The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-10
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED
Mr.. Josephus Daniels Chosen Presi-
dent For Next Year.
ANNUAL REPORTS OF RETIRING OFFICERS
President Jones Makes Some Suggestions Lock
ing TO the Future Good and the Gen.
eral Prosperity Of the City ia
Business Way.


of Commerce was held last night. Re
ports of officers were read and ordered
spread upon the minutes, and new Of
ficers were elected as follows:
JOSEPHUS DANIELS, president.
FRANK T. WARD, 1st vice-president
CHAS. PEARSON, End vice-president
T. B. WOMACK, 3rd vice. president.
GEORGE ALLEN, secretary.
JOSEPH E. POGUE, treasurer
The report of the retiring president,
Mr.. w. n. Jones, was listened to with
great interest. 1t reviewed the his
tory of the city and its progress dur
ing the past year and pointed the way
to still greater progress in the future.
Mr.. Jones said:
To the Members of the Chamber of Com
merce of the City of Raleigh
Gentlemen The last annual report
to the Chamber of Commerce was made
in October, 1899, since which time much
has been done for the improvement and
advancement of the city, which will at
ford qualification to the members of the
Chamber as we'll as to the citizens of the
town generally when considered.
For long time there has been consid-
cradle talk of erecting an auditorium in
this city Nothing definite, however,
towards getting the auditorium was done
until the present year. During last
spring, at the request of the Chamber,
the president called meeting OF our
citizens to consider this matter. At this
meeting subscriptions were taken and
about SO. 900 were raised, and commit
tee was appointed to canvass the town
for subscriptions to the stock for an audi
torium company. Most of those APP
pointed on the committee worked faith
fully, and with what had already been
obtained at the public meeting, between
SO 600 and $11 ,U00tin subscriptions to the
proposed Aditorium Company were OBJ
tanned. The proposed company was then
formed, Incorporated and organized and
this matter committed to it. A part
Of the subscriptions were paid in, and
as is we'll known the directors of the
company selected the Trade building on
Wilmington street as a site and reported
their action to the stockholders for their
concurrence. The stockholders approved
this action of the directors by very
close viva voce vote, but so much dis
satisfaction was expressed at the decision
reached that the owners OF the Trade
building asked the directors to allow
them to withdraw their property from
consideration as a site. and the direc-
tors have referred the whole matter to
a meeting of the stockholders to be held
on the 18th of this month, at which
time the directors will ask to be in
structed by a stock vote. This is the
history and present status of the audito-
rum matter.
We believe the Progress already made
will insure the erection of the auditorium.
and such an auditorium as Raleigh should
&c prnCcq6 III no
doubt will be. OF course it will require
patience and perseverance to do this, but
we believe it will be accomplished
mistake. it seems to US, was made in
irving to select a site before the sub
scriptions were paid, and for three rea-
sons: First, because a better trade can
always be made with money than without
it: second more friction can be got rid
of by making the selection after the
money is collected than before; and,
third. YOU can tell who ought to vote and
how much when subscriptions are paid
We believe the subscribers to the capt.
tai stock should pay in their subscrlp-
tions, and not try to compel the dlrec-
tors of the Auditorium Company to get
a site without any money. stockholder
will have just as much power in determln
ing the site after the money is paid
IN as before, ana DeSIueo 0lICO WILL III
doubt. be offered when the money is in
hand that would not be offered without
the money. No reasonable man will
want to "tie string to his money" or
try to dictate where the auditorium shall
be located The only reasonable course
is to pay in the subscriptions and thus
get the best propositions and then the
best result will follow. The directors OF
the Auditorium Company have given no.
tice that they will ask to be instructed
as to their duty at the meeting on the
18th, and then subscribers will be re-
ouested to pay their stock, and this we
believe is as it should be.
We have extended somewhat our re-
marks upon this auditorium matter, be-
cause we think it is of considerable mo-
ment to the business men of the town
If they let the auditorium fail now it is
their failure as we'll as that of the town.
A city in business way is but large
copartnership in many respects, and a
failure of the whole is failure OF all
its parts, because it effects all more OF
less. But there need be no failure. With
what has already been done the audto-
rum can be secured if our people are
true to the opportunities they now have
We hope. thorofo~o that all the sub
scribers to the capital stock will attend
the meeting on the 18th instant vote
their sentiments and the auditorium vii
be built by the company having it II
charge. Let us as business men as vel
as members of the Chamber do what
we can to help this important matter
along.
This year has been another very pros
porous year to this city in which sub
Stantial progress has been made. The
new enterprises which have been com
menced in the town during the year are
1. The Melrose Knitting Mills, for the
manufacture Of mems underwear-nov
about to commence work, having finished
their brick building near the Johnston
Street Station. This mill will employ
about 100 operatives; 2. The Raleigh Tele-