The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-21
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE..
ENJOYABLESUPPER AND SPEECH
AT THE ORION LAST NIGHT
Wilming ton'ss Important Wholesale Gro
Gerry Trade-Oar Fertilizer and Trucking
Interests-The Wholesale Shoe Trade Our
Advantages for Manufacturing-Deep
Water in the River and on the Bar

Water in the River and on the Bar
Yesterday was the birthday Of Gem
eral Robert E. Lee, and it was signal
lied by a supper given last night at
The Orion house by the Wilmington
Chamber of Commerce. The chambers
committe Of arrangements for his af-
fair consisted of Messrs. r. y. Sweet,
M. w. Jacob, F. L.. Higgins, Gabriel
Holmes and II. C. Mcqueen, a. those
who gathered around the fes--E board
can well testify that they d!d their
work we'll. To Mr.. r. y. Sweec, who is
Fast master in looking after such mat
tiers, is due special credit for the in
terest he took in the preparations and
the attention he gave during the ser
vices OF the courses. The table was set
in the shape of a cross in the middle
OF the dining room. and WIS p-ettily
decorated with ported plants.
Mr.. James H. Chadbourn, Jr., presi-
dent of the exchange presided at the
head of the table, and seated around
the board were the Rev. w. 3. oliver,
Captain w E. Craighill, United States
corps Of engineers in charge of river
and harbor improvements, and Messrs.
Hugh MacRae, r. p. McClammy, j. A.
Fore, Jno. F. Garrell, r. w. Vincent,
M. w. jacob, C.. E. Borden, Geo. r.
French, F. w. Foster, D. C. Love,
Professor M. c.. S. Noble, Colonel James
G. Burr, T. Wright Meares, H. G..
Smallbones, Colonel Walker Taylor, p.
u. Manning, Col. F. w. Kerchner, J.
B. Mercer, r. M. Wescott, F. l.. Hug
gins, J. c. Springer, DR.. T. S. Burbank,
ID. NJ. Williams, Geo. L. Morton, Phil
ander Pearsall, C. G.. Switzerland, J..
A. Springer, ]. I. Nets, C. W. Gates,
J. A. Taylor, Iredell Meares, j. w.
jackson, r. N. Sweet, J. c. Stevenson,
b. A. Jones, r. D. Meares, w. W. Wick
and T. w. Clawson.
President Chadbourn called upon the
Rev. w. B.. Oliver, pastor of the First
Baptist church, who asked the blessing,
after which the supper was served in
courses. The menu was as follows:
New River Oyster on the Half Shell.
Olives. Celery. Pickles.
Broiled Blue Fish.
Saratoga Chips.
Tenderloin Steak, with Mushrooms.
Stuffed Quail, with Green Peas
Sliced Tomatoes.
Chicken Salad, Cold Ham and Tongue.
Nuts and Raisins. Tea and Coffee.
Cigars.
When the cigars had been handed
around, President Chadbourn stated
that as the inner man had been salts
fled it would be in order to have a
series OF toasts, and called upon Mr..
James C. Stevenson, president of the
Wilmington Wholesale Grocers' Asso-
citation to speak on
OUR WHOLESALE GROCERY
TRADE.
In his remarks Mr.. Stevenson said the
wholesale grocery trade Of Whining
ton was a potential factor in the pros
perity of the city. There is probably
twice as much capital invested in this
trade than in any other in Wilmington,
the capital invested in the wholesale
grocery trade in the city a~ggregating
$500, 900 or more, and the annual sales
amounting to $2,O 900, 900. In the bust
ness there are some of our most en-
terprising people. Inc they constitute
an important part of the chamber of
commerce, they are a strong elementin
I.. -
enterprises, etc. In conjunction with
all THE other business of the city they
have an important part to play, and
being the largest capitalists of the city
add to the Importance of u city and
by standing shoulder to shoulder they
can contribute much to the prosperity
of Wilmington. He stated that every
merchant in Wilmington benefited by
the wholesale grocers' association, as
through their efforts they got freight
rates reduced. They hold regular meet
ings but do their work quietly. Speak
ing of the wholesale grocers, he said
there was good territory yet to be COW
cred and they should display more en-
ergy in placing statesmen upon the road
to go after the trade, as the time was
past when trade is secured unless you
go after it. He spoke of the pluck and
energy of Atlanta, and commended to
our people the cooperation with which
her citizens unite in building up that
prosperous and enterprisfng city. He
urged, that like the citizens of Atlanta,
when anybody comes forward to dc
something for the town, our PEOPLE
should get under him with their
shoulders and hold him up. He re-
marked tina the wholesale grocers' as
ISOLATION was not a trust, any more
tina the organization of the railroad
engineers, or this Of COM
merce, but it was an organization to
protect the interests OF the wholesale
grocers, especially against the en-
49, 49, 49,