The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-11

The proposition to hold Southwest
Industrial Exposition this fall was put
in tangible shape last night and the
prospects are now good for the holding
OF the exposition. About 400 people at
tended the convention in the Academy
of Music, fully one third of whom were
delegates from the counties contiguous
to this section. A large nun Der of the
prominent citizens of Roanoke were
also present
Seated upon the stage were Mayor
HenryS. Trout and Hon. J. Allen Watts.
of Roanoke; Hon. j. Hoge Tyler, OF
Radford; Thomas p. Grasty, of Wash
ington. D. c., one Of the principal own
ers CT the Manufac turers Record; r, G..
Moomaw, OF the Buena Vista Advocate:
b. Hatcher, OF Franklin; Judge Will.
lam Pierce, of Montgomery; H. e. Pres.
ton, Of Radford; j. Ii. Ii. Flggat,, Of
Fincastle, and j. w. T. Allemonp. of
Salem.
The convention was called to order by
N. b. Johnston, chairman Of the local
committee, "hU spoke AZ some length
on tho question Of holding the cxposi.
ton AMI the development OF this SEC
ton Of the country.
MIR. Johnston's Opening Address
The following is a portion of Mr..
Johnson's Introductory remarks:
at is pretty we'll understood what we have
come here for this evening but in order TO make
the matter little more plain will reheaisc the
Facts briefly. IT was talked of among some of
the gentlemen here in Roanokc to how we
something he win TO, ~
peoples mind on the depression and With A view
also OF moving things forward toward a revival
1t was thought that getting the pcopc 70.
gcther and having some exposition of her rcsour
ccs would be good step in that direction and so
II meeting was called which was held in the conrt.
house here Oh the 10Th OF March.
At that meeting committee was appointed to
take the matter under adviscmcnt The com.
mittec drafted the following letter. which WINS
sent out to prominent business men throughout
the section ambiguous to u.s.
mat, IT would seem to me. would be n suf-
ilcicnt introduction CT the subject and a suf
hclcnt basis FOR the meeting to 20 to work upon
put IN II has neen requested by the gentlemen hav
the committee. under whose direction that letter
was framed, should say something OH this oc-
casion. cannot make an or hand specch M 7
was not framed for that sort OF thing | have
therefore. written down some thoughts | have
on ms subject and will ask your indulgence
while read them
Mr.. Johnson, continuing from his
he had been selected as chairman of the
meeting; but if snything could be sug-
gested in which he could take more in.
terest than in the development of this
section OF Virginia then he did not know
what it would be.
Mr.. johnson then sketched the de-
velopment of this section from the
close of the war down to 1880 ard
quoted a prediction OF friend whom
he mot in the latter year he would sec
developn ent here that would soon
make this State as populous and pros
porous as similar regions in Pennsyl
vanls Mr.. Johnson then spoko o, tho
disparity between some sections in his
own State and cc;ions of Pennsyl-
vania and Kentucky and asked if there
was not remedy for this disparity.
IN answering his one question, Mr..
johnson said divide every farm in
Southwest Virginia into two and manv
OF them into Ten farms; make such road
ways and raise such stock that where
our teams now draw 500 pounds the
teams of the future will draw 1000
pounds; make the lands which now pro-
duce ten bushels of wheat or two tons
Of produce thirty bushel, Of wheat or
four tons Of hay; let tho owners of our
real estate in mines and other unde-
veloped property realize that thing is
only worth what it will bring and place
such prices upon this property that in
vestors will find it to their interest to
buy and develop them.
Continuing, Mr.. Johnson said further
on that he was heart and soul in any
scheme looking to the improvemens of
our section, ami, believing that the tx
position will work TO that end, he would
render it all tho assistance he could It.
was for this meeting to decide, LIE said,
as to the advisability and also as to tho
possibility OF the proposition
There is but ono practical difficulty
in tho way that know of and that is
what meets us every time ne attempt
TO do anything in the South, and espe.
ceially so now. 1t is the lack of monye
we have an abundance of everything
except money, and what we want 10 do
now is to show tho world what we have
to give them in exchange foe their
money, though when we undertake to
make display Of our wants it should
be in creditable manner.
While Roanoke has taken the initia
tive in this movement she must have
the hearty CO operation and support OF
the entire section embraced in the let.
tiers OF invition. AS we believe that
without this CO operation it would fail
OF the most important end in view
which is the making a united CON