National Republican., 1876-01-14

A public meeting was held last evening at the
Board Of Trade rooms to consider proposed
movement to present to Congress a petition set
ting forth the justice and propriety Of making an
appropria lion TO aid the commercial interests Of
this District. The call was signed by number
Of prominent business men well known for their
enrerprisiDg spirit and desire to promote the
commercial and mercantile prosperity of this
city and Georgetown, establish manufactures,
create new life in trades and coach them into a
thriving and remunerative business, thereby
making the District attractive as q commercial
and mercantile centre, with tributaries abundant,
and commanding, as it should, the undivided
custom Of the South and Southwest which now
seeks q market in the Eastern cities for want Of
opportunities to exchange commodities nearer
home.
Had the true spirit of enterprise been suffi-
cfently plentiful among the citizens Of this COM
munity in the past for them to have erected man
ulRctOries ard placed them In operation this Dis
trict would now enjoy many OF the advantages
which are possessed by Northern cities, but un-
fortunately that pluck has been lacking, and the
consequences thereof are too apparent and re-
them here.
cliiZers here possessed courage enough to carry
them into business undertakings and reaped
handsome profits from their venture. Thus en-
courGged, they are Wiling TO make more ex-
tended outlay of capital, but as the Improvement
proposed is Tor general good, thoy ask the assist
anee of Congress in taking the inttiItory steps,
after which they promise to put in their wealth
to build mp manufactures. invite commerce and
make this desirable harhOr for commercial in
terchange. 1t was evident that others present
had distinct purpose fTOm the above object on
being present, ana II soon Became apparent that
II was for the msnoraizing of Congress to es-
tablish a grand union depot in this city, which
subject was brought TO the attention OF the meet
ing and committee appointed 10 look after the
matter. Among
THOSE PRESENT
were not iced James l.. Barbour, Geo. w. Gosh
ran, Captain Samuel Gedney, w. j. Stephenson,
VIM. GuiDand, Captain J. II. johnson, T.. X.
johnson, Captain Vim. Wise, Wm. hamburger,
DR.. a. +. Pardon. W. q. Church, J. X. Riley, Dr.
James Morgan, DIR. James Allen, John L. Kid
p. Iustin, VIM. ForsyIhe, Richard Smith, q. Y.
Alice, Il T. HeIstUn, J. W. B0ieler, VIM. Biz
pey, sr., VIM. Brney, lT., i. II. Wheeler, John
A. Baker, VIM. Mitchell, AdOlph Cluss and G.
7. Raub.
TIE meeting was called to order by Mr. W. ].
Stephenson, and in the absence OF the former
president MIR, George W. Cochran was called to
the chair, and W. J. Stephenson chosen secre-
tary.
Mr. Cochran said that some four or five weeks
ago twenty gentlemen met and considered the
proposition OF asking Congress to improve the
Washington channel of the Potomac river. Com
mittcCs were appointed TO prepare plan, and
would probably report their action that evening.
1t was we'll known fact that the channel In front
Of the city was becoming more shallow every
year. and he Understood that the Government
had never Appropriated a dollar for the improve
ightened on the subject before the meeting closed
He had been informed that another subject
would be brought before the meeting-that OF
removing the steam railroads from the city and
establishing grand union depot, for which pur-
pose Congress will also be memorialiZed.
MIR. Barbour, from the committee on a me-
mortal, reported that they bad prepared petit
ready 100 names He passed copy to the secre-
tary. who read it and it was then adopted By the
meeting.