going to Philadelphia
to do their shopping. The merchants
should convince not only the people Of
Delaware, but OF Wilmington, that the
things people want can be- found in the
stores OF this city.
Tho members at the meeting said that
this was another hard blow, but iJ was the
truth, and then sevcral.reluted experiences
Of how they had tried to obtain things in
Wilmington, and the merchants said they
could not be obtained, but by jumping on
Il train aud going 10 Philadelphia The ar
ticles desired were found there. The mer-
chants Of Wilmington do not make enough
effort topleflse their patrons They could
get the goods, but do not take the trouble
to doit.
The committee in presenting its report
said that dynamite was needed under tho
merchants Of the city, to put some push,
life, enterprise and energy behind them,
and let them convince the people down
the state that goods can DO secured in Will
mington as cheap and us good as in Phila-
dtlphia. The committee suggested that
when tho spring trade opens tho ner-
chants join and give Wilmington Day,
run excursions from all parts Of the state.
with the understanding that the purcha-
sers Of q certain amount Of goods will
have their car ia o paid.
by this arrangement the down state
trade could be stopped in Wilmington, for
the people wculd purchase here rather
than pay Is cents more and go TO Phila-
lelphip. The committee was Of The opinion
that excursion rates could be obtained
from tho railroad company for such u day.
Such plans have been tried in OGher cities
and have been found to bs successful. BY
such excursions and more energy by the
merchants the people would bo convinced
that Wilmington has good stores, and
whatever Is needed can be found i'll them.
In connection with the question of stop
over privileges that Of tho abuse OF com
mutation tickets between vii lmington
and Philadelphia was brought up. The
members present deplorel the manner In
which certain persons have gone into the
brokerage business on these tickets, par
ticularly those issued by the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad. Many instances were
related Of how ho books were bought and
hired out The meeting was Of thu opin-
ion that the Pennsylvania railroad was
doing nil in its powe. TO stop the abuse Of
such ,ckots. but no one vouchod the opin-
ion that the b. & 0. railroad was making
any efforts 10 prevent the abu 20. ,-.y
After a long discussion it was decided
to have President Lawtou 10 appoint
committee Of three merchants to wait up
Oh the railroad officials and urge them to
take steps at onca to stop the brokerage Of
communication tickots. IL
President LaWt0n reported that tho
River and lIarbor Comm ttec of the board
was in active working order, and things
w,re getting i'll shape to briuS the matter
of impraving the Christia1a Riv&r be-
fore the present session of Congress. A
letter wai received from tho Indianapolis
Convention asking the board to yppolnt
five delegates to attend the conyenlln ln.a: to :,
De nefueN15unuury! : Tlusident E1
ton would like to receive the names
of any PERSONS desiring TO attend, anu
he will appoint them delegates.