The Minneapolis journal., 1903-03-30

owning property over all Indebtedness
worth $4,000, yielding an income suf
before 1t natures and leave surplus for
improvements or dividends among its
members.
These results had been brought about
by good management. Reasonable assess.
ments started the building fund and upon
completion Of the building, and ever since,
1t yielded revenue sufficient to more
than take care Of interest charges q
bonded Indebtedness Of 100000 was thus
handled satisfactorily and the bonds were
paid promptly.
But long before these obligations were
disposed of. 1t became evident that the
| chamber must plan for more commodi-
GUS building. The original building was
pretty well filed at the outset and within
a few years the Corn Exchange and Flour
Exchange were erected on opposite cor
ners and filled with the overflow from
the chamber. Later the Grain Exchange
and Godfrey building accommodated more
Chamber of Commerce men but still there
was need for room and many firms found
quarters in other uptown office buildings.
Agitation for new building failed to
crystalize into results because of a divis-
ion Of opinion as to location and method
Some Of the members wanted a. building
in the uptown district, while some
wanter to stay in the vicinity of the old
building Certain members believed 1t
best to secure the erection Of a building
by outside capital; others desired the
chamber to control. Plans for enlarging
the old building were discussed in all their
bearings. .,.s
Meanwhile the need became more ur-
gent In the fifteen years from 1884, when
the first building was occupied, to 1899,
| the receipts Of wheat in Minneapolis had
increased from 29, ,000, 900 bushels to nearly
SIS, 600. 900 bushels. The shipping business
was averaging as large as the total re-
ceipts in 1880. In addition. a tremendous
coarse grain business had been developed,
Minneapolis had become the leading flax
seed market of the country, and the In
creased output Of the -four mills and the
Capitalization Of much Of the -four milling
business at country points In minneapolis
Offices had built up great business In
flour brokerage and in millstuffs and feed.
Great industries such as the manufacture
of cereal foods, stock foods and the grind
ing of feed had been developed-all close
ly associated with the Chamber of Com
merce. Since 1885 Minneapolis had been
the greatest primary wheat market
in the world. The Chamber Of Com
merce had become the place Of transact
ing the largest cash wheat business in the
world and the buying and selling Of fu-
lures had reached such a point as to give
some warrant for the prediction that Chi
cago would soon be eclipsed In this de-
| partment Of the business.
In the chamber itself there had been
natural changes A membership at first
composed of business men of varied in
tterests had now become almost exclusive
ly one Of men interested In the business
of buying or selling grain, flour or mill
products, or in supplying the grain and
mill mon members who had jOined
the young chamber from patriotic motives
l had mostly sold out to persons who could
make direct use of the memberships. The
= increase OF business and the nntlt bon
Of firms in active operations had brought
TO an intolerable state Of crowding.
President C. NJ. Harrington, under
whose administration the final decision for
the new buildings was reached, is gener-
ally given much credit for bringing about
this much desired result. During the last
year of Mr.. Harringtons presidency-in
the winter Of 1900-the chamber voted to
build on it's own account and to build in
the neighborhood Of the old structure.
This plan was developed by the purchase
of the lots Immediately in the rear of the
original building, and the determination
to erect a nine-story building with fronts
of 157 and 1872 feet respectively on Fourth
avenue and Fourth street. The property
cost $4,000. It was afterwards decided
to make the building ten stories high.
and other notifications and changes were
arranged. f.s
AS now practically complete, the build
ing has cost over s600,0o0 1t is unques-
tionably the most substantial and finished
office building in the northwest and
much the best adapted to the needs OF a
grain trading body of all the exchange
buildings of the country. The members OF
the Chamber unite in giving much credit
for the excellence of the building to John
Washburn, who was president during the
two years of most active building opera
tions,t to the late L. r. Brooks, who was
| chairman Of the building committee, to
Secretary George D. Rogers, who was in
defatigable in his labors, as well as to the
members of the boards of directors in the
several years Of building progress.
In this work as during its entire career,
the Chamber has been most fortunate IN
it's officers. The official list shows that
some of the most prominent men OF Min
! neapolis have given their time and labors
to the Chamber. The first president was
II. G. Harrison, remembered as most
active and patriotic Minneapolis business
! man and banker. He was succeeded for
one year by e. V. White. George A.
Pillsbury served for two terms, from 1885
to 1885, From 1885 to 1889, G.. NJ. Loring.
always most active worker for the good
of the city, was president. His four terms
were followed by three for f. l.. Green
leaf, who had been prominent figure In
the development OF flour milling. Mr..
Greenleaf was succeeded by the late
Charles A. Pilsbury, who was easily the
i most conspicuous man in the flour mill
ing business in the world. He served two
terms from 1892 to 1894. and was followed
by j. Fl. Martin for two terms and the
late l.. r. Brooks for two terms more. C.
M. Harrington then came in for two
| terms. John Washburn for two more ant
last fall James Marshall one of the oldes
| members Of the Chamber and hare
working and popular member, was choser
to this highest honor.
Colonel George D. Rogers, the father
Of the Chamber and its first secretary, re
turned to that position in 1898, and ha.
ever since occupied the position to the en-
tire satisfaction Of the organization.
- The present list of officers is as follows
President, James Marshall; first vice