Evening star., 1954-10-12
Bargain Fares
Sought 10 Spur
D. {. Shopping
Stores Would Share
Cost in Scheme to
Boost Midcity Trade
BY George Beveridee

|
A washington business group
this week will push a new move
to attract more downtown shop
pers by having merchants un-
derwrite some Of their custo-
mer's bus and streetcar fares.
The idea was backed by lead
ers of the Central Businessmen's S
Association yesterday at an in
formal meeting attended also by
officials Of the District Mer-
chants and Manufacturers AS
sociation and the Capital Tran
sit Co.
E. c. Giddings, Capital Tran
sit vice president, said his COM
pany would cooperate fully with
the new proposal, which has
been tried with varying success
in some 35 other cities.
Herbert j. Rich, president.
said he though his group also
would be interested.
How 1t Would Work.
John L. c. Sullivan, president
of the businessmen's association,
named a f1ve-man committee to
pursue actively the proposal,
which would work like this:
During specified hours-pos-
sibly 10 am. to 3 p.m.-on cer-
tain days of the week, down.
town-bound shoppers would pay
their streetcar or bus fares as
in the past but would receive a
special ticket in exchange. This,
the shopper would present to any
store participating in the plan,
and, after making a minimum
specified purchase in the store,
would receive a token for a free
ride home.
The tokens, of course, would
be purchased by the merchants
from Capital Transit for distri-
button.
Main purpose Of the luncheon
yesterday was to discuss some
form Of reduced transit fare for
shoppers. Mr.. Giddings said
Capital Transit would help any
way it could with promotion and
advertising. But he made it
plain, as he has before, the COM
pany won't consider underwrit-
ing any direct fare cut itself.
Reports Success in Buffalo.
He said the plan outlined
above has, had most notable sue
cess in Buffalo, N. Y. but did not
have at hand any figures to re-
feet the degree.
The experience generally, he
said. has been that transit rid
ing by shoppers goes up steadily
for a week or so after initiation
Of the plan. Then it levels off.
So. what the other cities have
done is to drop active promotion
of the plan after a short time,
then renew it periodically every
few months.
The meeting yesterday was the
latest in series of efforts to put
new life into the downtown busi-
ness area-reflecting the most
concentrated attention this prob
lem has had in years.
Meeting Tomorrow.
Some Of the city's biggest
merchants will meet at II am.
tomorrow at the Office of Brig.
Gen. Louis w. Prentiss, District
Engineer Commissioner. The
main discussion will be on set
ting up some kind of shopper
specials" Then, week from
Thursday. the subject will come
up at an all-day hearing to be
devoted to downtown parking
problems. On an allied approach,
the Merchants q Manufacturers
Association also is discussing
shopper special" ideas with
downtown private parking OPP
orators.
Representatives of the Central
BusineSsmen's Association will
attend the meeting with Gen.
Prentiss tomorrow.
After that. the groups new
five-nlan committee will get to-
gether with merchants and tran
sit officials to work UP a firm
proposal all can agree to.
Nathan Lubar, an attorney,
was named chairman Of the COM
mittee. Its other members are
BENJAMIN Striner, Sydney Bert
Goldman, O. c. Nance and Estes
Rrand