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NEW ORLEANS MISSES WINTER VISITORS. New Orleans, La.. December 22. The monstor mass meeting of business men and citizens to be held in this city next Monday evening for the purine of asking the governor to call a special session of the legislature, to repeal or modify the Locke law so that racing can be resumed is: the outcome of the decreased number of visitors to the, city and otisequent loss of businessi to the merchants, hotel keepers and the retail trade, in general. Bearish business expressions are being heard on account of the wide difference hetween trade this winter and last the retail trade, esiecially. It Is repotted that after the holiday rush a far greater number of employes and clerks than usual will be Kiveiu nice, long vacations. Even now. on top of the advent of the holiday season, many of the Ibusiuess men and merchants are bemoaning the conditions and hotel keepers are howling. It is said that ithe conspicuous absence of strangers from the citv. except people who are coining here from smaller towns? in the immediate neighborhood of the Houthern metropolis, is not at all approved, so the meeting to be held promises to lie a rouser. Financial conditions ami the proper means of remedying them are to be discussed at the meeting. The restoration of racing is regarded as most important, but the revival of the French Opera is also desired and plans for both will be in order. Our point of view is entirely different from that of the turfmen." remarked a .business mare, yester-lav. "The falling off in trade this fall and the fact that few visitors from other sections are in the vltv. compared with the hundreds hero last winter, oasily indicate that the proper attraction is lacking. For years, each winter. New Orleans has been rrowded by visitors who spent their money freely among our merchants and filled our hotels, boarding and rooming housed. The average visitor remained here a month or so. They were coming and going continually, but the town was full of people and the malority of visitors selected New Orleans liecause of the racing and opera, as we see now. much more xeadll.v tlian they did on account of our excellent .churches, prayer meetings and the like. "We arent very particular about the method of yetting hack the major attraction for the Crescent City racing but we lo want to for the sake of business. Of course, it must he cleanly conducted In order to ihe attractive to the better class of northern and eastern people who ;onie here, as has been the case for several seasons past. As to sum-aner meetings at the half-mile track, they should be prevented, as they attract no visitors here and ure a lraiir on the community, not mentioning the continual reports of crookedness emanating from the nierry-go-ronnds, which reflect on the sport generally and upon the intelligence of the; people of the city for standing for them. "
