The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-02-02

oO4lS ~
town to go in the factories.
For lack of time we canno give
more than a synopsis of Senator Sim
mons speech or any of the other
speakers.
The next toast responsed to was
Fisheries" by Hon. Gilbert B. Pat
terson, congressman from this district.
Among other things of interest men,
toned by Mr.. Patterson, the most in
terest.ng perhaps was the positive
statement that a hatchery Or the cape
Fear was an assured fact He spoke
of North Carolina doing a larger fish
business than any of the other South
Atlantic States.
Mr.. Patterson pledged his support
TO do what he could towards gettiEg
an appropriation for pubic buildings
in this city.
Hon. Joseph A. Brown of Chadbourn.
made a speech that was enthusiast:cal-
ly received and he had a subject that
would rouse enthusiasm anywhere in
the southern states, Southern Gotten
Association"
Mr.. Brown expressed himself as be-
ing perfectly at home in Wilmington;
that he called himself no stranger to
this city In the summer when warm
he said he came to Wilmington to get
cool; when cold in winter he came
here to enjoy mild climate and when
in need of money came to Whining
ton to get it. The speaker said the
farmers were beginning to realize
their power and were no longer going
to place their cotton on the market at
the low price received for so many
crops in recent years. He spoke Of the
the conditions that existed after the
Civil war and the awful situation that
confronted the southern people, but.
he said, they met the condition and
surmounted it and the farmers
are now going to demand some of the
money lost in the past Grasping a
bunch of cotton in his hand, Mr..
Brown held it aloft and repeated the
statement that the south would de-
mand in future a good price for her
crop. He said he saw no reason why
the farmer should not receive as a fair
price for his cotton as other persons
with a commodity to place upon the
market. He made an excellent speech.
Mr.. Hugh MacRae said the subject he
was to speak upon, wilmington Devel-
opment," was a very interesting n to
him. The speaker said he had got
his speech somewhat mixed up thought
it was progress when it was develop
ment. We had with us formerly a sleep
ing giant and am satisfied that the
awakened giant will go forward with
great strides. The first step, he said,
was in thinking of the possibilities and
when once conceived the object in
view can be logically worked out. The
great things in this world have been
done by optimists. Power and progress
must come by concerted action. Our
first power came when we began to CO.
operate and this really began in 1893
when the n mindedness of the COM
munity brought the result about. There
are a few croakers in the community
and it would be an excellent thing for
them to change their course | He-
lieve 1906 a time for the people to settle
the question once for all as to what
place shall be the metropolis of North
Carolina. We should leave it to the
other cities of North Carolina to vie
for second place only. I met a man
from Greensboro today who made the
statement that his town led and it did
not take me two minutes to convince
him that Wilmington was the most in
Dortant town in the state and the lead
ing town financially. Don't believe
there is a city in the country Today that
has a finer back country than Will
mingtOn.
1--WE have in this locality about 70
inches of rainfall annually and the de-
velopment of our back country oe-
ponds entirely upon drainage and
when once drained no land in the
country can be found to produce crops
abundantly.
Mr.. MacRae said the press had done
a great deal towards the progress and
of the city; far more than
many realized. BY aiding the news
papers, the speaker said, you are cast
ing bread upon the waters.
He concluded his remarks by stating
that the president had consented to al
low Mr.. A. S. Root, formerly a United
States government soil expert and now
in Wilmington, to make a talk
in regard to the soil conditions
Wilmington. MIR. Root then
made a talk of about Is minutes.
Mr.. James H. Cowan spoke on The
Press. and his remarks were highly
enjoyed. He pledged to the business
the earnest support of the press.
He said the papers of Wilmington
do all possible for the advance
ment and development OF the CITY alonS
every line. He was loudly applauded
when he concluded.
Mr.. Charles N. Evans, cashier OF the
Southern National Bank, of this city,
and president of the North Carolina
Bankers Association next addressed
those present on, Banking"
For the past five years North Caro-
lima has averaged organizing three
banks every month which means $50
banks. Unfortunately, the speaker
said, we are still dependant to a GER
tain extent upon the books of the
There is one assistance that
night be brought to our relief. In
Colorado national banking strength is
81, 800 90. The government is there de-
posting large amounts of money. In
North Carolina national banking
strength is over 5000, 900 and the
pitiful sum of $500, 900 is deposited N
this state. He called attention 20 the
members of Congress present to this