Wichita eagle., 1889-01-20

state, has invited here and entertained
| quite number of conventions, including
| the state conventions Of both great poiit-
| lcal parties. two state editorial couven-
| tons, the Oklahoma convention, and the
| Southern Kansas farmers convention.
| The board also assisted in entertaining the
state encampment of knights Templar,
the Loyal Legion of Kansas, and the
worlds conclave of Odd Fellows, on their
| trip to California.
! Delegates were sent to the s'deep water
| conventions" held at Denver and at Fort
| Worth
Delegates have also been elected. upon
| invitation. to attend the dedication of the
! new chamber of commerce building IN
Cincinnati on the Both inst; also to attend
| convention vt Fort Smith on the oath.
July general meeting of business
men was called to consider what should be
| done for the future interests Of our city.
This was the first OF a long series of ''citi-
zens' meetings" that followed under direc-
| ton of the board of trade, resulting i'll
| raising some three-quarters of a million
dollars IN land, mortgages and cash, TO be
used Ito establish industries in the city,"
In all these efforts the board received the
| solid support of all our people.
September Is a committee was sent to St.
Louis to confer with Francis Whitaker &
Sons for the location of a packing plant in
this c.ty. September 21st Messrs. Whit
tax r made the board a proposition which
was promptly accepted. and today the
foundations are being laid for the largest
and finest pork and beef packing plant in
the country. which in five months time
will be ready for business.
September 18th the board received no.
tice from tine Santa Fee railroad company
that all it's cattle trains from the south
would stop in this city and the cattle be
fed at the Union stock yards and have the
privileges of this market.
Septemb Der % a resolution was passed
declaring that the city should be supplied
with million bushel grain elevator and
that the board was ready to assist IN the
enterprise
Donations of land have been made to es-
tablish the Wichita Overall and Shirt
Co.," the johnson & Norton Paint
Works" and the large box factory just To-
Gated near the packing houses.
The board has also sunk shaft to the
depth Of LOCO feet a short distance west of
the city, finding an ineXhaustble supply
of strong salt water, sufficient to produce
salt in paying quantity.
The board has extended an invitation to
the State Breeders association to hold its
next annual meeting in this city. The in
vitation has been accepted and the meet
ing will be held here next September.
1t is the purpose of this board that out
of this and the Farmers convention there
shall grow permanent Southern Kan
sas State Fair Association" that shall
hold it's annual eX positions on the beautl-
full and extensive grounds now secured in
this city.
A large amount of detail work has been
done by the board that cannot be specified
in This report. Also large amount of
correspondence through the secretarys
office.
The directors have held sixty-six regular
and special meetings during the year, be-
sides large number of conference meet
ings," which were held for counsel"
1t is proper to say that hardly a single
public enterprise has been started in the
city that the board of trade has not had
something to do with its inception, pro-
gress Or completion. The work could not
have been done without an organization of
this kind, and orr people have appreciated
u is fact, as evidenced by the ready sup
port they have always given the board.
One year ago the membership was 134.
Today there are pa members of the board
of trade. There are PA other equally good
and active business men in this city
who should become members of
fort assist in carrying forward
the grand work now so well begun. and
which, if not allowed to Slacken in its |
pace. must result IN very brief period of
time in bringing our city to the magnificent !
of city of 100. 600 population, |
and forever confirm her in her CONNER |
cial supremacy of this great Southwest |
In submitting this report it is proper that |
| should state that the duties of he secre- |
tary have been frightened by the daily pres |
snce of the president. ] also desire to ten
Ter my thanks to the directors and mem
oers OF the board OF trade for their kindly |
forbea and unifOrm courtesy
GEO w. CLEMENT, Secretary.
President Oliver was proceeding to call |
FOR ballot for the election of the new
board of directors, when Secretary Glenn
nent interrupted him aud said:
Mr.. President:
The most of the members of the present
BOARD of directors have been associated
with you for the past two years ia the in
innate relations that have existed within
his body of men, whose labors and efforts
rave been for the upouilding of our city.
lou have presided over our deliberations
md have been our head and our leader.
Ne have learned TO trust in your counsel,
md have always found it wise and pru-
lent. We have always found you ready
md willing TO sacrifice personal interest
nd feeling for the good Of our city.
Your faith and your zeal have been
o US an inspiration. Your ac-
ion upon all public questi ms
las been honorable and unselfish. Your |
ine has been unhesitatiugly devoted to
he work of this board, even to the neg
ect of your own business. In all our re-
iitions we have learned to respect and
onor you, and now, as these relations are
o he severed, we desire, as a board, TO pre-
ent you some token upon which you Gun
Dok in after Years and remember the
leasant relations we have sustained
In behalf of the directors of this board
f trade present TO Won this gold-headed
ane, as Il token of their respect and es-
eem. We have not selected "a cane AS an
animation that you have reached a period
4 LIES journey when its support is need
d. for we now regard you in the full
trength and vIgor of manhood, and il is
ur earnest wish that that vigor may be
20 you for many long years to
ONE, that you may be enabled TO con-
nue your labors for your much beloved
ty in the future as you have done in the
asst.
The cane is a remark bly, handsome
iece of workmanship and bears the fol-
wing inscription upon the side of the
lrved handle:
Presented to
A. W. OLIVER, PRESIDENT,
By the Directors
Wichita Board of Trade"
MIR. Oliver was completely surprised and