Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-17
MERCHANT ARMY TAKES
POSSESSION OF RICHMOND
First Days Registration Is so Per
Cent Larger Than last
Year.
BUYING ALREADY UNDER WAY
North Carolina Man, Visiting Local
Market for First Time, Places
Orders Totaling S1O,OOO-Entcr-
tatnment at Business Mems Climb.

hand of welcome to the advance guard
| or the army OF merchants and business
men who, under the auspices Of the
'r"oe extension bureau of the Cham
Der or Commerce. come yearly TO renew
old ties and form new ones with each
other and the jobbcrs and manufac-
'urers OF the market gateway TO the
South"
Every train that threads its way
through that vast territory falling nat
urallE within the zone of Richmond.s
business operations brought its quota
OF merchants into the city. some coming
as strangers seeking alliance with the
trading center whose fame has gone
! aoroad, others coming TO make still
stronger the business relations that
nave proved so satisfactory in the past.
INCOMING TRAINS ARE
MET by COMMITTEES
All trains that came in during tho
day were met by the committee an
pointed FOR that purpose. who escorted
i the visitors to the headquarters Of the
bureau maintained III the auditorium OF
the Chamber OF Commerce building
fere TWO clerks were busy all day
registering the merchants and issuing
badges and credentials which will ad-
init them TO all business and social
functions.
While It is too early yet 20 predict
the number of merchants who Will be
in Richmond for Better Acquaintance
Week" every indication points to the
I largest attendance and The greatest
volume of trading that the city has
known since the event was innuCurated
by the trade extension bureau OF TO
Chamber OF Commerce three years ago.
, flftE per cent more came yesterday
than have ever come on the first dav.
and more optimism prevailed among
the buyers than has been the case for
years
The unprecedented crop yields back
! home, and the adjustment OF the un-
settled business conditions of the coun-
try with which they have contendcd
! for the past twelve months conspre 10
make them. not only hopeful, but con-
iident of the future
VISITING MERCHANTS
ARE IN BUYING MOOD
Already the merchants have begun
TO buy. One Wholesale dry goods house
hefOTa =
o'clock. one OF the orders amounting
to $500. Other houses sold $4,000
worth OF goods to North Carolina
merchant who is paying his firs, visit
10 Richmond. All of them are jubilant
over the prospects. and believe that
once the merchants OF Virginia and
North and South Carolina see the won
derful advantages that Richmond offers
them as trading center and experience
the satisfaction Of ordering their wares
from this market they will always CON
! tlhnc 10 DO so, and Richmond Will
rapidly push TO the forcfron, as the
leading trade center of the South
Hundreds OF merchants are expected
TO arrive to-day. Few of the travelling
statesmen have come in yet. and many
Of them have reported TO their houses
that they will bring a number of their
customers with them BY Tomorrow
IL is estimated, from 500 10 900 WISH
tors Will he in the city, more than half
| OF that number being merchants
INFORMAL RECEPTION
At BUSINESS MEMS CIIn
! The merchants we're given an in
FORMAL reception last night in the rooms
! Of the Business Mems Club. 1t was =,
set-tog"thor AFFAIR bringing together
old friends. throwing the new ones in
personal contact with those who have
neen here before for Better Acquaint-
ance Week" and giving them all a
chance 10 meet socially the jobbers
and manufacturers OF the city.
Mayor Ainslie. Business Manager w.
1. Daoney, o: tho Chamber OF Com
merce; Horace F. Smith. In charge Of
! tho Manufacturers Exhibit on display
! In the Chamber of Commerce Building.
! and chairman OF the puhlicit; commit
/ toe or the trade extension bureau. and
| others prominently connected with tho
/ annual event wer" present. mingIinG
with merchants and extending an OIL
I cial welcome Light refreshments rero
served.
/ To-day is expected TO he one OF the
big days OF the week. II has been the
experience Of the bureau tina, PETER
Acquaintance Week" really begins on
Tuesday Tho influx Of merchants
reaches high tide on that day. with
this In mind, the program has been
| arranged accordingly.
WILL MEET TONIGHT
! At JEFFERSON HOTEL
! Tonight nj $50 O'Clock the iner-
] Chants Will sscmble in the auditorium
! OF the Jefferson Hotel. where Max
! holtz, president of the Economy Sen
vice Company. OF New York, will de-
| liver an address on Frequent and
Profitable Stock Turnover" Mr. Holt,
I is considered one OF the greatest ex-
ports In the country IN this line, and the
trade extension bureau has gone to
great pains and cXpensc to secure him
Tor this occasion. II Is especially de-
sired that as many Of the merchant,
az posstblc attend thi. lecture. Fol
lowing the address there viii be music
and bunct lunch
io-mofro" inc visitors viii he fax en-
on n boat trip down The James River
10 city Point, The river winds through
one Of the most beautiful and historic
actions Of Virginia. and. to those who
have ,akcn trin q,