Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-19
MERCHANT CREW SAILS
DOWN THE NOBLE JAMES
Better Acquaintance Week Visitors
and Hosts Make Merry ON
Excursion.
CROWD OF 1000 TAKES "TRIP
Registration Of Buyers at Chambers
headquarters Show That About
900 Southern Merchants Are on
Local Market.

bringing to climax n round OF en-
| tcrta irmcnt given by the Trade Extcn
sion Bureau OF the Richmond Chamber
Oh commerce In honor of the visiting
merchant during Better AcQuain-
tancc Week. nearly 1000 people yes
tcrdaE went on an excursion trip down
the James River to City Point Five
hundred OF the passengers on board
were out-of-town merchants and bust
! ness men who had come TO Richmond
10 become better acquainted with each
other and the jobbers and manufnc-
turers of this city. More than 100 OF
the number were women
Inc weather was delightful In
peasant contrast To the intense. almost
stiiiin@ heat of the past week. the cool
precHeS mat swept down the river were
much Hike those of the early fall.
The steamer Smithdeld left the Old
dominion Wharf al o'clock, and until
she weighed anchor again six hours
later. there was one continuous round
OF merriment and good cheer While
hessnich's Municipal Band contcnt.d
itseit to sit on the upper deck and
ospense the popular airs OF the day
or the soft sweet melodies OF another
nme' POLK Miller's famous Old South
Quartet moved about among the thronr
SINGING the songs that have won them
rcnoWn the country over. Occasional
vaudeville stunts added variety.
VISITORS GET VIEW
OF HoPEWEI.L PLANT
me river traverses n section OF pc
cuhar historic interest and one rich
IN scenic beauty. and, TO those who
mad never before taken the trim Il
Will be memorable occasion on
every hand are places where were en-
acted scenes that have gone into the
history OF great country, and every
nook and corner of it is rich in tradi-
! lon. AZ City Point. the crowd on deck
caught glimpse OF the tall smoke
! stacks That rise above Hopewcll. tho
powder plant town OF Prince George.
supper was served At o'clock, and
night drinks of every description were
available at all times Tongue and
nam sandwiches were handed around
on call.
Everywhere in Richmond yesterday
along the streets. in the shops and in
the wholesale houses. about the hotel
lohbics and in all places that men con-
SreEate-blue badges, denotiuE their
"earcrs as visiting merchants who
have come TO Richmond for the third
annual Better Acquaintance Week"
were in evidence.
CLERKS AT HEADQUARTERS
SPEND BUSY DAY
The auditorium OF the Chamber OF
Commerce Building. where the Trade
Extension Bureau maintains it's head
/ quarters. and where TWO clerks are
! kept to register the visitors and ISSUE,
! badges and credentials. was about tho
/ busiest place in the city Every train
that ran into Richmond from that see
ton naturally tributary to this market
comprising Virginia and North and
/ South Carolina broush, additional huy
crS.
/ This will ne by all odds the most
successful Better Acquaintance Week"
/ u at Richmond has known since the
/ Inauguration OF the event The at
tendance Viii be 80 per cent larger
than i, has ever been before. Bumper
crops and the bright business outlook
/ I'll over the country conspire 10 make
/ the merchants optimistic about the fu-
/ 'nrc. and they are placing an unpra.
cedented amount TO fall orders.
/ When the registration books were
| closed yesterday about 500 merchants
/ had received their credentials 1t was
/ thought that many more were in IN.
city who had not registered
/ ATTENDANCE WILL. REACH
HIGH MARK TODAY
| To-day - expected to be the big day
! OF the week. II is thought that tho
attendance VIII reach its greatest pro-
/ L"r':ons, and that the trading viii
reach high tide. Many OF the mer-
Grants who have been taking their
ttca tons VIII drop in on their way
back home. = majority always wait
until the week gets in full swing be-
fore they make the trip.
/ The roof-garden entertainment to-
/ light at the Richmond Hotel will be
/ INC of the big attractions OF the week;
/ IL VIII be get-torethcr affair, where,
/ with music, refreshments and n cabaret
! performance. good fellowship will be
/ at high tide. Merchandise prizes and
I souvenirs will also nc distributed
/ Tomorrow and Saturday the visitors
VIII form theater parties and be
guests at number Of entertainments
given by the individual firms OF the
/ city.