The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-28
THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE PROTEST
Committee Will Visit General
Manager Barr.
RALEIGH FRIEND OF ROAD
Deserve and Should Receive Friendly
Consideration From 1t
ThF AUDITORIUM WILL BE BUILT
But No Action Can be Taken to Change the
Academy of Music Until the Present
Lease Expires Next April.

The Chamber of Commerce held it's
regular meeting last night, President
Josephus Daniels in the chair. The
two subjects that We're considered were:
1. The Auditorium. There were talks
and suggestions about it by Messrs. w.
N. Jones, r. H. Battle, John w. Jen.
kins j. S. Wynne and others. Mr.
Wynne stated that over $6 900 cash was
in hand, but that no action could be
taken toward converting the Academy
of Music into an Auditorium until the
present lease on the Academy expired
next April. Then the bonds will be
sold and the Academy converted into
an auditorium
2. The threatened change in the runs
on the Seaboard Air Line Railroad by
which Raleigh will ultimately lose be.
F., tween fifty and sixty citizens employed
as engineers, and others who now have
their residence in Raleigh There was
discussion by Messrs. Jesse A. Jones,
F. H. Busbee, r. H. Battle, Judge
Womack, ]. S. Wynne and others as to
the best way to prevent the contem-
plated change.
/ Judge Womack moved that a COM
mittee be appointed to visit Mr.. Barr
| to lay before him reasons against the ,
| contemplated change of runs and to
| urge that the shops long located here
| be continued and enlarged That COM
| mittee Will be announced today. The
| president of the Chamber of Commerce,
| telegraphed last night to General Man
| ager Barr, asking when the committee
| could have hearing. 1t is hoped he
can receive them on Thursday morning.
Judge Womack said that the change
| would ultimately mean the loss to Raj
| eigh of between fifty-five and sixty or
| it's citizens, some of whom owned their
| homes, and it would be a great loss to
the city of Raleigh. They spend here
now about $150.000 year, and the loss
of this trade would be seriously felt by
! the business and other interests of
Raleigh. Besides, he added, the change
| would bring no immediate benefit in
| reducing expenses to the railroad COM
pany.
| Mr.. F. II. Busbee spoke of the senti-
mental feeling everybody in Raleigh
had for the Seaboard Air Line Rail-
road. The Raleigh and CASTOR Rail-
: road has been the favorte road of Raj
| eigh. A large element of the city has
always been interested in it and it has
i been of the greatest Importance to the
| business interests. Any action taken
should be wise and prudent The
change has not been aimed at Raleigh,
| but is part of a general plan and it viii
: be difficult to secure it's revocation. IL
cannot be done by a boycott, and the
/ road will resent any open or yelled
threat. 1t is less expensive to make
| I,s,cr a..
to be feared the salaries the engineers
will receive at first under the mileage
rate will be pared down.
Mr. r. II. Battle thought the matter
a delicate one that required delicate
handling. 1t was matter of grave i'm
portance, for if these men left Raleigh
1t would mean vacant houses and less
business. He recalled that as small
boy he attended the opening of the Raj
eigh end CASTOR Railroad and gave in
teresting incidents. Mr. Barr has been
| employed to make money for the COM
! pany. It's new owners are from a dis
tance. 1t is not now the Raleigh and
CASTOR Railroad, but a part Of a gil
gantic combination, and that is the
trouble. Still We feel aggrieved that we
should be hurt in the house Of our
| friends.
Mr.. j. S. Wyyne urged that the bus
iness men of Raleigh stand together for
their interests and hoped that good
! would come of this movement
Mr.. Jesse A. Jones felt that earnest
steps should be taken to prevent the
! threatened loss to Raleigh
The motion of Judge Womack passed
unanimously. The committee will be
named today. There was a large at
tendance at the meeting