Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-14
THEIR HOUSEW ARMlNG
Members of the Board of Trade Gather in
Their New Rooms
Some Impromptu hut Very Happy
Speeches Made and a Pleasant
Evening Spent.

The Washington board Of trade gave a
pleasant Informal housewarming in its
new home last evening, and from to 10
O'Clock the rooms were comfortably filled
with the members of the organization. who
We're more than pleased with the quarters
which have been secured as an abiding
s,iace. at least until such a time as the
board can afford to erect a building of It's
own.
The rooms were handsomely decorated
last evening with palms and roses and pre-
scented very attractive appearance. The
guests were received by President Warner
and Mr.. John q. Wight in a most hospitable
manner and at once made to feel perfectly
at home. Among those present were Presi-
dent B. II. Warner Secretary John b.
Wight, W. p. Van Wickle. Joseph Gawler,
Henry L. Biscoe. Austin p. Brown. A. P.
Leidy. Arthur Cowsill. Charles II. Davidge.
W. Riley Decide. Frank ]. Dieudonne. A-P.
Pardon. Weston Flint. n. G. Ordway. Jos.
Prather. VIM. II. Singleton. ]. Leavitt
Smith, VIM. f. Speir. VIM. S. Thompson,
Thos. Somerville. Matthew Trimble. VIM. H.
Veerhoff. Z. L. Whitford. VIM. II. Saunders.
Frederick W. Pilling, VIM. NJ. Poindexter,
w. s. Roose and VI. Hebner.
Handsomely Appointed Rooms.
The new rooms into which the board of
trade has recently moved are in the Ames
building. 1410-12 G. street, and are admir-
ably located They consist of two large
rooms on the second floor of the building,
connected by wide folding doors. hung with
portieres- They are covered with Japanese
mating and the walls are hung with sew
eral appropriate engravinss and etchings.
They are handsomely fitted up with oak
ONCE furniture, desks, tables and chairs. In
addition to supplying home for the board
A rsH he inns lra Cd ~ f-h
. pleasant place of meeting for the members
where they can make business appoint
ments and also meet visiting members
from boards of trade In other cities. 1t
will be convenient place. also, for the
members to drop In and write letters or
transact other business when away from
their own offices.
1t was intended to make the housewarn-
ing last evening quite an informal affair,
but ii was none the less pleasant on this
account. 1t was a jolly gathering. and all
took real pleasure in the opening of their
larger and more convenient home. Two of
the rooms on the third floor were used dur
ing the evening. and here was served
light collation., with lemonade and punch
by the side. There were cigars in plenty,
too. and when they were well lighted Presi-
dent Warner called upon a few of the mem
bers to tell what they thought of the new
move. As chairman of the committee on
rooms, to whom was due much OF the
credit for securing such desirable quarters,
Mr.. Thomas W. Somerville was first asked
to speak.
Some Informal Speechmaking.
Mr.. somerville modestly retired. or would
have done so. II he could, but he was COM
PEELED to speak, and said that, in his opin-
ion, the rooms were very much better than
the old ones. and he hoped that they would
be able to do even better in their new home
than they had ever done before.
Then Mr.. Warner devoted a few words CT |
praise to Mr.. Wight. the energetic secre-
tary Of the board, who has Iabored so hard |
for its interests Nothing would do then |
but that the secretary should add his little |
say to the remarks that had already been |
made.
Mr.. Wight said that too much credit had
been given to him. but that he was only |
too glad to have been associated with |
other well-wishers of the city to do what
they could for the advancement Of Wash |
fngton- All that was needed was for the
board Of trade to be known in order to
win recruits TO its membership. There is
q large work for the board to do, and he
looked upon this move into new quarters
rs only a step IN advance. AMI he expected
soon to see the board in building of it's
own. In conclusion. he said that he hoped
all the members would use the rooms free
~. and said that II it Were desired on
special occasions arrangements could be
made for keeping them open of evenings
In order to still further increase their use
fulness.
Brief extempore remarks were also made |
by Messrs- j. l.. Smith and ex-Gov. Ord |
way. The latter spoke pleasantly of his |
h-st experiences in Washington, when he |
came here early in the COS. with Gen. |
Batchelder. 1t was with interest, he said, |
that he had watched the growth of the |
city and the increase OF values. and was now |
more than ever satisfied that by 1900 Wash |
fngton would be feeding at least a half mil |
lion people. He regarded values in this |
city as on firmer foundation than In any |
other city In the land. and he considered |
here to leave to their children had a be- |
quest that was worth the leaving.
As to n Public Library.
Mr.. Flint also spoke Of the important |
work that Is ready at hand for the board to |
do. One Of the most desirable moves to |
agitate he considered, was the establish |
ment of a public library. In conversation |
with the assessor of the District he had
learned that the property here is assessed
at s2oO.O0O.oOO. and at this valuation tax
Of from a tenth to a quarter of a mill would |
suffice to establish a magnificent library |
The fact that this is the capital would add |
Immensely TO the value of a national uni |
yersity or great library. This was shown |
In Berlin. where the university, although !
one OF the youngest in Europe. is already |
one of the most hourishing. simply or MAIN |
~ because 1t was in a capital city. A bill
for the establishment OF a library, drafted |
by MIR. 7. w. Noyes, Is now before Con- |
greSs.
The speeches were concluded with a few |
Dr1et remarks from Mr.. TriTlble, assessor
Tor the District of Columbia. In the course |
OF his remarks he said that while the tax
able property in the District amounted to
but forty-Seven per cent of the area, the |
property that is exempt amounts to fifty
three per cent. With such state of affairs |
as this he considered IL not bit more than |
Just that the national government should |
be called upon to pay at least share Of the |
taxes here.
The remainder Of the evening was spent |
In pleasant intercourse and in the enjoy
meat CT the refreshments that were served |
upstairs Altogether IT was a most enjoy |
able occasion, and served to cement still |
closer the bonds OF fellow feeling that |
hold together the members of the Wash |
ngton board of trade.
Yesterday the executive committee of the |
national board of trade, consisting of |
AiessrS Gano of Cincinnati, Snow of New /
York. Randall Of Baltimore, Lane of Bos-
ton. Dousman Of Chicago. Parsons of St. /
Louis. Raymond of Detroit, Hefford of |
BuualO and Miller Of NeW Orleans ayailnd l