Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-30
FIFTY YEARS AGO
in THE STAR

AN encouraging sign that the B. &; o.
Railroad Company" says The Star OF
Suburban June 49, 1885. proposes to
carry out its promises of eS-
oe1'Ice' tablishing more liberal
policy in local accommodations than has
heretofore prevailed with that eco
nOmically managed corporation is found
in the report that midday trains are to
be put on the Metropolitan branch, and
also on the same road night train, leav-
ing the city at 1870 pm. These trains
will supply much-needed facilities for
communication between town and coun-
try during the middle hours of the day
and will afford an opportunity for people
residing on the line of the road to get
home after attending places of amuse-
ment or looking after business matters
in the city during the evening. At pres
ent there is no train leaving the city
after $50 pm.
The elevated. breezy country along
the line OF the Metropolitan road has
always presented great attractions for
health and pleasure seekers, but the
scanty means OF rail communication with
the city has been a serious drawback
to continuous residence in the country
throughout the year. Despite these dis
advantages the region traVersed by this
road has filled up rapidly, and If the
B. & O. corporation will now adopt a
policy of encouragement to this growth,
instead of discriminating against it. as
on non competing road, there will I'M
doubtedly spring up an almost continu-
Gus line of airy. attractive villages all
the way from the city to the Point of
Rocks.
Heretofore the great trunk lines Of
railroads have. in their ruinouS cut
throat competition sacrificed the inter-
ests of their local consumers in favor of
through traffic and transportation
against competing lines. The disas-
trous results of these wars have shown,
however, that there are too many trunk
lines for the amount of business to
be done Evidently there can never be
a paying through business for all the
great competing lines. and they had bet
ter change their policy and in future
cultivate and build up local business as
a certain permanent and constantly in
creasing source OF income"
Half a century ago a plan was pro-
posed for one-day closing of business
Merchants establishments in Mid
,., summer in Washington.
MONDAY. The Star of June 81, 1885,
says:
Here is an idea for The Star to
BOOM said a prominent Avenue mer-
chant to Star reporter. Now what
want to do is to establish general holi-
day in this CITY, TO be known as Mer-
chants day. The holidays OF the buSl-
ness men of this city are few and lar
between, not that the merchants want
to overwork their employees but in jus
tice to their customers it is seldom that
they can close their establishments en-
tirely during the regularly ordained holl-
days. This is especially true OF the gro
Gerry and provision business So in view
of this I have drawn up this paper for
signature. 1t sets forth that. recognizing
the faithful services of their employees,
the signerS agree to entirely close their
business houses on Wednesday, August
10. in order to give them a well-earned
holiday, and that they will also close on
the third Wednesday in August in each
succeeding year. the holiday to be known
as Merchants day."
The paper had then been signed by
large number of merchants, including
Hume, Cleary & Company, Barbour q
Hamilton, Trunnel e. Clark, j. G. Ergood
& Company, N. H. Shea, Frank Hume,
G. c. Cornwell & Son. John Keyworth,
Charles l. Kellogg, c. w. Thorn & Com
pany, Hill g. Duvall.