The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-06-01

tertained and made to feel welcome
and shown oyer the city; through
which statistics compiled and dis
scminated: and last but not least,
through which the City of Greenvillc
secures advertising. And yet all
these are mere Instances of what the
community could derive from the pal
try sum of ST per month asked for by
the Business Mems League of Green
vile. And with that before US, so
great are the possibilities, as COM
pared to the work accomplished, that
i feel sure that I voice the sentiment
OF all of the retiring officers, when I
say, that instead Of retiring with
feeling of service we'll done, they
blush with shame, for making so lit
tie of the opportunities which it was
possible for them to seize and take
advantage of, which negligence, how
ever, I feel it incumbent upon me to
say was owing to- the demand of pri-
vate affairs upon these officers, as
we'll as the lack of interest shown by
the body of our citizenship who have
failed to pay up promptly the small
monthly dues asked of them. / cam
not attest too much praise and ap-
probation to our board of directors
They were all faithful and ever zeal
Gus of your best interests, ,and wheth.
er it was putting on a street fair, or
er it was rain or shine, they were ar
the directors meetings.
Among some OF the most impor-
tant accomplishment by the league
was the reduction Of our fire insur
ance. This question had been agit.
tated for years. Through the efforts
of the league, Mr.. Kalford Kreth, in
surance. adjustor, was induced to
come to Greenville, and your presi-
dent, the mayor and the chief of the
fire department Went with him. in
the inspection of the business dis
trict, and through the fact that the
fire department has been taken to the
highest point OF efficiency, and that
the council would act upon the re-
quest of the league, compelling all
business houses to keep the rear of
their houses in tidy condition, also
that awnings should be torn down,
we were enabled to get the insur-
ance reduction of about 20 per cent.
have heard no one complain on ac-
count of our present insurance rate,
but [ ann OF the opinion, that with
the service of our FIRE department
being steadily increased, and the
building permits being rigidly en-
forced, that we will soon be in line
for another reduction.
During the previous administration
efforts were put en- loot to secure
from the authorities of the Southern,
road from Percy to Richey This
was assured if the league would Sc
cure the right-of-way. We did this
at a cost of abodt $500, and the
road was completed on July 18TH.
Business men of this point ran
special train from here to Richey,
and there met a boat for a trip
down the Sunfower river. Aside
from having our merchants meet the
citizens Of this territory, we also mad
a meeting with Capt Miller, of
Vicksburg, in an effort to put boat
in the Sunfowcr river to secure
part Of that trade. The committee
appointed to handle this matter, in
vestigated it very closely and came
10 the conclusion that the amount of
trade derived would not warrant the
amount of expenses we would be put
to in securing it. While We did not
secure the boat services we have got
ten the road into one Of the richest
and most fertile sections OF the coun-
try. 1t is a section that produces
II ON 10 TO 1900 bales Of cotton, and
this should come TO Greenville.
There have been a great many ac-
tions taken by the board that would
hardly be Of interest to the members,
and I will casually mention a few
During the year we extended a
hearty invitation 10 President Roose-
Welt visit Greenville during his
Southern trip. We also entertaincd
party Of En9lishmei, during the past
year who were her, or official in
soeetion OF some IT the Southern
States. We sent committee tc Mis
sour: to investigate lathe plant that
was contemplating -5ni,ng to Green
vile We also held I meeting las;
October for the p.rpcse Of eneour-
aging more retail trade from The
country The board of directors ale
so had under consideration the p,ac-
ing of a ferry boat across the river.
There are great many other acts OF
this nature that I cannot report to
you on account of not having the
minute book at hand.
One of the greatest achievements
and one that the league takes a spe-