The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-07
THE MERCHANTS ASS AsclArroN
First of the Quarte~ H..
Yesterday Afte- Cs.---, NJ
cussfon as TO H-~..r
fty of the c..

ity of the CITY
Ala scent meeting OF the board Of
airec -ors of tie Wilmington Merchants
association, 1t was decided to have a
quarterly meeting Of the association
every thu. ee months to discuss matters
generally and consider the best means
pro noting the city's prosperity. The
nrst OF these quarterly meetings was
yesterday afternoon at the asso-
Cations rooms in the Seaboard Air
line building.
Major w. A. Johnson, the president,
presided, and Mr.. 2. Heinsberger, the
secretary, was at his post.
President Johnson stated the purpose
of the meeting and spoke Of the neces-
sity for our business men to come to-
gether and cooperate in not only max
ing the Merchants Association a sue
cess, but TO set measures on foot to
build up the city.
After the minutes of the preceding
meeting had been read and approved,
the following letters, which speak for
themselves, were read:
Wilmington, y. c., March 81.
Hon. George Rountree:
Dear Sir: At the regular monthly
41ASGIIus VI lie vi liz NM
chants Association, held March Goth,
the various measures passed by the
legislature benefitting our city were
discussed by the board A resolution
was passed, ~instructing the secretary
to address a letter of thanks to each
of our representatives.
I'm obedience to this resolution / de-
sire for this association and it's men,
bers, to thank you for your energetic
a nd 1nfirino offnrtc in orr hohaIf in aU-
cry direction, in securing for us such
legislation az would be ure to rebound
to our good. Respectfully yours,
"P. HEINSBERGER.
Secretary"
Wilmington, N. c., March 80.
Mr.. P. Heinsberger, Secretary:
My Dear Sir: 1 am in receipt of
your letter CT the 21st instant, notify
ing me of the resolution of thanks
passed by the Merchants Association
to Messrs. Davis, Willard and myself.
Absence from the city has prevented
my earlier acknowledgement of the
compliment, but I beg to assure you
and the association that / am highly
sensible of the kindness and will ever
treasure it as a grateful memory.
Yours truly,
GEO. ROUNTREE."
A similar letter to the one sent to
VII 1GOuIItISe was dlSo " dIuGu W
the Hon.. M. S. Willard, and his reply
was read, as follows:
wilmington, N. c., March %.
"Mr. P. Heinsberger, Secretary Mer-
chants Association, City:
/. my Dear Sir: I am in receipt of
your communication conveying to me
: the thanks Of YOU association for SER
vices rendered to our city as a mem
Der of the general assembly. If any one
nao11nvinO q nncifinn of thic lind hoe
performed the duties which have been
placed upOn him, in such a manner as
ITO meet the approval of his own con-
science, the reward should be sufficient.
But when to this is added the approval
of so important an organization as you
represent, one should feel more than
repaid for any sacrifices that may have
been made.
II regret very much that certain
, measures proposed by your body could
not be enacted. There seemed to be
legal difficulties in the way of some
which could not be overcome. I am glad
to say, however, that an act providing
| for a stock law for New Hanover coun-
ty was passed and that the voters of
the county will have an opportunity
to vote on the question of providing
| good roads.
I, If I can be of any further service to
your association I hope you will COM
. mand me. Respectfully.
M. S. WILLARD"
F.. After the letters had been read a
general discussion as to the best means
of promoting the city's prosperity, fol-
! lowed. 1t was participated in by Messrs
William NESTLE, M. w. jacob, w. E.
Worth, George r. French, A. B. Skeld-
ing and others.
Mr.. jacob made a good point in say
inO that If If iS 6QcirQ1 fn hri1d III Will
i mington we must go into enterprises
ourselves and let people see that we
believe in our own town.
Mr.. Worth spoke of the growth of the
trucking industry and said one Of our
great needs was to induce people to
come here and utilize the thousands OF
! acres of idle lands going to vast
| around Wilmington. He pointed to the
great development Of the trucking in
dustry around New Bern and COM
! mented upon the fact that last veal
! alone 300, 900 crates of peas were ship
| ped from that section. One of the best
means to induce people to settle here
and use Our lands was to build good
/! roads. He called attention to the re-
cent act Of the general assembly au
thorizing New Hanover county to issue
bonds to build good roads and favored
immediate steps to Ave the act car
l r1eU INTO erect. he suggested the ap-
| pointment OF a committee to look into
| the matter, consider the advantages
and investigate as to what increase o.
/ taxes is necessary to carry out thu
act. He favored the good roads move.
! ment, even if it did increase our taxes
If we build up the country around oul
city, he contended, the city will surely
prosper.
Mr.. George R. French agreed
with Mr.. Worth in this matter
of good roads, and moved that
a committee be appointed to con
fer with the board Of county commits
sioners as to the good roads act and
ascertain the<increase Of taxation nee
essary to carry it out. The motion wa:
heartily seconded by Mr.. A. B. Skeld
ing and was adopted. Messrs. w. E
Worth and NJ. W. jacob were appoint
ed as the committee.
Mr.. jacob suggested that one wa.
to do our city good was for everybod.
to talk up u city, and show to tn,
world that we have as good a town a
any. Our people must be educated Vi
to h fact that we are working NOR
people in two enterprises that do NOR,
business than the whole Of the pros