The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-19
CLAIM AGENTS
MADE WELCOME
TO CITY OF SAVANNAH.
NINETY-NINE MEMBERS ANSWERED
ROLL CALL OF 18TH CONVENTION.

LOCAl wen QE
Joseph +. Gray--RespOnse Made by
President If. c. Barlow of New
YOrk-Lndies Entertained With
Drive to Isle of Hope.
The Freight Claim Association be-
gan fits thirteenth annual convention
in Savannah yesterday with an at
tendance of .ninety-nine members.
The larger number of these had
reached the city the day before and
all were present when a 10 o'clock the
meeting was called to order in the
banquet hall of the De Soto by Presi-
dent II. c.. Barlow, of New York.
Several others came in during the
afternoon.
The visitors were welcomed to the
city by Alderman F. NJ. Oliver, on
behalf of the city, and by Mr.. Joseph
+. Gray, of the Central of Georgia,
on behalf of the local railroad men.
This was to have been done by Mr..
Joseph L. Graham, but he was I'M
able to be present, having been detain-
ed in Atlanta. In response to these
welcomes President Barlow responded
for the association The convention
then got down to business, and after
the roll had been called and the pres
idents report read, the meeting went
in for discussion of the proposed
changes in the constitution and by
laws.
This session lasted until o'clock,
when an adjournment was made for
dinner. In the afternoon just before
going into business session for the
second time, group picture of the
visitors was taken, and then, as the
men went into session, the ladies, in
charge of the members of a local COM
mittee left for a tallyho trip to Isle
of Hope. The evening was given up
to a trip to Thunderbolt when supper
was enjoyed at the Casino, and, after
wards the railroad men and their
guests witnessed the 'Mikado,' given
in the Casino auditorium.
The Welcome to City.
In welcoming the visitors on behalf
of the city Mr.. Oliver, who was intro
duced by. Mr.. Joseph +. Gray, said he
desire simply to extend the most cor
dial welcome he knew how from the
city. He assured the visitors that not
only was the city government glad to
have them, but that the citizens gen.
orally extended a hearty welcome.
After a humorous reference TO the
work the agents are called on to do,
and the suggestion that they do not
let the grind of business destroy their
l.,, ~ r. "a n .
Speaking seriously the city of Savan-
nah is glad to welcome railroad men,
for the city is dependent on the rail-
roads. God made the ocean and God
made the rivers that bring to us the
| commerce of the world, but it is upon
the railroads that we have to depend
for its distribution.
Look about our city and you will
see many monuments erected to men
who fought and died for their coun-
try, but you will also see another mon
ument to a railroad man, to W. w.
Gordon, who built the Central of
Georgia Railway. Is there city any
where else in the country that has
erected monument to q railroad man.
and do you wonder that Savannah is
glad to have you here and that il
hopes you will come again"
All Clubs Are Open.
Mr.. Gray made a short address in
which he stated that Mr.. Graham, who
had intended making the address OF
welcome on behalf of the local rail-
road men, was out of the city. Mr.
Gray said that the local transporta-
ton companies were glad to have the
visitors in the city and that everyone
| of the carriers had entered heartily
into an effort to give their guests the
| best time possible.
Mr.. Gray read, later. invitations t
| the visitors to accept the courtesies OF
| the Tomochichi Club, the Georgia Hus-
sars' Club and their prize drill
| Tybee tomorrow night; and the Yacht
| Club.
In response to the welcome ad-
dresses. President H. c. Barlow made
a short address in which he thanked
| the representatives of the city and the
| local roads for the courtesies extended
He paid tribute to claim agents by
saying that though they often encoun'
| ter such cases as are capable of sour
| ing the milk of human kindness in the
| average man, yet they continue L
| have a pleasant smile for everybody
| and continue to meet the grind o.
claim like stoics.
| In describing how busy the claim
| agent is, Mr. Barlow said he is like
/
| and a Waterbury watch and who, be
| tween scratching himself and winding
his watch was kept busy all the time
Condition of Association.
The report of Secretary and Treas
urer Warren p. Taylor showed tina
the associationsis in better condition
| now than it has ever been before. Dur
ing the last year thirty-one new mem
bers were secured, the greatest in an!
one year since the formation of tn
association. Five Withdrawals are re
| ported and eight consultations, giving
a net gain in membership of eigh
| teen. The total membership is 239
representing about ISL, 800 miles of rail
| way, not including the mileage of fas
freight and water lines. The associa
ton has balance to its credit of 81,
lis .05. Among the new members re
ceived was the Georgia, Florida ant
Alabama, represented by Mr. r. B
| Coleman.
With the departure of the ladies TO
Isle Of Hope the delegates to the con
vention were photographed by Mr.. M
Ed Wilson and then returned to tn,
banquet hall for a session that LASTED
until o'clock. They made very salts
factory progress with the work befor,
them, clearing up enough of it t
promise that the remainder can b,
taken care of to-day in ample time Il
allow all matters to be disposed of be-
fore the hour for adjournment.
Ladies on TalIyhO Drive.
The drive of the ladies to Isle o.
Hope proved a very enjoyable affair
Some ten or more vehicles of variou:
sorts were secured and in these the
| trim was made by a few of the mas