, 1860-03-01
III 0EV. 5NI Il. TftMrtnL
Mr. Gas. WALKE1. 1st Vice President,
Mr. r. CuArlx, I'd Vice Pre.ltent.


ut the same meeting the committee reported
TINT room could be procured OIL South Water
street, at an annual rent of $1lU, which room
WAS rented aud used by the Doard.
The board wash tu'ly organized and realty
for business. but ai,houg ID Ar. Thos. Richmond
had offered the following resolution, which was
passed:
/ Atsotr6d. That SO many Of the members of
| this Doard IS feel interested, meet duilY at jtS
rooms frcul 10 to II o'clock Il. H., the hour aud
meeting to be called Change
And although several gentlemen used Their
| utmost cxertlon to get up meetings on Change,
their Efforts were for q long time unsuccessful.
Indeed, after the first eflurt to get the assoca.
ton lnlu existence Was over, there seems 10
have been little interest manifested regarding
| it. Il; the first semi.aun.al meeting hcld ID
oc!ober there were bu: six persons present, ad-
jonrning over tor Il week. fifteen appeared.
In the Treasurer's report, in 1851, 1e states
that "thcre are SS 1ncmbers Of the Board, j" aud
as there was good deal of difficulty in procur-
ing funds to pay the be!cre-mcntioned rent Of
Sil0, he recommends That the members shall
be assessed the sum Of Il each, annually.
AT the annual meeting in 1862 the otices Of
Secretary aiHl TreasuEcrwere consolidated, aud
tue compensation retel for doing tue duty Of
| buth WIS tie u.e Of the Trade room as IN
Office.
4As late is April, 1858, Mr.. Thos. Richmond
moved tllat "the members meet On Change at
y
day morning."
1t was also "n,ovcd that tue Secretary pro-
cure simple disles, md rtfrtsansfats," which
was adopted.
The latter resolution scme Of us know was
carried out for Tint nnd some OF the succeeding
years, as au inducement u members to meet
on 'Chauge for the transaction Of business.
The necessity ct some in. luce1uent will be np-
parent, HL> We refer t. tee record which AUS
kept Of the persons and transactions on
Change. read from tho record.
July 9, ISL. Present, G. Walker No traus-
actions.
july 10, Present. c. Walker, J. White,
J. c. Waller.
July II, s Present, O. Lunt.
:" Is, None present.
u,
:" ii, " Present, c. Walker.
j" 1G, None present.
t' II, =" Present, J. C. Walter.
IS, Nonc present,
During oil these days there are no transsc-
tiaus recorded
In fact, until about The years 1855 and '5t
! thc Eoard Of Trade seemed hardly 10 exist ns
an institution Still there were many impor-
tant uattefs before it for their cunsidera-
ton, aud their actiou thcScar: and their perpst-
uasion Of the organization lins been Ct great
benefit to the business interests Of the city, and
the Northwest. During the last six years,
however, tie rapid advancement made in the
prosperity Of this Board Of Trude, is perhaps
| unparalleled in the history Of auy similur insti~
significant position which i. then occupied. it
has :It,uincd ut this time Que Of which We may
| we'll be proud.
| The amount Of tue mopied va1ue Of the trans.
actions Of this 1}oard are enormous, and were
they to be computed for one year, the sum
] would seem fabulous, the transactions Oh
Change Of sin1ie individuals, or firms, fre-
,,,.,,%S,. a ....~ - ill1 = nj -. =.
I am proud to say TINT, In mr. npiaion, no
where in the world is the same amount Of busi-
ness transacted 30 much dependent upon the
honor ot men, with 30 many temptations and
opportunities for disagreements, where 50 little
trouble occurs, us among the members Of this
! Board.
Aside, however, gentlemen, from the daily
business Of the Board, it is thought that its in
auencc and action conduces much to the knowl.
| edge and welfare Of the business public Of the
| country at large.
Among its recent ac' it has procured new
aud liberal cIIurter from the Legislature, which
vii! seemingly answer all possible requirements
| Of the institution.
1t has adopted new code Of rules and by
laws, which it is thought will answer all the
desired ends and be satisfactory to its men,
| bers.
il h:s instituted system for the collection
and daily publication Of statistics, which are
invaluable to its members, and Of great interest
! Mt least to to the whole business public Of the
| county.
It tpublishcs annually d full report of the trade
and commerce CT the city. fer the value Of which
! Of the 1910 copies which havc just been pub
lislcd, and which hare been, and will be circulate
l ed:not oniy throughout the United States, but
through the British PEoripces aud in Europe
slso. 1t has established system Of inspection
| for grain, lumber aud other articles without
/ hn d. l..
business NOW duly transacted with any degree
| of satisfaction.
Through its committees Of Arbitration and
Appeals, which a1e recognized by its charter as
Court. It has settled all or nearly all OF The
few land l an happy il being abie to say there
CURED amo,g its members, thus Saving long
aud expensive ltigatious.
| 1t has, in conjunction with other similar ipsti-
| tutions, considered and assisted in obtaining
the Reciprocity Treaty with the British Prorin:
ces, and The free nayi iga,ion of the st. Lawrence
Il bus recommended, after consideration, the
construction Of the Wcllaud Kailroad, the re.
duetion Of tolls On the Welland, aud or the II.
linois mud Michigan Canals, demonstrated
against the removal Of the collectors office o.
the latter from this city to Bridgeport, and
through its frequent petitions to our own gov,
csnnacnt. aud its frequent agitation Of the sub
jec. been greatly instrumental in procuring wha
smnll suuls have been appropriated tor tn.
Light House, and to improve the navigation o
tue Western Lakes Throughits instrument
| ality there is eyen now being pressed upon th'
| consideration Of the Senate of the Unite.
States an inquiry as to the whereabouts Of th
appropriation which WINS made at the last ses
. sion Of Congress for the Light House and Pie
at the entrance Of our AaEhor, aud which ha
| not yet been expended.
Through its agency the sum of 800, sub
, scribcd by its members and other citizens xu
| recently expended upon tic north pier Of GU
harbor, to which faci tho city is probably no,
indebted that the pier is not washed away, an
r | tie entrance to the harbor entirely obstructe6
4 With a view Of improving the quality Of III
:, wheat grown in the section Of country tfibutar
to Chicago, it has contributed Of its own fund
nearly $500 for premiums on that cereal, On
on machinery to clean it. This is a part {
s | what this association has done; and the zoo.
8 If good has been accomplished, rebounds 10 Il
q benefit Of oil, and not exclusively to the good
its members.
: Many Of the founders and first membe,
II Of this body are still among us and
!, | the prime OF life; they, and perhaps tho youn
er members also, will think It unnecessary I,
me to lecture them, but cannot forbear upe
e this occasion from Saying that it seems to 4
It | TINT every member owes a certain duty to II
e association which many, feat, do not suf1iciea
r II appreciate. The enjoyment Of all its pri,
1t leges is not sufficiently compensated for by Il
:, psymen. Of portion Of the expenses. Erc
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