The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-24

Mr. W Z. Christian, of Atlanta, assis-
tant general passenger agent Of Sea-
board Air Line, at Messrs. Hugh Mac
Rae & Co.'S banking house on Friday,
a special meeting of the Chamber of
Commerce and citizens generally was
held yesterday at the rooms of the
Chamber, on Princess street.
In the absence of President James H.
C~hadbourn, Mr.. H. w. Malloy, vice
president, presided, and Secretary
James Kyle was at his post. President
Chadbourn came in before the meeting
was over and heard the proceedings.
Mr.. Christian was there, n also Mr..
Nelson MilIett, of Colorado, who has
been here three weeks working on a
scheme for a $4,000 or S1OO,O 900 sum
mer and winter hotel at The Ham
mocks," on WrightsTille Beach.
The following members and citizens
were in attendance: Messrs. Walker
Taylor, c. w. Worth, CT. H. Smith, NJ.
W. jacob, Hugh MacRae, Geo. Croft,
r. NJ. McIntire, @. f. Fletcher, Sol
Bear, IsadOre Bear, r. H Pickett, c..
p. BolIes, ". F. COrbett, T. c.. James,
7. D. Meares, L. E. sasser, D. H. Lip
pitt, w. H. Brown. Oscar Peasall, ]. H.
Hinton, John Frank, W. A. Dick, J.
Van 3. Metts, w. L. DeRosset, Jr.,
Sam Bear, Jrt r. H. Grant, S. a.
Schloss, j. H. Boatwright, Geo. r.
French, VIM. E. WORTH, H. K. Nash,
Junius Davis, P. PearsaIl, John A.
Arringdale, S. H. Ffshblate, W. w.
Harrington.
Vice-President MalIoy stated that
the meeting had been called TO hear
Mr.. Christian, who came to u city
for the Seaboard Air Line, TO ascer-
-, -rI-+ L44O1 Io7,. m
be a for the great number of people
which his railroads Will bring to
WrightsVille Beach this summer.
Mr.. Christian was introduced, and
he greatly interested the meeting. He
stated that h newspapers had al
ready stated pretty fully what he had
to say Of the object of his "isit TO
our city. He said he did not come
here as Il hotel promoter, but to ascer-
tain what the chances were To give
hotel accommodations TO the large
number of people which the Seaboard
Air Line can bring to the beach from
Atlanta this summer. He remarked
that while he was not authorized by
his company to say so, he felt assured
from Il conversation with the general
passenger agent of the Seaboard Air
Line that the company will do every
thing in it's power to aid in building
up the resorts reached by their lines.
He stated hat last season his road
brought about ], 700 people to Wrlghts-
Vile Beach from Atlanta, but While
they were delighted with the beach,,
they complained of a lack of hotel &C
~commodatiOns. Already the people
are making inquiries at his office for
rooms at the SeashOre Hotel, and he
would now Engage fifty rooms for the
entire month of June, but they are
not to be had, as every day of June
has already been engaged by the
1T ~ - 11nnf ThArn ms I
month. That will compel Atlanta peo-
pie to wait till July and then there is
no assurance that they can get &C
c~ommodations, as no doubt there Will
be bigger crowds at the beach than
were there last season. He sad ne
made no reflection on damage Hlnton;
of the Seashore Hotel, because he did
the best he could. He simply got more
business than he could do. He de-
clared that the beach n it's attrac-
tions were everything that could be
desired and the people want to come
and will come if they can be taken care
of. He said his road confidently eX-
pected to bring here this Summer from
600 TO 5000 people,, but unless they
felt assured that hotel accommodations
can be arranged the railroad company
cannot undertake to induce them 10
come. He informed the meeting ina
during the entire summer the SeaDOarG
Air Line would run a sleeping car daily
from Atlanta and reaching the beach
every morning, with a round trip rate
of $3.50 from Atlanta: that the week
end Pullman service will be run, anC
that a chair parlor car Will be rur
through daily from Charlotte. reach
ing Wilmington at 1890 p. m. anC
making connections at Monroe anC
Hamlet from Atlanta, Raleigh anC
other points. He went on to say tina
he had heard of Mr.. Nelson Millett:
scheme for a summer and winter note
at The Hammocks," and if it coulC
he built he could bring the crowd!
here. He said the Seashore Hotel hat
already demonstrated what a summe
hotel could do. and he was SATISFIED
that a winter hotel could do equally a
well. 1t would be a stop over poln
for northern people returning from
Florida. but the Atlantic Coast Lin,
would have to loog out after that anC
he had no doubt that they would di
so. The SeabOard Air Line has Cam
den. Southern Pines and P~inehurSt a
stop over points from Florida, an'
each OF these places are now crowde,
and no rooms can BE- had at the hotels
He made many statements whcl
showed that n summer and white
hotel at The HammOcks' will be
fine investment He remarked that n
vas here begging for hotel accommo
IatiOns. and in doing this he endorse
III RA'PoEAN4OAA AOS a. SNfN~N T-~'
hotel at The HammOcks.' He said
Wilmington will raise $4,000 Of tn
stock he felt confident that AUtanJ
Will take $4,000. He called upon NJ
George Croft, who had talked hotel l
Atlanta. and Mr.. Croft said ne ma
been assured by Atlanta people tha
they would take $4,000 of the stool
This meant that Atlanta people War
to come to Wrightsville Beach and AZ
willing to pay $4,000 for a place I
sleep and eat. Going back TO the Sci
vice which his road proposes TO Civ
and to show what the attractions
WrightsviIIe Beach can do, he declare
that the day train between Chariot
and Wilmington was the best payIn
train per mile that the Seaboard a
Line has. He assured the meeting tnS
it was the policy of the Seaboard a
Line TO build up all points on the sy
tenn and that it would do everythir
in its power to build up
Beach.
MI. Christian closed amid applaus
and Vice-President Malloy said Il
Hh