Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-12
THE BANQUET HALL.
An Evening Of Rnjoymsnt-Good Eating
and Drinking-Bright Speeches,
Letters, Ae., &c.

| tSlabilsh our importance ara 10 strengthen
and develop the natural resources which
our city offers 20 commerce and manuiac-
,urcs, and believing this end may be accom-
rlished by the formation OF an ASSOCIATION
10 bring together for advice and consuta-
ton representatives from all branches OF
business" proceeded TO organize Board OF
Trade. The officers elected were Horace
l.. Kent, president; X. B. Haxall and
Hugh ". Fry, yice-presidents and Lewis
webb, Isaac Davenport. L. II. Price, Will
liam +. Butler, Thomas W. McCance.
james II. Graft. Joseph X. Anderson,
Noses Ii. Preston, John J.. Bacon, John
Purcell, William :. Donnau, Samuel Nor.
decaI, X. O. Hassns, f.. b. Bentley, and
David !. Burr, as directors; William Bell,
treasurer; and William Il. lsaacS, secretary.
This organization, having no doubt done
good work, closed its career during the
war.
AFTER THE WAR.
On the29,h Of August, 1867, call--signcd
10y X. Il. G. Baskeryili, +. .. Noting, :.
i. Blsnkeuslip. Thomas Branch. David I.
Burr, X. +. Williams & Co., Gordon /
| Cringsn. Watkins, Cettrell & Co.., a. j
numerous others was issued for a meetin.,
TO be held at the Tobacco Exchange the
next day, for the purpose Of taking such
action az may be advisable" as to "estsb-
fishing a Board OF Trade 10 our midst" That
meeting was duly held. and Mr.. Blsker-
viii was the chairman, and L. Il. Coghlan.
Esq, Its secretary. II resolved 10 establish
. Board Of Trade, and appointed the follow
ing committee 10 report a constitution
Messrs. David |. Burr, w. Is. Issscs, Pey-
ton Wise, A. Y. Stokes, and Matthew Blair.
| IN rsnnrtaH on ha Of
tember, 1861. The name OF the organization
proposed was "Tbe Richmond Chamber
Of Commerce" A constitution having
been previously adopted and 22l members
enrolled, the following officers were elected
October 9th : President, David |. Burr;
| Vice. Presidents, Isaac Davenport and
| Thomas ". McCsnce; Secretiry, p. q.
| Coghlan; Treasurer. James l.. Apperson.
Directors: T. G.. Peyton, f. o. Noting,
Alexander Cameron, l.. ID. Crenshaw, X. +.
| Blankcnship, W. G.. Ferguson, James
| Woodhouse, L. S. Baldwin, Powbatan
Weisiger, A. Y. Stokes, w. B. Issacs, John
Purcell, Jane. Il. Branch, w. 5. Donnan,
and +. B. Bentley. Since that time the
| presidential Office has been filed by I. W.
McCance, Joseph r. Anderson, f. o.
Noting, Il. +. Blankenship, and George
| A. AiDslie (present incumben); while the
4 uSNt bctU W. N'Guihu, Isu-
ward II. Fisher, and W. ID. Chesterman.
| Mr.. Geo. ID. Fisher has for many years been
the colecOr.
| CHARTER, ROOMS, &C.
The Chamber was first chartered by the
| CITY Circuit Court, but on February II,
| lS7G. the General Assembly passed an act
| 10 incorporate it,
| For some years the Chamber had it, rooms
| over The First National Bank. but upon the
| organization OF the Commercial Club. and
| upon that body installing itself in the Rich
| mOud House now -. Luke's HOme), the
| Chamber rented 4 portion OF that building.
| When the Commercial Grub moved from
| the Richmond House 10 Its present location
| the Chamber moved with it. and there re-
NAMED until January -. 1885, when il oc-
! cUpied its present comfortable quarters IN
| the Merchants National Bank building, 1t
! The southeast corner Oi Main and Eleventh
streets.
