The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-19
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Largest Meeting the Body Ever Held
The Matter of Freight Rates Discussed.
army Post for WjimiDgton-Other Mat

The Matter of Freight Rates D1scusseo'
army Post for wtimiDgton-Other Mat
tiers
The regular monthly meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce was held yester-
day at $3.50 o'clock p. m, at their rooms
in the MacRae building, and it is graft
flying for The Messenger to note that
it was the largest meeting the body ever
held.
President James H. Chadbourn presided
and Colonel John L. Cantwell, the secre-
tary, was at his post. The minutes or
the last meeting were read and approved
The records state that the following COM
| mittee had been appointed with reference
to the proposed coming here Of persons
to erect a cotton seed oil mill: Messrs.
d. L.. Gore, Hugh MacRae and ]. A.
Springer. They also contained the an
nouncement that Messrs. Thomas F.
Bagley. b. F. Keith and NJ. S. Willard,
| had been appointed to secure hotel rates
for a meeting OF the industrial agents or
the Seaboard Air Line in our city some
| time in October or November. This COM
| mittee was appointed in response to a
letter from Captain John L. Patrick,
| chief industrial agent, who made the re-
quest.
The following new members were elect
ed: The Rheinstein Dry Goods Company
and Mr.. G.. ]. Boney..
A communication was received from
Mr.. H.. A. Whiting, president of the
Wilmington Street Railway, stating that
he would soon leave the city to go back
north, and requesting that the member
ship of the Street Railway Company be
transferred to Mr.. A. B. Shedding, the
| general manager. On motion, it was SO
ordered.
! The report of the committee appointed
to secure rates for the industrial agents,
| reported that The Orion would entertain
| them at the reduced rate of $3.50 to- $500
| per day, and other hotels and boarding
| houses at $1.OO per day.
Mr.. M. w. jacob brought up the mat
| ter of freight determinations against
| Wilmington, and remarks on the matter
were made by him, and Messrs. c. c.
| Covington, Colonel F.. w. Kerchner, D.
T. Cronly, S. H. Fishblate and James H.
| ~Chadbourn, Jr. On motion of Colonel
I Kerchner, the matter was referred to
Mr.. G. E. Borden, chairman of the
transportation committee, with the re-
! quest that he invite members of the diff
| ferent lines of trade in the city to meet
and confer with his committee as to the
best methods to pursue in remedying the
matter complained of.
On motion of Mr.. D.. T. CrOnly, the
| secretary was requested to write to Mr..
| E.. P. Boatwright, of the membership
| committee, with the request that active
| steps be taken to increase the member
| ship of the Chamber.
Mr.. M. W. jacob again called atten-
| ton to the necessity or urging the city
to continue the Improvement Of Nixon
| and Eighth streets. The matter was re-
ferred to the streets. parks and public
| roads committee, and Mr.. w. H. Chad
bourn, who was the originator of the
| proposition to improve these streets.
I Mr.. 7. F. Bagley said it would be a
good time to urge the city government
| to beautify the grounds around the public
building.
Postmaster George l.. Morton also
Joined in and said he had once or twice
~endeavored to get the park improved, but
he was informed by the postoffice de-
partmcnt that there was no available ap-
preparation to do the work, although
upon instruction from the department he
nae secured bids for doing the work, the
lowest being 81, 400.
On motion, the matter was referred to
the committee on streets, parks and pub
lie works to take steps to secure an ap-
preparation to beautify the park. The
committee consists Of Messrs. F. l.. Hug
gins, James w. Jackson and John H.
Handy.
Postmaster Morton Informed the meet
ing that he had learned that the govern
ment ~contemplates the establishment Of
an army post Of from 400 to 500 men, at or
near Wilmington, and suggested that the
state encampment grounds at Wrights-
vile be rendered to the government for
this purpose, as the state has abandoned
the holding of encampments there, and
the land has reverted to the city. After
discussion, a motion by Mr.. Morton was
adopted, that a committee be appointed
to ascertain what the status of the en-
grounds are, and to get mat
tiers in shape, SO they can tender them
for the army post. The chairman APP
pointed as that committee Messrs. Geo,
L. Morton, George r. French and F. w.
Kerchner.
The meeting then adjourned.
| The Chamber has secured for the next
year the rooms they now occupy.