The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-08

freight rates to enable our wholesale
merchants to compete with other cities.
and gave a practical illustration OF
discrimination SO far as concerned
goods in his line-hardware, doors,
sash, blinds, etc. He seconded Mr..
TayIor's motion.
Mr.. c. E. Borden, president OF the
Navassa Guano Company, said Mr..
Taylor had struck the key note. He
strongly urged the Importance and
necessity of a freight bureau, and spoke
of the necessity for the cooperation of
the entire business community. He
said it required 81, 500 to So, 900 to pay
the expenses of a freight bureau but
it would be very Well spent. He ad-
vocated the appointment of a cammit-
tee to secure subscriptions towards the
establishment of a freight bureau. A
freight bureau meant that an expert
railroad man must be employed to look
after our rates. In freight matters his
duties will be to urge upon the rail-
roads such rates as we are entitled to
and if we cannot secure them to lay
the matter before the railroad commits
sion. He dwelt upon the Importance of
employing a man posted and expert
enced, and said joint action should be
taken in the matter by the chamber of
He then gave an illuctration of how
discriminating rates affected the fer
htilizer trade of Wilmington. He re-
marked that the North Carolina rail-
road commission had reduced fertilizer
rates 16 % cents and aid while that
was a good start the example of the
South Carolina commission should be
followed, mat is in making a basis rate
cents for each subsequent ten miles.
He called attention to the fact that the
Southern railway pulls" for Richmond
and said if we had ONE railway to do
great advantage for our city. He said
the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley rail-
road did that in some respects, and it
should be appreciated by our shippers.
He moved the appointment of a COM
mittee to cooperate with a committee
appointed by the produce exchange
with reference to this matter. He then
read a letter from Mr.. Oscar PearsaM
president of the Produce Exchange, ad-
dressed to Mr.. D. L. Gore. The follow
ing is a portion of the letter:
~ Wilmington, n. c., january "A.
Mr.. D. l.. Gore:
Dear Sir: According to the action of
our boar of this afternoon
authorizing me to appoint a commit
tee to take UP the matter OF freight
discrimination, I request that you
serve as chairman of the committee
with Messrs. s.. P. McNair, C. J. Boney,
Geo. r. French, C. w. Worth and VIM.
Calder.
LAS instructed by our board, I have
written Mr.. James H. Chadbourn, Jr..
requesting him to appoint a committee
from the Chamber of Commerce to Co
Operate with you. Our secretary will
give you the data prepared by the spe-
citl committee.
MIR. r. W. Hicks said he was glad to
see the chamber taking Mold Of the
matter of freight rates, and spoke Of it's
importance to the wholesale grocery
rad of our city. He spoke strongly
in favor of a freight bureau and said
he would cheerfully chip in his part
to pay for it. He seconded Mr.. Tay-
qOr'S motion.
Messrs. B.. F.. Keith, G.. j. Boney, D.
l.. Gore and William Gilchrist also
strongly advocated a freight bureau.
Mr.. Gilchrist moved that the chair ap-
point a committee of five to -operat
with the produce exchange COM
mittee.
Mr.. Gore suggested that the lner-
chants association also be requested
to cooperate. After discussion, it was
finally agreed to adopt the following
resolution, which vas written out by
Mr.. Borden and passed unanimously,
viz:
Resolved, That it is the sense of
the of that the for
nation and establishment of a freight
bureau is essential for the best business
interests of the city; that a committee
OF nVe members De appointed to Co
operate with a comInitte from the pro-
duce exchange; that the merchants
association be requested to also ap-
point a committe to join in this work,
that these committees are asked to at
once proceed to see if sufficient sub
scriberS can be procured to raise the
necessary funds for this and
that, if such is found possible, that the
bureau shall be i~naugurated as soon
possible, under the joint control of
these three bodies"
The president appointed the following
committee in accordance with 81.
Borden's resolution concerning a
freight bureau, and the committee sub
s~eQuently organized by electing Mr.. J..
Allen Taylor as chairman, viz: Messrs.
J. Allen Taylor, c. E. Borden, Jno. F.
McNair, NJ. w. jacob and r. N.
Sweet.
Mr. r. w. Hicks expressed appre-
OF the efforts of the North Car