The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-04-13
Board of Trade.

A very laudable effort to attempt to re-
vive and increase the business interests Of
Mount Holly, has been put in motion, the
first step being taken on Wednesday
evening, when public meeting was held
in the Court House with a view to reor-
ganize the Board of Trade.
Charles K. Chambers was chairman,
Edward D. Stokes acting as secretary.
Mr.. Chambers explained the object of the
meeting. He said he was glad to see by
the attendance that somebody is alive to
the needs of the town. Other places
have boards of trade that are doing good
work for their localities, and there is NO
reason why Mount Holly should not have
an awakening that would be to its advan.
tage. Mr.. Chambers gave his ideas with
reference to the composition of board OF
trade and then requested any one present
to give his views on the subject.
Josiah W. Evan was the first to re.
spond. He asked what had become Of
the old board of trade. Why is 1t not
doing something? Mr.. EVAN said he was
aware of the fact that some action Is nee.
essary. There are plenty of energetic
men in Mount Holly, but unfortunately
they have not sufficient means to push
enterprise. A board of trade might Sc
cure remittance of taxes to firms desiring
to locate here. 1t might 90 to the Penn
sylvanla Railroad Company and tell il
that it charges too much freight. He
moved that board of trade be organized
subscription list to be opened, with
yearly dues at one dollar.
Walter Allen thought So dues would be
low enough.
w. S. Rendell said this meeting was
OF ho huo in hn
ner. A committee should be appointed tC
formulate plans and then call the citizens
to complete the organization.
| Col. Sloan referred to the old board
which he designated as active and which
accomplished much good, but it died.
He was one of the surviving victims
There had never been a movement to-
ward progressing the town but that he
had aided and every Investment he hac
made was a losing one. But that haC
gone. The one point now is to accom-
plish something. Organize first, but i
public sentiment is not aroused nothing
will be accomplished. There are enough
capitalists in town who are able to start 9
boom, but they close their pocketbooks
He favored the appointment of commit
tee to perfect plans of organization.
| Mr.. Evan withdrew his motion and j
B. Grigg moved that the chair appoint &
committee of ten to devise ways and
means to organize board of trade, with
power to call another public meeting
when their report is ready.
This motion wss adopted, and then the
chairman called upon Rev. r. A. Rodricf
for remarks on a similar organization
which he was acquainted with.
Mr.. Rodrick said he remembered thu
time when Martinsburg, West Virginia
was dead. 1t was worse than Noun
Holly. The only enterprise of any kline
was a foundry employing 20 men anC
running on half time. The town was thu
end of railroad line, which in a shor
time was moved further on. This was
blow which caused property to drop al
least 25 per cent. Everybody thought thu
town could not revive, but the young mel
got together and formed an improvement
company. The most liberal terms wer,
made to persons who wished to locate
factories and in short time the place haC
received boom which it still maintains
Col. Sloan remarked that Mr.. Rodrick'
words proved the statement that whert
there's will there's way. The clrcum
stances which confront us to-day are sur
mounted with more difficulties than here
tofore. Times are hard, but something
can be accomplished and must be done
But it must ever be borne in mind tina
public sentiment must be behind tn,
movement
Mr. Chambers appointed the followin,
committee Rev. R. A. Rodrick, S. L
Tomlinson, Daniel Suffer, H. L. Walters
c. A. King, Amos Gibbs, A. A. Anderson
John D. Johnson, Joseph Cross and R. L
Nixon.
The meeting then adjourned.
The committee met on Friday night a
Ckas. K. Chambers Office. After an in
formal talk as to the best method for OF
ganizing board in Mount Holly, Amo
Gibbs, Samuel l.. Tomlinson and Rev. R
A. Rodrick we're appointed to submit
constitution and bylaws at a meeting @
the committee tomorrow night.