Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1915 — MERCHANTS ALL SAY: “IT WAS A GREAT DAY” [ARTICLE]

MERCHANTS ALL SAY: “IT WAS A GREAT DAY”

Large Crowd Accepted Invitation of Rensselaer and Spent Thursday In Oar Stores. The first “Market Day” was a great success. It surpassed the most sanguine expectations of its > promoters and all Rensselaer was a real hum of trading industry. So popular were the bargains that were made as leaders that all seemed to strike with about equal popularity and none of the twenty-nine merchants who went into the scheme has a kick coming. On the other hand they are quite enthusiastic and are ready to acknowledge that in union there is strength and are wondering why they have not undertaken a united plan of action long ago. Not only the twentynine who went together to start the ball rolling were pleased but all others enjoyed a big day, the garages, hitchbarns, restaurants and other lines of business had regular Fourth of July business. Some merchants had the largest day they have had in a year and all did a good business, the buying being general and not confined to the specials that were .offered.

Among the people who came here were a number from other towns and from long distances away and there were strange faces among the buyers, people who are not frequently visitors here but who would just as soon come here as any place and who probably will come back after seeing how attractive our stores are at trading places. The free auction sale proved a good drawing card and a number of horses, cows, calves and a lot of machinery and household goods were sold. The auction sales totaled about $3,000. Col. Fred Phillips and Clerk C. G. Spitler donated their services. In addition to the auction sales buyers bought at least 12 head of good horses at the Padgitt livery barn and dealers were well pleased and expressed their willingness to come here each month to attend the sales and thus to couple with the other features of the day a good horse market. - - To make the auction sale a better success a lot should be secured for the sale and this plan may be considered by the Retail Merchants’ Association. So far as we could learn the visitors were as well pleased as -the merchants. The bargains were readily sought after and the stores were besieged with buyers. The crowds were good natured and seemed to have the spirit of the occasion for there was not a discord to mar the pleasures of the day.

Just what the next stunt of the merchants will be is undecided, but there will be something else undertaken right away and it is probable that April will again witness another big market event.