The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-29
Chamber of Commerce
Reorganized.
AN ABLE SECRETARY
Man to be Selected for Fitness at a
Salary Sufficient to Enable Him to
Devote Entire Time to Duties.
Chamber Meets Wednesday
M;rhf
Night.


lists of Wake county, showing as they
did a grand increase in real and per-
sonal property of $45S,432, pointed out
the need and were an evidence of the
apt time in which more than two hun
dred of the most progressive of Raj
eigh business men have chosen to re-
organize and put on a practical work
ing basis modern Chamber of Com
merce for the up-building of the city.
That industrial additions and improve
ments will follow in the wake of gem
eral and solid prosperity is a result
which may be deemed certain.
One of the surest signs that the
Chamber now means business is that
there will be employed for all his
time an active and competent Secre-
tary He will be chosen with the
greatest care for his ability as bust
ness man and one who understands
the art of advertising the resources of
the city and interesting capital. He
will be a man who will know whero
to look and what to do. Aided and
directed by the Chamber, the work OF
procuring new industries for Raleigh
and inducing business men to come
here will be pushed intelligently and
specifically. The Chamber of Com
merce proposes to act first and braS
afterwards, and its work will be d.
rected quite as much towards Undue
ing active home investments by Raj
eigh people as to obtaining foreign
capital. 1t is only in this way that
the outside men and money can be
obtained. And this If fully realized.
The Secretary to be employed will
be the right man. His salary, in a
sense, is an immaterial consideration.
He will be chosen for what he is and
what he can do. After the Chamber
fixes on the man it wishes. it will pay
him what his services are worth.
There will be economy of adminiStra-
ton, but no haggling over pennies. AS
has been heretofore announced the
Chamber will meet on Wednesday
night when the question of a Secreta-
ry will be discussed and an offer ten
dered to the man chosen for the posi-
ton. Already there have been re-
ceived half dozen applications for
the position, some from citizens OF
Raleigh and some from a distance.
President Joseph c.. Brown was seen
yesterday and asked for a statement
as to any specific aims of the Chamber
of Commerce under its re-Organiza-
ton. He replied that, while there
were definite ends in view as the open
ing of an industrial campaign which
the Chamber would foster, there
was nothing that could be said eX
cept generally; that the body propos-
ed to work intellgently and practic
ally for the general betterment of the
city along industrial and business
lines. The interest in the organiZa
ton, said he, had been marked ana
there had been enrolled under the
new system two hundred and four
names of men who would take an ac-
tive interest in the work. The meet
ing on Wednesday night, said he,
would determine the question of a
Secretary and also the drift towards
the first lines of effort to be under
taken by the Chamber, would be frs
accomplished and then talked about;
tfat would be the guiding policy. In
the future when the Chamber made
an announcement it would be of a
fact rather than hope.
Under the new plan of the Chamber
the membership dues are ten dollars
a year This plan insures not only
funds for the needs of the organiza-
ton but eliminates number of men,
berS who are of no real benefit to the
association. While not excessive, the
dues are of sufficient moment to bind
the interest of those who join the
Chamber in its work.
That Raleigh is on a firm founda-
ton the fiourishing condition of its
banks and business houses, the in
crease in valuations of real and per-
sonal property and taxes, the steady
progress in building in build
progress in building the new company
for the development of the suburbs am
ply testify. At the same time, the CAPT.
tai available and largely the efforts of
the people who might do for the cap
ital industrially have been in a sort
passive rather than active. The citv
has simply over-estimated the virtue
of conservatism. This mistake the
Chamber of Commerce proposes to
eliminate as a characteristic of the
city, The new life in the Chamber,
represented as it is by the over two
hundred active and successful men
who comprise it's membership, with
a number of other applications pend
ing), marks an awakening to the
truth which should change conditions.
Raleigh is strong in many respects
and solid with an old and steady
growth. 1t is ready for a grating
upon it of a more virile progressive
ness and more modern enterprise. A
little daring will not hurt. The Cham
Der of Commerce will go safely, but
with confidence.