The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-10-06

NOrtOlk S DanK deposits nave grown
in nine years from 100000 to 81 600
00O-a million dollar gain since 1903
The annual business done by Norfolk
firms today totals $3.5OO,OOO. and the
annual retail business amounts to 81
100000.
These were some of the startling
figures brought out last night at
Commercial club meeting, to indicate
Norfolks rapid development and
great prospects for future growth.
The meeting was held in connection
with the formal opening of the clubs
new home. A half hundred represen-
tatiVe business men attended the SEES
sion, listened to speeches and enjoyed
delicious hot lunch and a smoker.
G.. l.. Carlson, who built the structure
expressly to lease to the Commercial
club, made a speech in which he
turned over the keys to A. l.. Kill
liam, president of the Commercial
club, Mr. Klllian responding. In turn
ing over the keys of the building to
President Killian the speaker declar-
ed that he had made a canvass of the
city's annual business amounts to 49,.
100000. Excluding the manufacturing
and professional business, he said the
annual business of Norfolk amounts
TO $2,50O,O00, according to the report
of eighty-twO firms of the city. Re-
ports were not taken from hotels, sa-
looms or restaurants. The smallest
business annual done in Norfolk by
one first is reported at 81 900, and the
largest 100000. Three business
houses do a business which exceeds
$15O000 annually.
kilIan SWeetens the Lemon.
In cOmplimenting President Killian
it was declared that when the Com
mercial club was turned over to him
it was rendered as a lemon, but Mr..
Killian had turned the lemon into an
orange.
In accepting the keys and the new
Commercial club building President
| Killian declared himself proud of the
new club home. He heartily thanked
the Commercial club members for
| their cooperation and declared it was
only through this cooperation that
the club was able to do the effective
work which it has done this year.
| President Kilian declared that be-
cause the business men were too busy
with their individual affairs, the fall
festival which had been scheduled for
this fall, will not be held. The pur.
chasing of a city park has also gone
by default this year, he declared.
Secretary Hawkins followed Presi
dent Killian with brief summary of
what the club has done this year. Mr.
Hawkins said, in part:
NOTfolks possibilities as a jObbing
center are almost unlimited, and We
have excellent start toward that end
In addition to those we already had
two wholesale houses have been add
ed lately-'The Norfolk Oil & Chem
ical Works and The Evans Fruit Co.
and | believe the managers of these
two Institutions will bear me out il
the statement that the amount o
business they have enjoyed has con
WINGED them that they were not mis-
taken in their judgment as to lOcatinl
with us. Let us not lose sight of thu
fact that our wholesale houses are en-
| lllltu W our SuppplL III every way any
visit to their offices once in a whil
by their fellow members of the Com
mercial CLUB will do much toward
helping them in their efforts to built
up the jObbIng interests in Norfolk
: Plans for suitable trackage, whicl
: is one of the main requirements of
wholesale district, are well under wa
and we believe that short time vii
, see this great need taken care of.
, Perhaps the largest undertaken
that has been taken up by the Con
mercial club lately is the matter O
putting the roads leading into Norfol
into condition so that many peopl
will be drawn to our city. The con
pletion of the work now in progress
r on South Thirteenth street will Sc
one of the worst roads leading int
l our city in such shape as to merit tn
praise of all. This has been accom-
plished through cooperation with MI
Taft, the county commissioner fror
this district, and the able support O
the business men of Norfolk an
: many farmers in the surroundin