The age-herald., 1900-08-19
SOUTHERN BUYERS
 IN THE WINDY CITY

From the Chicago Tribune.
 Several thousand merchants and profess sional men from eight Southern States ar rived in Chicago yesterday to spend a week or more. The merchants come to buy goods to supply the increasing demand for better merchandise in the South, to re- new acquaintances made during other an- nual excursions or to see Chicago for the first time. Many of the excursionists are here solely on pleasure bent. They will fn- clude the lake summer resorts in their itinerary
 Louisiana and Mississippi sent the larg- est contingents, and the States of Ala l bama Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Ten nessee and Georgia are also represented. Two thousand excursionists came in over the Illinois Central Road. A thousand more are expected over the same road to- day The total number of those who are taking advantage of the special rates is about 5000.
 In the five sections which came via the Illinois Central there were fifty-eight pas senger cars. Thirty-ffve of these were Pullman sleepers. The Louisville and Nashville, Queen and Crescent, and Mo bile and Ohio roads made special rates, and passengers from those roads were brought here on the Eastern Illinois line. The last train of the day arrived at o'clock This is the fourth year of these midsum- mer excursions. Their popularity is evil dent from the fact that twice as many ek- cursonists came to town yesterday as on any of the previous excursions from the same section.
 hui hest pOOdS will do TOT the South now, say the business men. They came to Chicago because the oppor- tunites for selection are greater than in any city except New York. Many who foremrly went to Gotham came here this year, as they have discovered that New York has nothing in the line of merchan- disc that cannot be obtained in Chicago at less expense for transportation. Those who have been here before well sat sfied with the treatment accorded them by local wholesale dealers that they an- nounce their intention to continue to pat ronize the Chicago market.
 There Is no programme for the entertain ment of the visitors in body. The whole sale merchants, however, are prepared to devote most of their time this week to their Southern customers, show them the best wares in the world, extend the court esies of their establishments and enter tain them as individuals.
 Never before has the Southern business man appeared so prosperous. He wears the latest style of dress cut from the finest fabrics, and gives the Northerner to un- derstand that he wants no other kind for himself or his customers. He is informed on the market price of everything. He seeks the newest in design and workman ship, and his methods and foresight are as keen as that of the New Englander ever was
 "Yes, the south is prosperous" said AL bert Kraemer of New Orleans at the Palm CT House. Mir Kraemer is a State Repre- sentative During the last three years the volume of business has increased at a tre- mendous rate, and the spirit of industry has seized hold of the land as never be- fore"
 J.H. Johnson of Natchez, Miss, says there are twice as many merchants from that State in Chicago this week as ever before. "We want Chicago goods because, when there is no discrimination against us in freight rates, can get them cheaper here than anywhere else,' he said. Then we prefer coming here because the wholesale dealers seem to appreciate our trade more than do those of New York, who seem to think there is no wholesale mart any where outside of that city, and that we have to come to them.'
 Merchants from Galveston, Mobile At lanta, Memphis, Little Rock, and Birming- ham are among those here this week.
 On Tuesday the Illinois Central will run excursions for the benefit of business men in southern Illinois.