The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-09-28
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L
like cold biscuits passed around after
dessert lam not Il speech-maker, but
am heart and soul in the work of this
club, am glad that it is for business.
pleasure being a secondary matter.
Something of the kind is needed here and
we have made creditable beginning.
These efforts should be seconded by all.
and every business man should lend aid
and encouragement to this club We
are in the center of an indispensable
country With vast opportunities lying
+ before u.s., Our mountains are mines of
wealth. and every hill is asveritable
bank. This is not q pun, for they are
banks of money.
You can stand in. the West End in
the morning and see the miners dig out
ore, and watch that ore as it is turned
into the Grocer furnaces. Then YOU
can see the pig iron from the same ore
taken from the rolling mill in bars of
iron, and before night see it worked into
! cars ready to carry the commerce of
the world. Our great industries sur
prise people who are unacquainted with
this section.
without organization every citizen
/ tells his own tale to strangers and
wrong impressions are sometimes made.
In this club see a place for the collec-
ton of valuable information, where
strangers can learn of our great adj
vantages. BY this kind of organization
we make one gigantic effort that will
overcome every obstacle that may be
thrown across the pathway of our
progress"
There were repeated calls for Mr.. s.
w. Ramsay. and he arose and said: 81
was not present ut the organiza ton Of
this club and have not had the oppor-
ttx, 80 Col 4 I.
tercsted in the work. Two friends of
mine, prominent railroad men from the
North, were in the city II few days ago
and brought the TO seem the club rooms.
They voluntarily said that the organi-
zation of the club was one of the most
important steps Roanoke could have
taken.
II appreciate Mr.. Helpers Judgment,
energy and taste in getting the club on
foot, and fitting up these elegant rooms,
and move that the thanks. confidence
and appreciation of the club be extended
to the president and secretary for the
zeal they have displayed"
Mr.. Ramsay's motion was unani-
mously carried amid applause.
Editor Nicholson, of the Evening
! World was the next speaker and said;
II did not expect to he asked. to speak
here tonight, but must add my appreci-
alton of the successful opening of this
club. No greater enterprise has been
started. 1t will soon become u powerful
lever by which other enterprises can be
moved. 1t has my best wishes for sue
cess and believe it cannot fail
! While some of the other gentlemen
i wore collecting their thoughts President
Woodrum arose and said: "Pardon me for
making one more suggestion. 1t is we'll
/ l. 20, II Al
noke arc not creditable to city Of 20, 900
people. The City Council has seen prop
erty constantly going up for the last
eight years, and has never yet made an
! effort to secure public park. Nothing
| is being done to beautify the city. Ask
the taxpayers of the city if they are not
| willing to pay taxes for street improve
! ments and for park purposes. and you
/ will find that nearly all of them are.
I still the City Council says we shall not
/ spend our money that way, At one
/ time Woodland Park, which sold re-
Gently for 100000. was offered them
( free, but they didn't have the business
sagaclty to take it. want to see this
club take hold of this matter. Let
/ every one who is here tonight come
back next Saturday night and induce as
many more to come as possible, and let
us get such an expression from the bust
ness men of the city that the authorities
dare not neglect this matter longer"
10y Is. Smith was next called upon
and said: Il represent the stay-at-home
element. and had almost forgotten there
/ was Il Commercial Club until saw some
/ gentlemen gathered around the en-
trance. However. | have spent the
time vcry pleasantly and have learned
/ something. am glad to know that this
il not the kind of club thought it was
/ had an idea that the word commercial
was sort of veil. am glad
/ to see that this organization means
business for we need more concert
/ of action. We are too much for self.
and need to come together and work foi.
each others interests. Our streets are
not crcditable, as has been said and
there are many improvements needed
/ that will be more expensive the longer
they are delayed. hope to see this
| club take an interest in such matters,
and encourage needed improvements. =
| Eston Randolph, Esq. responded to
! repeated calls and said: st does seem
to me that after the long hours of con-
| lining work. we can afford to come to
/ these rooms for pleasure as well as bust
ness. have listened with interest TO
the remarks about needed improve
/ meats. l have explained to Il number
OF people that the stone foundation on
Jefferson street is for an opera house,
but 1T does not seem to be forth coming.
All our hotels ARE constantly crowded.
and travelling people and others coming
here want some place of amusement
The securing of an Opera House is a
matter of inheritance and T homo to coo