San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-08

The CITY BY THE SEA.

Corpus Christi Board of TRADE
Blossoms Out--The First An
nuai Banquet OF That
Body.
The first annual banquet Of the Cor
pus Christi board of trade was held
in that beautiful city by the sea on
last Thursday evening. The LIGHT
was duly honored with q cordial invi-
tatlon to be present, and not feeling
at liberty TO decline an invitation so
cordially rendered, the editor of
this journal packed his grip and
started for deep water. The little
city by the sea was reached in
company with Ex-Governor Ireland,
who proved most intelligent
travelling companion. The club
rooms were open and after a cordial
reception and half hours chat with
the wide awake president of the
board of trade, Col. E. H. Ropes, the
word was given to march, and the
line was taken for the dining room OF
the St.James, where sumptuous ban
quer had been spread. Over 100 guests
sat down to eat and drink and listen to
the eloquent and instructive addresses
of the hours that passed until two
a. m. President Ropes proved him.
self very affable and happy master
of ceremonies and was as efficient in
his place at the head of the banquet
board as he has ever shown himself
at the head of the board of trade and
of the Port Arkansas directory.
Rev. DR.. Clark invoked a blessing,
and tho hannnat waa haOnn
When the solids and some fluids
had been disposed of, the secretary
read a score or more of letters of re-
greet from distinguished gentlemen
who were unable to be present.
Ross and Frank Grice, of the Express
A list of toasts had been prepared
as follows:
Deep water in its relations to city
growth In the northwest.
The relation of eastern cal ital 10
south western development.
The development of southwestern
Texas.
Laredo and Corpus Christi.
Brownsville and Corpus Christi.
Rockport and Corpus Christi.
San Antonio and Arkansas Pass.
Railroads; The Pioneer Bank; Mer-
camille Developments; The Bar; The
Bench; The Board of Trade; The Press
The Future of Corpus Christi.
To the first, E. II. Chamberlin, of
Denver, responded most wisely and
we'll. His speech was weighty with
meaning, and was listened TO with
the deep attention due man who has
made such record as had the distin-
guished speaker.
n. F. Evans, of Philadelphia, was
the second speaker. He is one of the
masters of finance in the City of
Brotherly Love and his remarks were
timely and full of encouragement to
the southwest. He is a gentleman of
fine presence and polished manners,
and his brief address was warmly ap-
plauded.
In the local toasts-T. w. Dodd
spoke for Laredo, and James B. Wells
for Brownsville and their remarks
were most cordially received, bearing
as they did the most kindly and gen.
erOus good will for the gem city or
the Mexican ocean.
G. w. Fulton, Jr. arose for Rock
port in the absence of Col. Fulton,
called out ]. E. Elgin to respond.
w. S. Messmer, of the LIGHT who
was to respond to San Antonio and
Arkansas Pass requested that his
name be passed as the hour was late
and neither Captain Kennedy nor
Col. Ropes had been heard.
Speech making was virtually sus-
pended at this point. Capt. Kenne-
dy's health was proposed and drunk
with all the honors and the guests
insisted on a speech. The captain re-
marked in his own peculiar impress
sive way:
"Mr. Chairman and gentleman l
am requested to respond to railroads.
l never made a speech in my life, but
| have been responding to railroads
for great many years and the end is
not yet"
The remaining toasts were punched
and drunk in silence. Col. Ropes
made three minutes speech in clos
ing and the banquet was over.
The Trouble IN the S. p. Shops.
In, connection with the fact that
several of the machlnists employed