The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-27

to be called by president huiliheh
Quarter on his return to the city. Mr..
Quarter is at present out Of the city
and as soon as he returns he will call
the meeting, at which time the mer-
chants will devise ways and means of
taking advantage of the low rates Of
fered in connection with the state fair,
to bring additional crowds to Wheeling
that week. September As. by offering
special sales in their stores.
The state fair association is the only
institution which can bring real
crowds to wheeling, fact partly due
to its ability to get the railroads to
give rock-bottom rates, and as fully
detailed in yesterdays Intelllgencer,
there is a scheme afoot to get the
merchants to throw out further in
ducements to the people of West Vir-
gInIa, eastern Ohio and western Penn
sylvanla, Last fall the fair brought
$4,000 visitors on the several railroads
touching the city. 1t is confidently pre-
dIcted that this number viii be doubled
this September, II the merchants unite
in proclalming special sales in their
stores during the week, for instead OF
only Hiram slmpklns coming, his wife,
his aunts and daughters and other fe-
male relatives will insist on accom-
panying him to the fair, so as to take
advantage of buying in the stores Of the
states metropolis goods they could not
secure in the stores at home, either as
to variety or cost.
Main street retailers had nothing but
good words for the idea. All promised
their support financially and otherwise.
Merchants week in cooperation with
the state fair, they said. would be
great thing for Wheeling. Not only
would it be an advertisement to the
town, but citizens would feel the bene-
fits Of the money left here, and while
undecided as to the proper initiative
for starting the ball a-rollIng. 1t was
thought best to call meeting OF the
chamber Of commerce, ut which def
mite plans could be adopted. The
wholesalers are likely to fall in line and
assist in the endeavor to have all roads
lead to Wheeling on fair week. With
dry goods, clothing, grocery, furniture,
jeweler, etc, men pulling together such
an array of buyers is destined to be
seen as will transform the city for the
time being into miniature New York.
Wheellng's Importance as a CONNER
cial center is not known like 1t should
be. 1t is surrounded by rich country
and prosperous Industrial and agricul-
tural communities on all sides, Its
nearest competitor is Pittsburgh. In
other directions it has clear field Of
one hundred and fifty miles, and sItu-
ated within reach OF the adjoining
states OF Ohio and Pennsylvania, be-
sides being the metropolis of its own
state, Wheeling does not possess the
magnetism for out of town customers
1t deserves. This is because the ele-
ment of asserting its claims TO recog-
milton is not sufficiently evidenced.
Merchants in other cities run period
ical excursions to attract out-of-town
trade, with signal success, and the OPP
portunlty to take advantage of the
low rates for the fair promises re-
turns to Wheeling stores, II they make
inducements for the occasion, for ex-
ira visitors will come in hosts to kill
two birds with one stone.
Mr.. F. C. schwertfeger, of George E.
stlfel & Co, said yesterday that the
merchants took too little interest in the
fair. 1.-THE fair association" he con-
tInued, as the only body that can bring
crowds to the city. The Elks couldn't
do 1t because they couldn't get the low
railroad rates the fair is favored with.
Personally, l am only too willing to
boom the merchants week scheme, for
think 1t will be good thing for the
merchants and the city. This fall l in
tend to make the effort to see II the
merchants will unite in constructing a
building on the fair grounds, to be used
exclusively for our displays, similar to
the one in Pittsburgh. We could put
up an attractive building for about
5000, containing gallery, fountain,
and band-stnnd within. and make 1t an
inviting spot for visitors where they
could rest and see the displays. The
cooperation OF the merchants could
make this success, and entertain
ments or a special fair OF our own
could be run at periods during the sum
mer, independent Of the state fair, the
proceeds from which to be applied to a
fund for the maintenance of the build
ing. However, it's too late in the year
to talk about that. The fair will be on
in about five weeks and we should
make the most OF 1t. I'm ready to as
sIst in furthering merchants week in
any way possible"
Mr. stIfel. the senior member Of the
firm, is out of the city and Mr.. schwert-
feger was unable to state whether this
store would give special sales but he
intlmated that such course might fol-
low.
Mr.. Shook, of George NJ Shook & Co.,
il on vacation. Mcssrs Rentsch and
Wllkic. Of the firm, endorsed the plan
enthusiastically. Mr.. Rentsch suggest
ed 12h per cent cut on all goods dur
Ing the fair. II agreeable to the other
stores. and said his firm stood ready to
contribute to fund toward advertising
the special sales nil along the railroads
entering Wheeling. It was proposed to
him that posters to this effect be stuck
nm nj Tho rnIIrnnd Rtntinna. md n be