The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-09
COMMERCIAL CONGRESS.
Fifth Annual Session Now in Prog
ress at Tampa.


Tampa, Fla, Feb. S.-The fifth annual
session of the South and West Commercial
Congress was called to order in Congress
Hall of the Tampa Bay Hotel this morn
ing by President Breedlove Smith of New
Orleans.
About 100 delegates, representing various
commercial bodies of. the South and West,
sion, and they are still arriving in the
city by every train.
The meeting was opened by an eloquent
prayer from Rev. w. H. Osborne, pastor
of the First Baptist Church of Tampa
which is the usual custom of the congress
The meeting then began business by
eleeting II. Cunningham, secretary of the
Tampa Board of Trade, as it's secretary,
which is a customary proceeding. al
though the president is a permanent po-
sition and is selected every two years
The president then announced that the
formation of committees on credentials
and resolutions were next in order and re-
quested each delegation to submit a name
for each of these committees, and the COM
pleted committees will be announced to-
morrow.
Mayor Gillette of Tampa then announc-
ed the programme for this session of the
congress, which is a very attractive one
and will not be fully concluded until
Thursday night
At 8 O'Clock this afternoon a train of
street cars were drawn up at the Tampa
Bay Hotel gate and the delegates taken
for an outing over the forty miles of selec-
trie railway here, being shown every point
of interest in Tampa Each car was in
charge of a delegation from the Tampa
Board of Trade, who We're assiduous in
their attention to the guests. Many of
the immense clear Havana cigar factories
We're visited and the visitors shown
through them. This was a sight which
was greatly appreciated by this body of
business men and was something in the
way of revelation.
The weather here is such as to complete
ly charm the visitors, who left billiards.
behind.
At 8 O'clock this evening, the congress
reassembled in the Tampa Bay Casino to
hear addresses of welcome and responses.
The large auditorium was packed with an
immense throng of people.
Mayor Myron e. Gillette, on behalf of
Tampa, and Hon. w. A. Carter for the
Tampa Board of Trade, made speeches of
welcome, which were followed by Col j.
b. Anderson of Tampa, personal represent
tative of Gov. W. d. Bloxham, who was
unable to be here. Col. Anderson elo-
quently babe the visitors welcome in the
name of Florida, and his speech was full
of fraternal spirit towards the great
West as well as the other parts of the
country.
Hon. A. A. Wiley of Alabama responded
TO the welcome on behalf of the congress
in fitting terms and his address was in
keeping with the others.
Gov G.. w. Atkinson of West Virginia.
was present and made a brilliant address
to the Congress, dealing with the mag
| nificent possibilities which are in store for
both sections as a result of closer trade re-
lations between the South and West
This congress is for the purpose of pro-
noting these relations by giving the West
and Northwest better shipping facilities for
their great grain crops, and in turn maxi
! ing market for the products of the fields
and factories in the South
number of transportation companies
have delegates here and are taking great
interest in the proceedings of the Congress.
| The body will meet at 10 clock tomorrow
| and get down to business.