Middletown transcript., 1891-05-07
A New Industry ana q Board OF
TPana

Trade.
The fact that well-known Phila
delphia firm were looking at Middle
town with a view to locating a shir
factory here induced three Of on
prominent citizens, Messrs. G.. Z
Hukill, s. M. Reynolds and DIR. T. H
Gilpin to go to Philadelphia last Fri
day to confer with the representative
of the firm and see what inducement
they wanted. The gentlemen arrived
home late in the afternoon and it wa
at once decided to hold a public
meeting and hear the result Of theil
trip. Notwithstanding the shor1
notice given there was good rep
resentation of the business men OF
our town present when the meeting
was called to order in McWhorter's
Hall, shortly after 8 O'Clock. Or
motion DIR. I. s. Vallandigham was
made chairman and G. J. Freeman
secretary. s. NJ. Reynolds briefly
stated the result of the visit of the
committee and then asked that some
expression of opinion be given by
those present. W. P. Biggs of the
firm of Biggs & Clayton mentioned
the factory building owned by the
firm on Lake street, near where the
old creamery building stood, as a
suitable building for the shirt factory,
and said he would give his share of
the rent, one-third, toward helping
the thing along. Mr.. Clayton said he
owned one-half of the remaining two
thirds and was perfectly willing to
give his share of the rent also. He
could not speak for the other owners
at that time, but since he has. heard
from them and all are willing to do
the same thing; SO the building can
be secured for one year free of rent.
A motion was made and carried
that a committee be appointed to
prepare an act allowing the Town
Commissioners to exempt property
from taxation under certain condi-
tions. The town charter will not al
low the Commissioners to do this at
present and it will require special
act of the Legislature before they
will be able to do so.
The subject of organizing a Board
of Trade was spoken of by Mr.. Rey-
nolds and met with hearty approval.
1t was then decided to have an ad-
journed meeting on Wednesday even
ing to look further toward the form
ing of Board of Trade and to also
hear the report of committee of five
gentlemen who were appointed to
look around and see what induce
ments the people were willing to offer
to get an industry here.
LAST NIGHTS MEETING.
The meeting last evening was well
and much interest manifest
ed. After the reading and approval
of the minutes of the previous meet
ing DIR. T. FL. Gilpin one of the COM
mittee of five made his report. He
had been to Philadelphia and seen a
representative of the firm, and stated
that in all probability some of the
gentlemen would be down the first of
The week to look around. He had
received great encouragement from
some of our business men should the
factory locate here, and every one
seemed willing and anxious to keep
the project along. On motion the
was continued and in
to report further at the next
A committee of seven was
appointed for the purpose of ascer-
baining the best mode Of organizing a
Board of Trade, and learning of other
matters pertaining to the organ
ization of body of that order. The
was also instructed to re-
port at the next meeting which will
be held at the same place On Monday
evening next, at o'clock. Every
person who has the best interests of
the town at heart is expected to be
present.