The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-22

TIE TIMES building presented amin
atcd scenes all yesterday. Long before
the hour of opening the convention the
real estate men began to gather in
groups discussing tho subjects that were
to come before the convention.
The leaders of the Roanoke Exchange
werc carly on hand arranging the rooms
and welcoming tho visitors. Tho OK
change hall on tho third floor, and tho
commercial school room adjoining, were
thrown into one, and then tho spacious
hall was filled almost to Overlooking.
When President a. Myers, of Norfolk
raped tho convention to order at 1920
he looked into the faces of over two
hundred hustling dealers in Virginia
dirt.
Rev. j. II. Boyd of Greene Memorial
Church opened tho convention with a
short prayer, and the president an
nounced Mayor Evans to deliver the
address of welcome. The mayor as
cended tho rostrum and said:
"MR. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN:
did not know until few hours ago that
it would be my pleasant duty to well
come you to the hospitality of Roanoke,
and was not elected mayor of this
city on my reputation as speaker
"The citizens of Roanoke recognize
the work that has been done here by
the real estate men. and they are in
sympathy with the objects of this meet
ing.
Eight years ago Roanoke was the
little Tillago of Big Lick. Where now
are elegant houses was only dirty
swamp. We did not sell land by the
lot, but by the aero and you. could buy
the choice for $500 per acre.
Six years ago wo were chartered as n
city with 5000 population, and to-day I
welcome you among lis on behalf of tho
$4,000 people of this city.
81 was reminded of this meeting this
morning by the chief of police, who in
structed his mon to be at their posts
the town was full of real estate agents
[laughter.]
''This instruction was not given be-
cause the chief thought you were going
to cause trouble but to show off the
police force to the visitors, for tho chief
like tho rest of us is proud of the force.
I'VE realize that you are lending a
helping hand to the development of
the great resources of our State, and
hope that your efforts to bring before
the eyes of tho world tho hidden
wealth of Virginia may continue to
meet with the success that has crowned
your efforts in the past, until the old
Dominion is in the front rank of the
Industrial States of the Union. Hop
ing that you will enjoy your stay in
Roanoke l again welcome you"
President Myers, on behalf of the
>isitors, RESPONDED as follows:
"MR. MAYOR AND GENTLEMEN: I had
hoped that / would not be called upon
to raise my voice in the set phrases of
speech within your hearing. Another
tongue than mine should pay the COM
pliment of well-merited praise to your
Magic City, and return the thanks of
the convention for this magnificent re-
ception Of her generous and public
spirited citizens.
II have no words that do not seem
mean and unworthy the occasion and
my unframed speech will not express
the impulses of my heart or the dictates
of my mind.
Happy are we, gentlcmen, that this
convention brings us within the range
of your knightly courtesy and that we
are permitted to behold tho evidences
! Of your energy and thrift. Everywhere
within this thriving city are monuments
of your energy and wisdom, and through
out tho commonwealth your brethren
glorying in your achievements, wonder
at the magic of the magicians who built
so wisely and so we'll this magic city.
"But short time since the sito that
marks your homes was n wayside sta
sion, which remember as Big Lick,
but you have carved city out of a
wilderness; you have peopled it with an
active population of busy merchants
] and skiIlful artisans. until now tho