Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-30
REFUND PLAN RESULTS
Tangible Effect of Star Com
pany's Proposition.
WORD FROM LOCAL COMPANY
Visit of Strasburg, Va, Merchant to
Washington.
NEED OF WHOLESALE HOUSES
City Could Sell All Lines of Goods
Similar Occurrences Related.
by Others.
WORD FROM LOCAL COMPANY
NEED OF WHOLESALE HOUSES

SOHnpduy. In ADDITION TO bringing mer-
chants to Washington from the surround
Ing country. 1t has brought into public no.
tice what is termed "a crying necessity
in connection with the Greater Washington
movement. This necessity IL the estab-
lishment of a greater variety of wholesale
jobbing houses In the District. The need
of such esta Adjustments Is illustrated rather
forcibly by communication which was re-
ceived by The Star today from Mr.. Charles
w. Semmes of the Semmes-Kely Company
Of this city. 1t refers particularly to the
lack of wholesale business houses here In
certain lines OF trade. This matter has
been brought to the attention of the Job
bers and Shippers Association several
times since the beginning OF the present
commercial activity here. but as yet. 1t ap-
pears, no definite plan has been decided
upon to remedy the deplorable situation.
Text Of the Communication.
Mr.. semmes' communication follows
The Evening Star. Washington. D. C.
Gentlemen: Through the efforts OF The
Star we were favored with visit this
morning from Mr.. A. Kibler OF Strasburg.
Va, who paid his first business visit to
Washington. Mr.. KILLER took advantage
of the opportunity you offered in refunding
his fare. provided he made certain pur-
chaSeS from the Washington merchants
He placed an order for groceries with
us. one for tobacco with the washington
Tobacco Company, and would have pur-
chased his entire line of goods, which VIII
probably amount to a thousand dollars, had
the city been in a position to furnish them.
He was rather disappointed to find that he
could not complete his order here but as
his list included boots and shoes, clothing
and several lines of merchandise not ham
died by local merchants, 1t was nee ssary
for him to go to Baltimore to complete the
same.
1--WE simply give you this information to
illustrate the necessity for the merchants
of Washington making every effort to Sc
cure jobbers and manufacturers In other
lines to meet the requirements Of the trade
we are attempting to attract to Washing
ton"
The Strasburg merchant also bought a
bill of goods from the Guy. Curran Com
pany. and then left for Baltimore to buy
stock of boots and shoes and other things
that he could not procure here.
Mr.. Guys Views.
Mr. Guy. In speaking on this matter to a
Star reporter this afternoon, said one Of
the greatest needs of the new commercial
Washington is a wholesale boot and shoe
establishment.
1--WE have commenced to add dry goods
to our wholesale house." he added. and
will be able to look out for that part of tho.
program hereafter. But it would be good
business policy to to 1t that largo
wholesale boot and shoe house is establish
ed here at the earliest possible moment"
Mr.. Guy recalled an incident of recent oc-
currence at his place of business, showing
the necessity for additional wholesale
houses in the District. He said a country
merchant. after leaving large order with
his house for a bill of notions. remarked
that he would have to purchase several
hundred dollars worth of boots and Shoes
and asked IL there was a wholesale estab-
lishment in Washington from which he
ppu6 the desired articles Reiug
informed that there was not such place
here, the country dealer said he was sorry,
as he would like to have purchased his
entire seasons supply in this city. He
spent the several hundreds of dollars with
a Baltimore firm.
Many similar occurrences have taken
place here recently. all illustrative of the
point made by Mr.. Semmes In his letter to
The Star. That some action along the lines
indicated will be taken by the Jobbers and
Shippers Association, and tending toward
an increase in the number and variety OF
wholesale houses in the District, is be-
lieved by several prominent business men
with whom Star reporter talked over the
matter today.
First Practical Step.
Mr. Charles J. Bell, president of the job
bers and Shippers Association. today took
the first practical step toward carrying into
effect the purposes Of the resolutions adopt.
ed at the meeting of the general association
last Friday evening In regard to a board OF
retail merchants by appointing as members
of such board the following representative
business men: Messrs. 8. Kann of s. kann, .
Sons & Co.; W. P. Van Wickle, vice pres
Ident of the F. G. Smith Piano Company:
E. C. Graham of the National Electrical
Supply Company and P. 1. Donnelly OF the
Washington Dairy Company.
The announcement was also made that
the fifth member of the board. who will
be its chairman, will be named by President
Bel tomorrow.
new board will be to make arrangements
for big excursion to the city from Viz
ginia West Virginia, Maryland and south
ern Pennsylvania the week that Congress
opens 1t Is likely that excursion trains
will be run over all the railroads leading
into Washington. The tickets, according TO
the present plans, will be good for five or
six days.
Special arrangements will be made to en-
terrain the visitors while here, and an effort
will be put forth to have them feel at home.
Stars Coupon Offer.
In this connection the coupon offer or
The Star is being generally commended oy
business men. 1t is their expectation that
when the offer reaches all those VINO IL IL
Intended to reach there will be general
influx Of nearby merchants and many from
the south into this city.
ssThe Stars offer is as liberal as 1t Is en-
terprising" said a progressive washing
tonian today, land Is bound to bring ex-
cellent results In the commercial upbuilding
of the city"
The Stars offer is as follows:
1.-THE Evening Star Newspaper Company
will refund the fare to persons living with.<
in a radius of fifty miles from Washington
upon the purchase of $50 Of merchandise
from any advertiser on the page on when
the coupon appears or from all combined
persons living at a greater distance than
ffty miles may have their fares rebated
'2To illustrate: II you live seventy miles
away The Star refunds you fifty miles OF ~
leaving the cost OF only twenty miles 70
you.
The coupon or The Stars refund caro-
which every merchant advertising on tne
coupon page will give you for the ae--hg,
is good for the amount OF your fare WITHIN
a radius Of fifty miles on $50 purchase,
miles on $23 purchase, ten
miles on a so purchase, or I'VE miles or
ia rther on a s. purchase, or f1ve miles or
trtp fare does not exceed &c. (for instance.
Alexandria is six miles away, the fare 10
25c) on a purchase OF % or more your
fare will be refunded.
Purchase of 800 worth OF real estate,