Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-01-15
AN NJ AL IL Ef'ORT
or THR
DAVENPORT BOARD OF TRADE.
IA presented to thu Boardby
|. Corns, Secretary.

Oentls'nen Of the board Of Trade:
Ia conformity with the rules Of your bo-
dy, present you with the annual report of
the Trade and Commerce Of the City.
In this, the first report presented to the
Board since its organization, some comments
and brief review Of ito history may not
be inappropriate This duty is more de-
volvent upon your board Of Directors than
your Secretary; bat having been one OF
committee appointed for this purpose, it has
been deferred to part of THE report
Whatever may be said here il in the expeo-
tation Of a more ornate production from the
other members Of the committee, suitable
for body to this report.
In the early part of this present year, the
question of organizing Board Of Trade was
agitated and the preliminary steps taken to
that end. A committee regularly appointed
drew up the articles Of incorporation. Con.
stitution and Bylaws, which having been
ratified by meeting If merchants. and
signed by the requisite number, the Board
completed it, organization by electing nec-
essary officers.
Considerable discussion arose relative to
the rates of membership. but in view of the
expenses intended to be incurred, they Re-
manned as fixed in the original draft Of tho
committee. The Board Of Directors imme.
diately proceeded to establish and furnish q
reading room. The supply of newspapers
periodicals. was judicious liberal and regular
-as the officer having charge Of the same |
regret my inability to report correspond
ing attendance and appreciation. The val.
liable Information these supplied was unre.
garded, and after sustaining the same until
the end Of the year the Directory was com.
PEELED to consider the movement . prema
ture one. and At meeting Of the members
Of the Board advised the discontinuance Of
that feature until it was more manifestly de
manded. At the same time, and owing to
this anticipated decrease Of the expenditure.
q reduction Of the rates of membership to
one half was proposed and assented to by a
majority; that proposal will be presented
| tO.day for your ratification.
The public actions Of the Board have not
been numerous or oserous, they have how
ever, been instrumental OF go d. Early in
the year, and after the rgalization. the sub.
ject Of building bridge over the Waubsi.
pinieon was agitated at . meeting Of the
Board committee Was appointed with
specified duties.
That committee obeyed Instructions and
made report to this Board, since which
the subject has been abandoned
| To the action of this Board and tho firm
stand taken by its members, in supporting
the local currency that has formed our ma.
dunn OF home exchange, may be almost an.
tirely attributed to that unity Of action and
forbearance, that has enabled 10 to 40 suc.
cessfully resist the disturbances that have
proved 20 embarrassing to oil around ne
that We have been ineonvenienced It ware
vain to deny, but In no wise to the extent
Of our neighbors.
During the last year . much greater
amount ofimprovement has been accom-.
pIished than for any previous corresponding
period.
From condensed report in late daiiv
journal over the signatures Of two Of the
leading business firms Of the city, it appears
that since the let Of August, 1855, there
have been erected over thirteen hundred
houses. Twenty-Five squares lover two
miles) Of streets have been graded and mac.
adamized; sixty eight squares lover four
and half miles) of gas pipes have been laid
and gas street lamps placed throughout the
city; one hundred and ninety three squares
lover thirteen miles) Of side walk have been
made.
The population Of the city il estimated At
not lea than eighteen thousand.
caunot close this report without refer.
ence to the tables which follow. The infor.
nation contained in them 10 NECESSARILY
meagre, and falls in some branches Of trade
much below the actual amount, while Ia
none 10 the full amount given. There ara
also some departments Of domestic manufao.
ture that receive NO report. from inability
70 procure reliable statementa
To the cheerful response Of those to whom
! have applied for Information, l am indsbt-
e0nF vnas statements are presented, while
- 'nose wno were spprehensivs that any
ploysd - msans Il person,l exn..s,s. 7
can only commend careful swm{ssssos -
the dSusos eiteA - . means % nlnvins
bnetr Aepeshsnsiene and insusias ~ (5i}s
hoaeo y tt1pe11 y lhtusN