Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-08
MERCHANTS GATHER FOR
BETTER ACQUAINTANCE
Retailers OF Many States Here to
Meet Jobbcrs With Whom
They Deal.
PROGRAM OF ENTERTAINMENT
Registration on Opening Day Ahead
of Last Year, Reports George w.
Rogers, in Charge Of Registration
Dcsk-Dabney Is Enthusiastic.

Better Acquaintance Week started
yesterday with tho largest frst-day
crowd of all the four years history
of tho JOY season. drawn from four
States-Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina and Virginia. After getting
the hang OF things IN Richmond dur
ing the day, the guests entered on the
formal entertainment program last
night when they visited the vaudeville
performance at the Lyric Theater
Members of the trade. extension
bureau, Of the Richmond Chamber Of
Commerce. who have been boosting the
festival week, are very much pleased
by the showing made the initial day.
The number of early arrivals is con-
sderably ahead of tho first day last
year. and when it is remembered that
more than 500 visited the city then. there
is every reason to expect mammoth
crowd
Were doing fine" said w. T. Dab
ney, business manager Of the Cham
Der OF Commerce, last night. in review
ing the opening day. Already more
have registered than appeared the first
day last year. and we are expecting
a big crowd tomorrow. There ought
to be n lot OF people come up for the
celebration on the Norfolk and Western
excursion Tomorrow"
PROGRAM VERY ATTRACTIVE,
SAYS MANAGER DABNEY
There's n lot of enthusiasm, and
prospects are bright" continued the
energetic business manager From all
places TO the west and south OF Rich
mond people will he flockinE up to the
city this week. The program is very
attractive. and merchants from ali
around will he coming In.
Visitors have already expressed
themselves delighted with tho
hearty welcome they have received an'
AT the elaborate program that has heen
arranged for their entertainment. The
trade extension bureau has every rca-
son to feel satisfied and enthusin site
over the first days showing. This is
going to bo fine week for Rich
mond."
To-day and tomorrow morning arc
expected to bring the greater part OF
the visitors. The longer the out-of-
town merchants are here. the better
the trade extension bureau will be
pleased. but it is expected that many
will have to come late. while others
will leave early. There is no reason
for any one getting restless. however.
no matter how long he stays, for tho
program provides entertainment every
day OF the week. and the business men
of Richmond Will be outdoing each
other giving attention to their guests.
SEVERAL. LARGE ORDERS
HAVE ALREADY DEEN PLACED
Not only is the week starting off we'll
in the matter of attendance and of
good spirit. hut II is already proving
a profitable period from n commercial
standpoint. Several orders of large
size. II is understood. were secured by
Richmond firms yesterday morning
In order that the pleasures of tho
week may not interfere with those who
have business TO transact, II is said that
local firms Will keep open at irregular
hours during the week. Whenever
visitor wants to talk business. he will
find n sympathetic audience and soft
chair In the private office. and when
he wants fun, the entertainers will
meet him more than halfway.
The roads and railroads arc getting
better every day" said George w.
Rogers yesterday at the registration
desk at headquarters. The crowd Is
CONTINUED on Second PaGeD