The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1886-03-05
Trenton letter.

House. According to the description
given, it must have been one of~the most
enjoyable dinners the Board has had since
the organization of that commercial body.
Our city Board of Trade is eighteen
years old and each year of its existence
these mercantile gentlemen have taken
good care to observe this, their annual
festive occasion, with regularity and with
promptness. Many good dinners have they
enjoyed regardless of expense. No sooner
does the annual election take place than
the question is presented when and where
shall the annual dinner come off. The
price is not the question, only the time and
locality is considered.
The dinner of 1886 was partaken of by
forty gentlemen, and with as many side
dishes of tempting delicacies to consume,
it took two hours to clean the caterers
pantry OFT. The two remaining hours,
spent in smoking and fireside gossip.
brought them into the small hours of the
morning. There were no stimulants used
on this occasion. On former occasions a
little sherry was admitted, also little side
board tonic if requested, but this year the
pure juice of the grape was forbidden and
cold iced tea had to take its place.
The President this year is the Hon. A.
J. Rider, the proprietor and principal of
the Trenton Business College, a gentleman
who has lived long enough in this city to
be called by this time an old Trentonian.
At the opening of this sumptuous meal
Bishop Scarborough asked grace. BY the
side of the Bishop sat his faithful parishon-
er bennington Gill, Esq; further on sat
Dr.. IIasbrouck, of the State Normal
School: then John Moses. the wealthy
potter; then Charles Scott one of our lead
ing capitalists; VIM. j. STEELE, Cashier of
the Mechanics National Bank; William
DoltOn, the President Of the Standard Fire
Insurance Company, and Frederick 5.
Fish, Senator from Essex. Messrs. Gill,
Scott and BOLTON are ex-Prcsidents of the
Board and NJ STEELE its faithful Secretary.
OF the remaining gentlemen at the table
we mention the names of Robert w. Ken
needy, Joseph B. Richardson, William ].
Owens, Thomas c. Hill, John c. Owens,
Jos. 3. Yard, Edmund c. Hill, Joseph
Ashton, Jr., Geo, r. Evan, Joshua F.
Hancock and rs many more for which We
have not the space to admit.
Letters of regret were received from Gov.
Albeit Mayor Donnelly, Congressman
Buchanan, Senator Vanderbilt, General
Sewell, Hon. Abram S. Hewitt. and others.
The toasts of the evening were proposed
and responded to by the following gentle
men: On the estate of New jersey" by
Senator Fish; on the Getty of Trenton"
by our tax receiver c. Y. Richards. Esq. !;
ON our Manufacturing Industries by
Bennington Gill, Esq; ON "Our Mer-
chants by VIM. BOLTON; on our ''Educa-
tional Interests by DR.. IIasbrouck The
closing public remarks Of the evening We're
by the venerable Bishop, who makes
himself agreeable on all like occasions,
whether they be social or otherwise.
The Trenton Board of Trade is an or
ganization comprising about sixty leading
business men of the city. The Board has
remained intact since its organization
eighteen years ago. At times it has been
in q flouriShing condition, and at times the
interest has a little relaxed. At times it
has shown its commercial prominence and
at other times it has assumed the RESPONSE
biity of a second common council. In its
present condition it is in good shape, but
do not think that it maniiests that same
commercial strength as i'll the early period
of its history. Good business men, leading
capitalists and prominent manufacturers
belong to it, but many of them stay away
from its meetings, leaving the work upon
others of less commercial influence and of
less executive ability. A few of the old
founders remain in the Board and stand by
its interests, Still it can be plainly seen
the city and suburbs who ought to be in
the Board, hence of the one hundred men,
bers combined needed, there is sufficient ele-
mcnt to rule and advise this community in
If we understand it the Board meets once
a month. 1t should meet semi-monthly.
1t meets in small room 15X1J. 1t should
have a hall of its own. 1t admits any
storekeeper of Il good character; it should
seek and court the highest commercial Gle
ment that Mercer county can present. In
a word the Board should aspire the activ-
titles synonymous to a chamber of Com
mercc and as stated before, the RESPONSE
bilitics of a City Council by proxy
1t present officers are good men-good
business men. We have faith in Rider,
Kennedy, Richardson, Owens and others
of the official board About the hardest
working man among them is Secretary
STEELE. For thirteen years this gentleman
has done honor to his office as well as to
the Board at large. Mr.. STEELE always
sends i'll a good readable report, and prac-
teal in all its bearings.
We have no suggestions to make for we
are not a member Of the Board Being a
natiye-bon citizen and having watched the
commercial growth of this city from our
youth up, we are interested as to its future
developments. However, as an outsider
and as a correspondent, we would be
pleased to report, a year hence, more