The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1908-05-21
COMMERCIAL CLUB BANQUET.
A Pleasant and Interesting Occasion Mon
day Night at Hotel Carnegie,

reiuvenated Johnso. City. The tone
OF opinion which prevailed revived
memories of the ancient days of the
big boom.
Many "reminiscences were heard of
that happy, unsubstantial, half.forgot-
ten, half-regretted time when "an i'm
mense industrial establishment was
"pushed rapidly to completion" every
week, and every man, woman and child
made $500 day. Saving as those days
were recalled in good humored chat
and raiIery, the atmosphere Of the hour
was pungent of bold.fsced, unemotion-
al business purpose. One could feel
that these men who ale at the parting
of the ways between town. booming
and real city-building, were strong and
capable for the business in hand.
After a grace by the Rev. Vaught, OF
the Methodist church, mine host Mar
tines excellent menu received o most
careful pains-taking treatment, and in
this, too, the men of johnson City
showed themselves "strong and capa.
BILE for the business in hand" When
not vestige of Host Martins elaborate
provision remained, President Young,
raising his voice above the clamors OF
The Comets senior editor for more
strawberries, announced the first speak.
er Of the evening, Mr.. G. B. Allen, on
Woodworking Plants" The speaker
showed by carefully gathered data that
johnson City, because OF its close
proximity to timber supplies, can man
ufacture furniture, such as chairs,
tables, desks, collins, &C., at a saving
over other points of manufacture in ex-
cess of present freight rates to the large
centers of population-a saving equal
to a satisfactory investment profit. But
that with the approaching reduction in
transportation charges the local manu-
facturer will have long lead over those
at other points, who are now drawing
their raw material from this section.
This speaker was followed by Mr..
Caples in a carefully theught-out and
worded speech on Railroads and Rail.
road Building" laid emphasis on the
confidence placed in the constructive
and producing ability of the people by
those who finance railway enterprises.
That it, of course, would not be posi-
BILE to build railroad through unde-
velOped territory without the certainty
that the people of the communities ira
verSed would take up and use the OPP
portunities for trade and manufacture
afforded by the railroad. That traffic
for the railroad must, after all, origi-
nate in the energy, effort and efficiency
of men and communities. He congrat-
ulated johnson City for the way in
which she is responding to the spirit of
progress in the south, and preparing to
use the advantages Of her location.
| That location, he said, being only 80
miles south of unlimited coal supplies,
and $50 north of the great cotton fields
of the south producing so per cent. of
the worlds cotton, and manufacturing
now only 20 per cent. Of iU; being in
the midst of iron ore and limestone,
timber and water power territory, holds
potential advantages beyond possible
calculation.
Next came Rev. Dayton Dobbs, on
"Schools and Education" said he was
in the position of the bantam rooster
which found himself enclosed in stall
with two large Clydesdale horses, and,
as a precsution against possible acct
dent, said, "Now, gentlemen, let us be
careful to not tread on one another. u
He said, in effect, that education and
school management in johnson City
are subjects of as much, or more, i'm
portance than manufacturing and ex-
tension of trade. He advocated man
ual training school, and in an engag.
ing, forceful way sketched the capable,
well-poised ideal of American citizen
ship-the man of strong arm, the mar
OF brain, the man of heart.
The program was closed by Mr.. Ceci
on Freight Rates, who gave lucid
3 clearly expressed account of the hearing
3 of the clubs suit against the Southern
, railway before the Interstate Commerce
Commission, explaining to the mem
bers the nature of charges of violation
Of law brought before the commission
. and the railway company's defensive
replies. MIR. Cecil said at least $95, OOC
. year is paid out by johnson City ship
a pers in small overcharges on freigh
Q bills, which, even under present rates
! could be saved, If shippers would pre-
serve their freight bills, and presen
properly made out claims for tn
amounts overchsrged.
, The members present were as follows
W. NJ. Dickey, J. E. Brading, o. X
: Morgan, N. G. Worley, M. I. Gump
. F. b. st. John, L. ID. Gump, Geo. t
: Wofford, E. M. Slack, s. II. Ponder
Il. W. Burleson, c., B. Allen, J. P
a Summers, +. B. Brownlow, II. R. Par
: rott, W. R. Ponder, Jas. M. Gaunt, E
4 F. Young, J. T. Cecil, W. A. Starrett
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