Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-01-16
GOLDSBORO CHAM
Der OF COMMERCE.
1t Should Receive the AC-
tive Constant Support Of
Every Business Man.

The Meeting Tonight Should be Marked
by Applications for Membership
From Every Public Spirited
Citizen.
The Importance and possibilities of a
dive Chamber of Commerce to any pro-
gressive city are inestimab1e and OF
varied nature and frequent occurrence.
What the G%oldsboro Chamber of
Commerce has accomplished for Colds
boro is simply ar earnest Of what larg-
er things it could achieve if it's mem
bership were larger-for sin unity
there is strength"
The Chamber meets for the first
time in the new year tonight, and in
addition to it's regular membership
b meeting should be characterized
by many applications for new mem
bership.
We copy-in point and for a pur-
pose-the following letter that recent
1y appeared in the Kinston Free Press:
Editor Free Press,
K1nston, N. c..
Dear SIR
Feeling an interest in the vel are of
the people Of Kinston, I wish to COM
mend your efforts in behalf OF the es-
Establishment of a chamber of commerce..
This is a subject worthy OF the most
careful consideration of your business
and professional men, as we'll as cit
liens generally.
A thoroughly organized and we'll
mananed chamber of will
do more to build up a town and eli
inmate that certain amount of selfish
ness that is common to the majority of
men, than any business organization
that I know OF.
In support of the above statements
] wish to cite a few instances of what
has been accomplished here in this
little city, my adopted home. Five
years ago this was a small town of
about $500 inhabitants, and business
seemed to be at a standstill each man
working for himself and nobody work
ing for the general welfare of the town.
For this reason, a good many indus
trial and business opportunities were
lost. Nothing had been done in an
organized way, to advertise the town
and attract outside capital. When some
Capitalist would of his own free will,
here on a prospecting trip, there
was no organization through which
the citizens could present the advan-
&ages to be derived from capital in
vested here. There was no organized
effort to attract merchants, farmers, or
any other class of desirable people to
settle here. Hence the standstill of bus
1ness and the resultant loss to all class
es of citizens in every walk OF life.
A Business League was hen organ
lied and did some good work, but it
seems that it was not on the right
basis, and the annual dues were not
enough to meet the actual expenses
necessary for the proper carrying on
of the work that it had to do.However,
it served to keep alive the spark of co
ODGraI1On unIl1 d lew yOdlo A0IOA3 WhCH
the old organization was d~isbanded
and the present chamber of
was organized. This organization now
has a mem bership Of about 100, and
the annual dues are $12 per year for
each individual. An excellent man
was secured as secretary, at a salary
that iustifes him in giving most of his
time to the work. The officers, d1rec-
tors, and members of the various
standing committees are all well known
business and professional men, and
thew lake a great deal of pride and
Measure in the performance of their
various duties, even though they have
to make many sacrifices in order to do
So, For the convenience of members
and their guests, a reading room, con-
tanning all the leading newspapers and
maga zines together with stationery
and writing materials is kept open at
all times. AS a result of the work of
these cooperative organizations, with
in the past.fve years the population
has increased from $500 to 5000 in
.habitants, without a so-called boon"
but a smooth steady growth. We have
three railroads already here, and one
other under construction, sewerage,
water works, electric lights, large and
efficient public schools, eight churches
and a handsome Carnegie library. The
deposits of the two banks have more
than doubled within b past 5 years,
being now more than a half million