Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-02-24

HOW 1T WAS STIMULATED By THE
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.

NEnSIlflN . FNOOCSIfN wv.
Sales Increased by Many millions OF
Dollars since EOoa sL.I~ started.
Plan nnd scope of Nur;> and Nrth-
cd of Operation.
1t is impossible to estimate the IL
crease of New IOrk's business brought
about by the Merchants ASSOCIATION.
The organization was Incorporated in
June, 1897, and is @ru},i:i., III size.
scope and power every day 1t was
started to boom business, or, in the
words of its promoters, TO foster the
trade and commerce of New York" 1t
has succeeded admirably. Merchants
consider it was Il we'll advised move
mcnt and that much good has lrcn ac-
compliShcd. says j.. \. Haywood in
Printers Ink. They have made i'll
creased sales amounting to many NIL
lions of dollars in consequence Of the
movement and expect to do more and
more booming in every year of tie fu-
turc
After incorporates the prone "rS de
cidcd that the Lest way to foster the
trade and CommCrc" of New York WAS
to bring out Of town merchants; in close
contact with New IC"k merchants and
metropolitan markets. they saw clear
ly that by way of an iniucCmCnt for
out of town merchants to visit Man
haitian reduced railway fares Wo"id
have Il good effect. As soon as reduced
fares were granted by the Joint Traffic
and Trunk Lines associations the Mcr-
chants association sent 12J.GOO circu-
lars to merchants throughout the init
ed States announcing the reduction. re-
qucSting the merchant to name the
date when it would be convenient for
him to visit New York and requesting
him TO become Il class |, nonresident
member of the organization. These
members pay no dues. have no voting
power are not eligible to office and are
not placed on the lists unless they have
a rating.
The responses to the circulars We're
Immediate. Letters were received at
the rate of several hundred per day
More than 10000 applications were re-
ceivcd within two weeks The nonreS-
ident list now practically numbers all
business firms in the United States. of
which there are some 100000.
While the above circulars were being
mailed pamphlet was prepared set
ting forth New lork'S advantages as a
financial. commercial and manufacture
ing center. 1t was we'll got up, and
100000 copies were mailed to mcr-
chants throughout the country. y year
later lnO.OOO copies of 4 book costing
something like $4,000 were sent to ev-
cry man in America who was rated in
Dun'S or BradStrcet'S books. Some
5,00O,OOO pieces of literature have been
sent ont by the association.
1t is impossible to tell how many Wis
torS have been brought to New York
through the Inducements offered by the
Merchants association. Tens of thou
sands have registered at its rooms.
while many thousand merchants have
visited the city who have not register
ed. Il matter entirely optional with the
visitor. The hotels and boarding houses
are always crowded at the season
when the merchants cut rate tickets
are on sale, and everybody realizes
that business is humming. The volume
of business at these seasons is greater
than ever registered before. Merchants
and transportation companies have
made statements teStifying to the
great increase in their business brought
about directly by the efforts of the
Merchants association.
The Merchants association has come
to stay. 1t is taking up many other
questions designed to add to the pros
perity of Amcrica'S greatest city. 1t
now has some 1000 resident members,
who pay an annual membership fee of
SO each. The officers work without
direct remuneration, taking their pay
out of the general benefit that comes
to the city. The action of this body of
men has caused general hustling
among all boards Of trade and has
been productive of better results in the
general stimulation of commerce than
anything else that has ever been done
in the United States.