The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-21

Inv HouuCe EAchanEe.
A special meeting Of the chamber OF
commerce was held yesterday at 81
.. m. for the purpose Of taking further
action with reference to the proposed
consolidation OF the chamber of COM
merce. the merchants association and
the produce exchange.
There was a good attendance and
much interest was taken in the matter.
President NJ. w. Jacob presided and
Colonel John l. CantweI, the secretary,
was at his post.
President jacob stated the object of
the meeting. and called for a report
from the commimttee. consisting of
Captain T.. D.. Meares and Messrs. Geo.
X. French and ]. A. Taylor, appointed
by the chamber to submit a plan for
consolidation.
1t was stated nat Captain Meares,
chairman of the committee. was sick
and could not be present, so Mr.. Geo.
r. French made the report for the COM
mittee. which was as follows:
MEMORANDUM.
membership Oh the three DuS-
mess organizations OF the city:
Merchants Association .. JOB
Chamber of Commerce. . . =. 81
Produce Exchange. Al
Seven members hold memberships in
all three of these organizations; and
q members hold memberships in the
Merchants Association and Chamber
OF Commerce. Twenty-Five hold en-
berships in the Produce Exchange and
Chamber of Ommerc
REVENUES.
Merchants Association, 1O3 at
$6 per i. -. De. IS $500
Chamber of Commerce, 81 at S.
per nnu . : -. 81. :. De. 9. 405.00
Produce Exchange, Al at $50 per
dhhum.. E . .-z,O0O.VV
Total. .s3.O73.OO
PLAN OF CONSOLIDATION.
1st. Transportation companies, West
ern Union Telegraph Company, naval
store operators, cotton exporters, Ma
vassa Guano Company, bankers, mer-
chandise brokers and all wholesale
dealers who are diectly interested in
and benefited by quotations furnished
by the Produce Exchange to become
members of the consolidated exchange
at $50 per ear
and. Manufacturing plants and
wholesale dealers who are not directly
interested in or benefited by quotations
furnished by the Produce Exchange, to
become member at S25 per year.
3rd. Retail dealers and all other
minor branches of business. together
with professional men who can only
be remotely, If at all, interested in or
benefited by quotations furnished by
the Produce Exchange, to become
members of the consolidated exchange
at $40 per a
With the exception of two names
added to the $50 class membership, the
following calculation is based on the
present membership OF the three ex-
listing organizations:
First Glass, 40 O. $50. $500
Second Glass, % a $25.. =. -. 700
Third Glass, go a $40. E. e. 92o
Total 50 $40
Comparison of shows $547
gain by the consolidated exchange
over the organizations. while the
clerical expenses would be materially
lessened and leave an ample margin
to d important features to the ex-
change.
Endorsement by Mr.. Geo. R. French:
1.-The above appears equitable except
as to the Merchants Association. This
body runs on entirely different lines
ITOIU lit OlHcISs HdNIhS d SyolCIh u
reporting delinquent debtors and col
lections of accounts. and if this is
eliminated, / do not think you could
any membership from that
body, unless a bureau could be estab-
Iished in the proposed consolidation to
carry on this branch of their work. In
my opinion, the erchant Associa-
ton would not consider this question"
Appended to the memoranda OF the
membership of the three existing
bodies, as in the judgment OF the COM
mittee, they should be divided into the
three classes for the consolidated or
g~aniZation.
Upon request of Mr.. French Mr.. J.
A. Taylor at some length explained the
plan submitted as above. Mr.. Tay-
Ior said the plan submitted was merely
the suggestion of a basis for consolida-
ton and that If any one had a better
plan the committee would like to hear
il. He said it was very desirable for
the consideration OF the commercial
bodies. for the main reason that i
united body would give the best service
for the least money. He said at pres
ent none of the bodies are well equipped,
and that their action and influence com-
bined would be felt all the greater.
More good could be accomplished with
less money, and the objects and purpo-
ses of all the organizations could be
preserved by merging them into one
organization. He went over the plan
submitted and explained it and said the
committee thought the graduation OF the
membership was fair to all concerned,
as it would make the produce exchange
Ina Soft M