The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-08

There was a meeting OF the Will
mington Chamber of Commerce yes
terday afternoon to discuss the Sea-
board Air Line serRce.
Those who weS present at the
meeting were: Messrs. j. Allen Tay-
for. S. P. McNair, NJ. S. Willard, 1. NJ.
Bear, l.. B. Rogers, Sam Bear, Geo.
r. French, T. d. Love, E. Norfleet,
Dr.. c. Z. Bodies, j. T. Rankin. H. c.
Mcqueen, III. w. jacob, H. A. Burr.
S. f. Craig. j. S. Cooper, VIM. Gill
christ. II. w. Malloy. P. Pearsall and
H. G. SmalIbones.
The meeting was called to order
by President J. Allen Taylor. Mr..
Taylor briefly outlined why the meet
ing was called. He referred to the
demands printed several days ago ON
corning the Seaboard Air Lin service,
and said that unless those demands
were granted the matter would be
carried berore the Corporation Com
mission. Since he mad his reply to
Mr.. Barr's letter of recent date, he
said he had received another letter
from Mr.. Barr, asking thai no action
be taken in the matter for a few days.
Mr.. Barr, he said, stated in his last
letter that he would be here within
the next ten days to discuss the mat
ter.
Mr.. Taylor asked all members who
had not already done SO, to submit in
writing their grievances against the
Air Line to be used as ev-
tdence in the case to be brought pro-
vided the Seaboard declined to grant
the requests made upon them.
After the above facts were stated
by the president, a general discussion
was INDUCED in by the members con-
corning the situation. If the Seaboard
Air Linz officials could have been
present at the meeting n seen the
determination with which the mem
bers OF the chamber expressed them
selves in regard to the matter, they
would have no doubt come to the con-
clusion that if the demands made
upon them were not granted that they
would have to fight the matter before
the Corporation Commission. a fight
of this kind to be successful, needs a
certain o of money to press n
fight and the members of the cham
Der Of expressed them
selves yesterday as being willing to
lend aid financially and otherwise to
compel the SeabOard to give Whining
ton the proper passenger and freight
facilities
On account of President Barr's let
ter asking hat action De postponed
for a few days. nothing definite was
dor towards carrying the fight be-
fore the Corporation Commission.
The result of President Bars visit
will be awaited with interest. 1t is
hoped that when he visits Wilmington
and sees the poor passenger service
provided. the filthy condition of the
passenger cars. the Inadequate freight
oapufRn an6 tho Moor rnn1itfnn in gem
eral of this branch of the Seaboard,
that he will grant the requests made
of him. If these demands are not
granted, then Mr.. Barr may tell his
company to lay aside a sum OF money
to fight the matter. for the grievances
I'LL certainly be carried before the
Corporation Commission, and il 1t is
In their power to compel the Seaboard
to improve the existing conditions. Ii
will be done. It IS no bluff game with
the Chamber of Commerce, and the
citizens of Wilmington. They have
determined to have better service
from the road which they expended
50 much money in building and If
the terms asked for cannot be secur-
ed In a friendly manner, then II will
be. as stated before. that other meth
DDS will be resorted to.
SEVERAL OFFICIALS HERE. =.
Mr.. F. X. Huger. general super
intendent of the Seaboard Air Line;
Mr.. c. r. Capps, general freight agent,
and MIR. w. r. Hudson. superintend-
ent of the second division. were in the
city yesterday. They came here for
n purpose Of discussing II demands
made by the Chamber of Commerce.
Mr.. j. Allen Taylor. president of the
of Commerce, asked the
above named gentlemen If they had
any power to act in the matter and
tAnu rn-lfnl ~ IT, xL@-a
up0 Mr. Taylor refused. and proper
~. to discuss the matter with them.
President Taylor's refusing 10 discuss
the matter with officials who had no
power whatever to act in the matter
was highly proper. II the Seaboard
wishes to discuss the merits of the
demands made upon them, let them
send some n here who has some au-
thority. The officials left here yes
terday afternoon on their return to
Norfolk.
OTHER MATTERS DISCUSSED.
Although the meeting OF the Cham.
Der of Commerce was called princi-
pslly to discuss the Seaboard situa-
ton. several other matters of less
importance were taken up.
DR.. c. p. Bolles moved that the
Chamber write to Senator Simmons
and thank him for the stand he took
in regard to the Panama treaty. The
motion was carried and the secretary
instructed TO write the letter.
MIR. willard thought the Chamber
of Commerce should take some action
looking to the establishing OF a per
manen encampment grounds for the
State troops on Wrightsville Beach
MIR. George r. French spoke in IA
vor OF Mr.. Wizards motion
The chairman referred the matter
to the committee On industrial and
business enterprises. IT was suggested