Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-16
BUSINESS men ELATED
Beneficial Results of Southern
Trade Excursion.
Mr.. SHOEMAKER'S REPORT
Matters Discussed by Association Di-
rectors Last Night.
EXHIBIT AT JAMESTOWN URGED
City to Be Canvassed as Means Of
Awakening Interest-4OO,O 900
Movement.
EXHIBIT AT JAMESTOWN URGE.

Awakening 1nteresr-4OO,OVo
Movement.
The success of The Star Greater Wash
ington special train, which has just re-
turned from business tour of the south,
was the chief topic of discussion at meet
ing of the board Of directors of the Business
Mems Association held last night in the
association rooms, 1914 F street northwest.
From the benefits to result from the excur-
sion the discussion turned to steps which
must be taken to follow up the boom for
greater commercial Washington; the 400 600
population movement, the jamestown ex-
hibition and the amalgamation of trade
bodies. ...= -
It was announced at the meeting that the
annual meeting and election of officers for
the ensuing year will be held on November
49, AS a preliminary to that, and marking
the beginning of the winter work, meet
ing Of the association will be held next Fri
day evening, October 10, in GUIDES Hall,
1914 F street.
when the meeting was called to order
by President James F.. Oyster these mem
bers of the board were present.: r. r.
Andrews, ]. F. oyster, B. F. Saul. William
F. Guide, William Hahn, DR.. HI. y. john
ston, w. s. Knox, Charles Linkins. r. X.
Raymond, L. P. Shoemaker and w. J.
Lambert.
President Oyster told Of the meeting of
the Joint committee from the Board OF
Trade, Jobbers and Shippers Association
and the Business Mems Association heid
last week, as previously reported In Inc
Star. One committee of three members was
appointed to consider the question OF ANAL
gamation and another committee OF three
was chosen to canvass the city for exhibit
ors for the city at the Jamestown exposi-
ton
The committees from the Jobbers and
Shippers Association and the business
Mems Association to consider the 100000
population movement for Washington will
meet Wednesday evening at 1880 o'clock,
and at o'clock the same evening the com.
mittees of these two organizations and
that from the Board of Trade will meet to
consider the Washington exhibit at the
jamestown fair.
1.-The membership of the 100000 popula-
ton club will be ron of honor" suggested
R. P. Andrews, who Is one of the hackers
of that movement. 1t will cost 81 to be-
come a member and the money thus col
Tested will be used for advertising the city.
1t has been suggested that one page in the
various country papers in the states or
Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina
and Maryland be used once a month to ad-
vertise the capital city.
Mr.. Shoemaker's Report.
Mr. Louis P. Shoemaker, one Of the men,
bers Of THE board who was for part OF
the time aboard The Stars special train
which toured the south, was called upon
for report, and he responded as follows:
ut was quite gratifying to be able to join
the Greater Washington train at Peters
burg and remain with 1t while visiting this
old and historic town with Its revived busi-
ness interests. From Petersburg we went
to Blackstone, thriving town of about
5000 population, thirty-seven miles west
from Petersburg At Blackstone there is a
ladies' seminary with 300 students. and
military school with 100 students. From
Blackstone we visited Farmville. town
State Normal School to be located, with
$50 students, using 1900 pounds Of butter
per year. This we regarded as thrifty
business place. We next visited Bedford.
which is small town OF 5000 people At
this place there is the Randolph Macon
Academy, and the Elks have established
there handsome home
~ City Of Roanoke.
ARRIVING next at Roanoke, we found II
to be a very thrifty city with $4,000 or
10000 people, with a large ladies' SEM
mary, several banks and a number of
business houses. The First National Bank
OF Roanoke was organized in 1882. and has
paid it's stockholders IA per cent interest
on a capital of 100000 1t now has an
earned surplus of $4,000. Mr.. H S. Trout
the president Of this bank, is a very SUBJ
stantial and appreciative citizen and ac-
corded us every courtesy. The altitude OF
Roanoke is 1900 feet. and promises to be
one of the large cities Of the south. There
is another bank in Roanoke with an ac-
cumulated surplus greater than Its capital.
This speaks well for town with 10000,
probably not more than twenty-five or
thirty years old.
I'VE next visited Lexington old Lexing-
ton, where the Washington and Lee Uni
versty Is located, as also is the Virginia
Military Institute, each having, about go
students. Gen. Lee is lying in marble In
the rear of the chapel in very natural
position, while his Office can be visited and
found to be just as he left it at the time
of his death, October IL, 1870, with papers,
books and letters in their identical places
as he left them. fine statue Of Stonewall
Jackson is in front Of the Virginia Military
Institute, which was founded in 1887. From
Lexington We went to Stanton, busy
place with a population of about IL, 900.
The West State Hospital. the Virginia
Deaf, Dumb. and Blind Asylum, large in
for young ladies, the Virginia Female Insti-
tute, Cables Military Academy, Putman's
organ factory and national cemetery are
all located in Stanton.
From this place I was compelled by
business engagements to. leave the train
and part company with gentlemen with
whom I had pleasantly associated for sew
eral days.
ut affords me pleasure to testify to the
success of this effort to augment the trade
OF Washington. Not only has this been
accomplished, but information has been
impaired to merchants of the south and to
the people of the south of the real trade
advantages of the capital city. and 1t was
gratifying to observe the glad hand of
friendship which waB accorded by the
merchants of the various cities which we
visited to the representatives of our large
business houses.
Evidence Of Deep Interest.
Every evidence of interest was exhib-
tied their part, and great disposition
of willingness to trade with the wholesale
merchants of Washington, providing the
quality Of goods and prices could be found
satisfactory. Many of these gentlemen
were surprised to learn of the many oppor-
tunities for trade which were afforded, and
they remarked, We go through Washington
on our way to Baltimore. Philadelphia and
New, York; we stop there to visit In the
city, and to admire the many attractive
features. but we never knew that any
thing could be bought there except In re-
tail establishments
II heard such expressions as these:
Washington is coming to the 'front.' the
south Is advancing Thus they seem to
regard Washington really part of the
south, and while it actually belongs to
the nation. no doubt it may be regarded as
q southern CITY, These men all unhesi-
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