The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-30
PRESIDENT F0RD'S ADDRESS
BEFORE NEW HAYEN CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.,

The Annual Address Delivered Last Even
ing-The Chambers One Hundred and
| Second Year of Existence-Many Notable
Suggestions for Public Improvements
A Chamber of Commerce BuiIding-Sites
for Manufactories-Harb Improve
ments-Widening and Extension of
Streets-The Old Green-Standing Conn
mittees--Address by Colonel Osborn,
"Relation of municipalities to Semi
Public Corporations"
The regular meeting of the New T{a-
ven chamber of commerce was held last
rooms on Orange street. The session
was attended by a larger number of the
members and parties interested in the
developments of the business interests
of the city than has been seen at the
| meetings of the chamber for many
months. President George H. Ford
presided and delivered the annual ad-
dress He said
In accordance with an established
custom it is expected that the president
of the chamber at this meeting will re-
view in a measure the work of the
chamber during the past year, appoint
the various standing committees for the
ensuing year, and make such recon-
/ Iot ha do tiof, Of q
chamber, as in his opinion, may seem
| proper.
In the first place would take this oc-
casion to formally express my thanks
to the chamber for the compliment con-
ferred by electing me to the position
of president of this ancient and hon.
orable organization, now in it's 102d
year of existence. The original records
of the first meeting, with the constitu-
ton and signatures of it's early mem
bers is still well preserved and in the
possession of the chamber. It's officers
include such names as Elias Shipman,
Noah Webster, Roger Sherman and
other distinguished men of local and
national reputation in the last century.
Its membership originally composed of
the old time New Haven merchants,
has always embraced the leading and
influential business and professional
men of the community. The first and
original article Of its constitution, re-
corded April 8, 1894 cannot be too often
repeated:
1--WE, the subscribers, sensible that
many advantages result from CONNER
cial regulations, do associate for the
purpose Of establishing such as in our
opinion will prove beneficial to the
mercantile interest of this city,
A voluntary organization until 1872,
it was incorporated by the general as
sembly OF the fifty incorporators in
that year but eleven are living to-day.
Our records have been kept intact
from the first meeting referred to in
1894 to 1856 in one book with the sigma
lures of nearly all the members during
that period, making a most interesting
volume. 1t is to be regretted that the
record was not continued uninterrupt-
ed at least for six additional years in
order to have completed one century
in one binding AS sufficient space re-
| 11ldlllS III the DOOh Slldll lHS
year ask an appropriation from the
chamber sufficient to transfer the rec
ords for those six years at least from
the new book to the old.
WHAT ARE WE DOING?
very amusing but unfortunate SEN
tence coined by one of our most esteem
ed citizens amid the mirth of an annual
banquet a few years since, has been
often repeated, conveying the impress
sion that we were not at least as active
and alert as some organizations of this
character in other localities, especially
if the comparison were to be made with
some western cities where liberal
amounts are annually appropriated by
the municipal government and placed
at the disposal of their boards of trade
and chambers of commerce to be used
at their discretion to advance the COM
mercial business of the city. This
chamber has neither asked nor receiv-
ed such consideration or assistance
from the city, but has on the contrary
been liberal contributor from it's own
funds to worthy and appropriate OBJ
jects, here and elsewhere During the
last year it subscribed $100 towards en-
tertaining the National Congress OF
Charities and Corrections; 5000 towards
entertaining the Connecticut board OF
trade; more than $1,000 contributed by
it's members few years ago, associat-
, ed with a similar amount raised by the
New Haven Register by means oi
which was completed and erected last
| year a suitable memorial on East Rock
park to the memory of one of New
Haven's most distinguished mayors
whose name is recorded upon our books
as a most active and progressive pres
ident of this chamber.
STREET PAVING.
The sentiment of improving oul
streets on an extensive plan by the lay
ing of better pavements was introduced
by one of our members and acted upor
by this chamber, developed by our com.
mittee on town and city improvements
assisted and supported by members Of
| our city government and the project
and plan of payment of the same pro.
vided for. The much needed work il
this direction will soon commence anC
it is hoped by the close of the present
season several of our streets will show
evidence, not only this year but il
years to come, of the enterprise anc
good judgment of the chamber in urg.
ing this matter to a successful result
GOOD ROADS.
| For the state legislation in the direc.
, tion of good roads in this common.
| wealth Won are indebtad to a GREAT ay