PRESENT ORGANIZATION.
on June 10, 1sS6, Dir. Il. r.. Blanken-
| Ship, having served as president for iy.
| terms and with conspicuous ability, de-
! cliued rejection, and the following organ
| zatiOn WAS then elected President, Ge0rs
| A. Ainslic: First Vice President Richar
| A. Dunlop; second Vice President, GcOrc
/ l.. Christian; Secretary, w. II. ChestC
man: Treasurer. John II. Montague. l..
re tors: Henry Bodcker, Alexander Cam,
ron, A. II. Christian. Jr., n. u. HargrOye
John ". Cringan, John F. Mayer, Frank
T.. Patrick, Il. +. Williams, y. W. Bowe,
L. A. Catlin, Q. L. Cottreli, Cay Drevry,
:. II. Hawes, j. j. Montague, Ashton
staIkc, j. ii. Witty.
WORK OF TIE CHAMBER.
I A
the Chamber has entered upon new career
Of useiuuess. In all departments Of its
work il has exercised unwOnted viSOr, and
its membership has been increased 20 per
cent.
TIE truth il the Chamber OF Commerce
has ever been an organization Of exceed
inglv great value 10 the city. Ii has from
its origin been 4 faithful sentinel on the
wstchtowcr Of Rlchmond's commercial in
ieTe.te. II has often interfered, and with
almost invariable success, in securing adj
juslmcnt oi railroad rates. II has time after
time appeared before legislative committees
10 protest against ill-adylSed measures, or
10 promote enterprises deserving OF its
favor. It's representatives have several
times appeared before the congressional
committees and urged the claims OF James
river for Government appropriations, and
dceea atiOns Of this Chamber and OF the City
Council together form the Committee on
the improvements Of James River, which for
wears Las with unceasiDg vigilance and un.
firing labor ana zeal superintended and
directed, so far as the city is concerned, the
OPERATION on the river.
Very recently 4 series Of discussions were
nauguratcd by the Chamber, designed to
awaken in the community more Of public
eptcrpri.e: more Of the spirit OF mutual
help: more OF cooperative sctiyity, ard
&" hichmOnd'S needs were thus laid bare
in a WAY likely 10 be productive Of good.
ia hundred other directions the Chamber
ras earned for itself the respect and entitled
Itself to the gratitude OF this people. No!
the least OF the evidences Of its usefulness
j. found in the fact that II maintains in the
heart OF the city rooms which are always
allowed to be used for any meeting in the
interest Of the public welfare.
THE BANQUET.
on September 0. 1856, the Hon.
Georto l.. Christian presented pre-
amblc aud resolution providing for &
social gathering oi The members, and =
committee consisting Of the president,
George 4. Anshe, T.. A. Catlin, Henry |
Bodeker, John F. Mayer, and Leopold |
Levy were appointed to make the neces. |
fsrY arrangements therefor. lney secureu
the services Of Nj. Slegel as caterer, and |
spread the banquet in the large hall-for |
years used as a Pythian hall-over their |
rooms.
An hour was spent In the rooms OF the |
Chamber in social chat, and shortly after |
O'Clock The members and guests were in. |
vitcd upstairs, where the tables were laid. |
There were two tables extending the |
length Of the hail. and about midway one |
Of these President Ainslie sat and acted as |
master OF ceremonies. The only drawback |
WAS some fault In the gas supply, which The |
committee bad in vain endeavored 10 cor |
rect, and numerous ker0sene-oil lamp, |
were by 6 =. NJ. put in place TO AFFORD the |
necessary light.
TIE MENU.
Mr.. Siegel. a. caterer, did his work very |
well. The tables look pretty, aud the menu |
was IS follows:
Sherry.
Oysters Raw In Block lee.
Entrees oysters EscalIoped. Oysters |
Fred, Parlridges on Toast.
Cold Dishes: Roast Turkey, Cranberry |
sauce; saddle OF Mutton, smoked
Tongue.
Salads: Chicken salad, PotAto Salad.
Reh,hes: sweet Pickles, Mustard Pickles,
Go. fclI Iax IAlarx