The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-21
IN HONOR OF ANDERSON
BANQUET or COMMERCIAL CLUB
AND MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.
Two Hundred Representative Men at
Phases of the City's Life.

Specldi 70 the Indianapolis JOuFna-.
ANDERSON, Ind. March 20.-The first
annual banquet Of the Anderson CONNER
cial Club and Merchants Association was
held tonight at the Hotel Anderson. The
hour named in the invitation was 10 o'clock,
but long before that hour the hotel lobby
and parlors were filled with the representa-
tive men of the city. The only regret of the
evening was the absence Of Senators Fair
banks and Beverage and Governor Durbin.
John w. Scott and Charles w. Clingman.
OF Chicago, were present. 1t was half past
10 o'clock when the banquet room was
thrown open. Two hundred guests were
seated, representing fully SlO.CO.O0 and in
Guiding practically every vocation in An
derson. II was a brilliant assemblage of
merchants, bankers, attorneys. ministers
and manufactures brought together for the
purpose of cementing friendship, promoting
sociability and encouraging the growth and
development of Anderson. whose rapid
strides in wealth and population have been
the marvel of the Indiana gas belt.
John l.. Forkner presented POSTMASTER
Charles l.. Henry, who was greeted with a
storm of applause. Mr.. Henry struck the
keynote in saying: Natural gas only
opened the eyes of Anderson to herself
and the eyes of others to her. 1t
matters not TO us now about the
future of gas; the future of Ander-
son is assured" He c-omplimented the
organization of the Merchants Association
ana introduced Mayor NJ. NJ. Dunlap. VINO
responded To- the toast Anderson After
some humorous references TO the city 5
elastic population and the further state
ment that tx was at the very center of the
earths surface. If not the hub OF the uni
verse, he referred to- it's material pros
perity; its central location on great radiat-
mo AtGfap4 Of 100 and orr llnaG"
its greatness from an industrial point OF
view. He paid a glowing tribute to its beau
tlful homes and TO the beauties OF its nome
life; its advantages, personal and social.
for all classes of society. He referred ten
tatively to the efforts TO secure a library
from Mr.. Carnegie, and touched on the
city'S important position in the political
life of the State, not only by reason of its
present important representative in lndi-
anas governmental machinery. but because
OF the sterling worth of its citizenship. he
urged. in closing. a continuation OF the
earnest. harmonious efforts which in the
past have contributed so largely TO the
city's growth and welfare.
Horace G. Stillwell, treasurer of the Cen
trail Traction Company and promoter or
many OF Anderson's successful industries,
discussed the industrial growth of the city.
While declaring that ali the industries in
Anderson are successful, he called atten-
ton to the fact that those which have
been organized and put in operation in the
last few years are of the most substantial
character, probably more substantial in
the character of their construction and
equipment than those that were organized
i'm the earlier days of Andersons boom.
This fact impresses upon us the belief that.
although the earlier growth of Anderson
can be attributed somewhat TO the diScoV-
cry and the use of natural gas as a cheap
fuel. yet the most substantial growth IN
Anderson-the growth that is marked by
buildings. which impress one with the idea
that they are put there to stay-is due not
so much to natural gas as cheap fuel, but
to the enterprise and industry of Ander-
| CONS citizens aud the hpiipf that Anderson.
without natural gas. will be a much more
substantial city than Anderson with nat
ural gas
In his discussion of the public schools of
Anderson, superintendent j. w. Carr de-
clared that the chief aim of the School
Board has not been to build great school
buildings, but great schools. To that end
they have employed the best teachers
available. For that purpose they have Wis
tied normal schools. colleges and universi-
ties. When good teachers have once been
secured they have increased their salaries,
made the tenure of office secure, and did
everything possible to make the teaching
force highly efficient. In 1890, In a corps OF
twenty-seven teachers, there were but
three college graduates-the superintend-
ent, the principal of the High School and
one other High School teacher. There were
no normal school graduates and but few
who had received professional training.
Now. i'm a corps of lightweight teachers,
there are twenty-five college graduates.
thirty-eight normal school graduates, hf-
teen who have attended college or a good
normal school one OF more years, anu lHlI-
teen otherwise professionally trained"
In closing. he traced the careers of those
who have been graduated during his in
cumbency of the office. many of whom are
occupying responsible positions in the
worlds work, and pointed to their success
as the greatest tribute which could be paid
to the schools and those who have con-
Quoted them.
Other speakers were d. j. Crittenberger.
W. ~. Kittenger, DR.. G.. F.. Chittenden,
Capt. w. r. Myers, II. j. Stein and ]. L.
FOrkner.