The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-03

Aho Roohoke DOaru Oh traue held an
interesting and important meeting in
the circuit court room last night.
About thirty members were present and
questions of vital Importance to the
board were discussed.
The meeting was called to order by
President Deaton. The report of the
board of directors was read. N. b.
johnson arose and stated that some
thing would have to be done to enable
the board to maintain itself.
lie said that many things might be
done for the advancement of the inter
ests of Roanoke if only the necessary
funds were at hand. There was nothing
that would so much and SO rapidly de-
velop this city as the minerals in the
surrounding country. Some time ago
he had made motion to have place
arranged for public display of mineral
specimens, but it was defeated on &C.
count OF there being no money He
favored raising the mem bership dues
but had no plan to propose, and asked
the secretary to state what the annual
income and expenses of the board, in
present circumstances, were.
The secretary stated that the income
of the board was now about 81 600, and
the expenses were at least that amount,
in fact, said he, it will take close finan-
ciering to meet the expenses with 81, 600.
j. Shirley Smith thought the only
remedy was to increase the membership
and thus increase the dues. w p.
Hough said If they could only get the
merchants of the city to realize that it
was to their interest to sustain the
board OF trade everything would be we'll
That some work ought to be done to get
them to feel the proper appreciation of
the board and pay up back dues
D. G. Rawn thought that no amount
OF urging on tho part OF the members
would avail much, and favored the plan
OF getting interested members to sub
scribe fifty cents per month in addition
to dues He declared that Solicited
members" were not worth much.
The president then called A. b. John
son to the chair and took the floor He
said tho board had been able to keep
things going, and thought they would
sti keep them moving along. But"
said he, Ito do effectual work the board
needs money. II VIC had the necessary
funds think we might induce quite a
number of small industries to como to
Roanoke" He cited several instances
wherein he thought the city had lost by
the board not being strong financially.
N. b. johnson thought they ought to
get twenty men in the city who would
be willing to give $50 each. Mr.. Rawn
favored publishing letter to the peo-
| pie, stating the needs Of tho board and
what could be done with an increase Of
| funds.
N. p. Foard thought to create an
honorary membership at SIS per head
would be q good plan.
N B. Johnson made motion to have
committee appointed to look after the
revenue of the board. The motion was
unanimously adopted and tho following
gentlemen appointed by the chair: N.
b. Johnson, j. G. Rawn, j. S. Smith, II.
| MI. Engle and n. p Foard.
The secretary then read a letter from
| tue Martinsville board of trade, calling at
tention to the fact that there is no Sunday
mail service on the Roanoke and South
ern division of the Norfolk and West
ern railroad and urging the board here
to cooperate with 1t in try ing to induce
the authorities in Washington to estab-
| lish Sunday service. The secretary
offered some resolutions to the effect
indicated, which were unanimously
adopted.
| The president stated that he had been
SO occupied that he had not yet made q
| selection of tho various committees and
could not name them until some future
| time.
The meeting then adjourned.