Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-08
LARGE MEMBERSHIP IN VIEW
Local Business Men Taking Deep In
terest in Movement.
INTERESTS TO BE SUBSCRIBED
Lower Freight Rates to the South to
Be Asked For-Plans
Outlined.

Everything is moving along in good shape
for the formation of the shippers associa-
ton next Thursday. Applications for men,
bership in the new organization are coming
in constantly. and it is probable that when
the meeting is called to order there will be
at least a hundred applications on file.
1t has been surprise to the gentlemen
connected with the joint committee to find
how readily the idea has taken In Wash
ington, and what hearty support has been
given to it from every quarter.
What the joint committee wants is simply
a combination of the shipping houses of
the city who do an outside business who
will be able to get from the railroads the
facilities that Washington has long been
denied-of getting goods out Of the city to
southern and surrounding points on at
least as good terms other big jobblng
centerS to the north
City Handicapped.
1t has been pointed out that there are
several handicaps under which the city has
labored for years There is an actual diff
ferential against Washington. it is said,
that prevents wholesalers from shipping as
cheaply from the capital as from Baltimore,
Philadelphia and Alexandria.
When there are shipments made in spite
roads procrastinate much they dare,
and the result Is that while Baltimore is
further away than Washington from every
southern consuming center, goods can be
shipped from there and reach their des-
tfnation anywhere from a-day to week
ahead of shipments from the local houses.
Now many of the out-of-town merchants
want to come to their supply town once or
twice year and do their buying for them
selves. Most of them from the outside
-nt,IH rath RI "a in OF
go elsewhere. But, according to information
of the local merchants, they find that IL
they attempt to do their buying here they
are not only Handicapped by the freight
rates and the time of transmission after
the goods are bought but they have not the
necessary line of houses to choose from.
and that even If they make part of their
purchases here they have to go elsewhere
to complete them.
Hope to Effect Change.
1t is thought that the shippers associa-
ton will be able to change this to very
large extent. One of the first things to be
done will be for the association to get the
railroads to make as good rates from
Washington to, outside points, especially to
points south. as are made from any other
city, distance. of course, being considered.
Then there will be the question of delay to
be fought. The railroads say I'VE cannot
give you the shipping facilities to get your
goods off in a hurry, because there is not
enough business TO Warrant it,
There is not business enough to warrant
1t because there are not facilities for doing
the business.
1t Is believed that the railroads can be
induced to provide the facilities for d time
at any rate, and then 1t viii be a queer
thing if the merchants of Washington can
not get the business
Negotiations have already been opened
with some of the big out-of-town factories
to locate jobbing houses here. There is ur-
gent need of more wholesale houses in
Washington, 1t is commended, in the line of
hats, shoes, clothing and general furnish
ings When some of these are induced to To-
cate here a merchant from the outskirts
can come into Washington and can do all of
his buying without going further.
With the facilities and the wholesale
houses, 1t is a certainty that Washington
will be able to put enough travelling men
in the south to advertise the city and get
the current of orders flowing here so that
there will be little more even distribution
between this city and Philadelphia and Bal
timore than has been heretofore.
Merchants Week Proposed
1t is also intended to have a merchants
week in Washington at some future time
and make the purchasers out of town
quainted with the possibilities of Washing
ton as buying and shipping center.
The members of the joint committee have
already written to the shippers associations
of several of the larger cities for their
rules and bylaws. so that when the meet
ing is called next Thursday there will be
something to go on and the organization
will be able to shape itself along tried
lines, and even If it is little late in their
field will be able to profit by the mistakes
and experiences of its neighbors