Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-02-07
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
Largely Attended Meeting-Subject of In
terest COnsidered-Htany new Members
Observation-Disclosures of Officers.


Standardization of Officers.
| The meeting of the Chamber of Commerc
on the evening of the 9Th instant, was yer.
pleasant and interesting occasion. In add
ton to good representation of the DID, tn
turnout of new members, manifested tn'
solid interest which has engrafted itself upor
our business men to perpetuate the organiza
ton, which is capable of accomplishing ST
much for the substantial growth and pros
perity of Staunton and the promotion O
country trade intercourse with this city. /
is especially gratifying to observe the interes
with which many of our young business mer
are taking hold on the lines that will material
| ly advance them in their pursuits, and confer
advantage now, and, with increasing impor
maintain, and the responsibilities they viii
| assume as the years roll on.
THE MONTHLY MEETING.
Isaac Witt, ESQ.,. the first vice-pre sident
presided, and J. C. Shields was temporary
secretary.
TIE CITY CHARTER.
The chair reported in compliance with the
instruction of the meeting held on the 25tf
ult, concernin, the amendments to the city
charter, pending in the legislature, Major
Hotchkiss Gale up the further consideration
of the same. and moved that Com mittee
take charge of the subject with the view of an
early report thereon.
The matters generally involved in the direc
ton they bad taken, were discussed by Mr.
W. p Tams and Major Hotchkiss, in which
Mr. Tams maintained that the consideration
of the same was out of place in the Chamber
of Commerce, and concluded by informing
the meeting that the proposed amendments to
the charter had already passed both houses OF
the General Assembly. Whereupon Major
Hotchkiss moved that the matter be dismiss
ed, which was agreed to.
AMENDMENT TO THE BYLAWS.
The following resolutions were offered by
Mr.. C. E. Haines involving amendments to
the bylaws. The rules were suspended and
the necessity for the same explained by Mr..
H. and then they were adopted. On the fur
ther motion of Mr.. Haines, the board of direc-
tors were requested to revise the constitution
and bylaws and report the result at the
earliest practicable time.
Observation-Disclosures BY JUDGE GRATTAN.
Judge Charles Grattan was present by invi-
tation and was called out by the Chamber.
He presented the question of immigration in
several new and interesting phases, as will be
observed by the following brief summary of
his remarks:-
Seeing from an article in the News that
many inquiries had been made of one of our
Real Estate Agents concerning Augusta lands
and Staunton by parties in the Northwest, l
beg leave to offer this suggestion to the Cham
ber:-
That it appoint Committee to wait on tie
Council and Supervisors, and ask these bodies
Jointly, to put out a pamphlet of, say, 30
pages, giving an account of the situation, soil,
productions transportation facilities, water,
markets, taxes, schools, roads, social condi-
tons, labor, minerals prices of lands and
everything that would interest man who was
looking for home for himself and place to
raise and educate family. Surely no county
in the U. S. can claim greater advantages than
Augusta, and no city than Staunton; a climate
free from extremes, a soil producing from 30
to 80 bushels of corn, from Is to 80 bushels of
wheat, large yields of sugar beets, with high
er percentage of sncrose than any other State
or even Germany; fruits from the cranberry
to peach-a wheat market assured by OuI
mills, equal to Richmond and Chicago. The
only beet-sugar works south and east of the
Ohio. Schools, public and private, such as
make our city the Athens of the South taxes
lower than any Western State; health assured
by climate, elevation and drainage and proved
by experience, the best paved the best lighted
best watered and protected from fire and the
most active, progressive, business city of like
population to be found in our land. All we
want is to be known.
The pamphlet will not cost over $50 pei
thousand-put it IN the hands of our Real Es-
tate Agents. city and county clubs and adver-
tise in N. Western papers telling where en-
quirers can get information. and when those
enquiring write send them pamphlet. Will
it brings one settler with $40 000 his county tax
will be $50 paid annually into the county
treasury. What outlay will it cost the county
to buy this annuity? SS333.
The city tax for the same would be about
800 and would cost her S1666s. This does
not take into consideration the State tax or
the advantages coming from new ideas, new
methods, and new energies"
On motion of Mr. G. E. Haines the follow
ing resolution was adopted =
"Resolyed, That the President of this body
appoint a committee of three to lay before
the council of the city and the county super
visors, the importance of action in the matter
of inviting settlers. and requesting joint action
on their part in this irection''-which was
concurred in. The chair appointed the follow
ing committee under said resolution
G. E. Haines, Jacob Yost, w. p. Tams.
AMENDMENTS TO CERTAIN LAWS.
A communication was read from the Suffolk
Chamber of Commerce, as well as bill, thai
body had before the legislature involving
amendments to section 9, 45S of the Code, the
brief of which is as follows: fraudulent act:
that are void-Bona tide purchasers not at
fected-Lien given to preferred creditors shall
be void" The subj ects were further explain
ed by Mr.. Henry Hutchinson, and, on hi
motion, the Secretary was directed to com
municate with the Augusta members of thu
| legislature, who were requested to exercise
| their own discretion in the premises.
NEW TRANSPORTATION LINES.
Mr.. R. D. Haislip called attention to the i'm
mediate propriety of the chamber taking &C
ton respecting proposed new lines of trans
portation in this section of the Valley ant
how they would affect this city and its trade
relations On his motion, the same were re
ferred to committee of three as follows
| r. D. Haislip Henry Hutchinson, P. H
Trout
| NEW MEMBERS.
The Secretary reported the names of tn
following firms and individuals for member
ship who were duly elected =
| w B. McChesney, Lightner, Eichelberge
& Co.; ]. a. Wise; Fulton, Hutchinson & Co.
NJ. Erskine Miller e. Brother; Frazer, Black
burn & Co.; John D. Crowle Edward Alexan
der & Co.. j. Summerfield e. Co.; ]. Alex
Bumgardner; o. NJ. Goode; J. J. Kilgalen; A
M. Valz; j. L. Beck.
The chamber has now over 70 members.
The monthly meeting then adjourned, TO
the purpose of holding
THE ANNUAL MEETING.
Mr. William A. Burke was called upon t
preside. and Mr.. ]. M. SPOTS requested to &C
as secretary.
The Committee appointed at the meeting Q
the c5th January to report the names of pei
son for the several Offices of the Chamber fo
the ensuing year, made their report throug
the Chairman, Major Hotchkiss, to the month
ly meeting and then said report was presen
ed to the meeting. 1t is as follows
President Isaac Witt.
N