The farmer and mechanic., 1911-11-28
Bull CITY FOLKS
BOOMING DURHAM
New Commercial Organization
Gathering in New Members.
Big Banquet Set for Dec.
14th---A Days Events
Especial to News and Observer.)

Especial to News and Observer
Durham, Nov. 25.-The Conner
cial Club of Durham" continues its
m EN- bership growth today and it is
believed that it will be able to run
into the two hundreds before Christ
mas.
Various things are held up to go
for. the new hotel, the increase Of to-
bacco sales and the pull for the Sea-
board. DR.. Joe Graham suggested
that the mali order business be kept
at home and that statistics telling how
good is the health Of Durham should
be collected. He declared that the
sending away for business ought to
stop. that there is enough going out
from Durham almost to support the
local merchants.
Great hopes were held out for the
Seaboard main line. Men from Nor
folk seemed to think it settled, but
that it would still d. good to show
the road that Durham wants it. The
club was praised for its enthusiasm
by the elder members Of the club.
The travelling men made the obser-
vation that Durham stands badly away
from home, that the people here e
looked upon as sealed up and all sat-
isfied. They believe tnat oornetil.:t.s
ness to come here. The health is
good, rents are reasonable and there
is no vagrancy. The pay-rolls are
large and work abounds.
Big Banquet in Prospect.
The date of the great banquet to be
given by the merchants of the city
has been set for Thursday night, De-
cember IA, at which time there will
be a great celebration.
There have not been made all ar
rangements. The program committee
cannot announce its speakers, and it
was just q trifie uncertain where it
will be held, the hotel space being
limited. The fourth floor Of the Duke
building has been selected, and there
is all the room needed.
The banquet celebrates properly the
improved conditions Of the city along
industrial lines. All Of the merchants
have felt it and want to give vent to
their feelings. They are going to have
railroad men here for speeches and
it is thought that there will be some
distinguished visitors here.
The merchants gave two and 3 half
years ago a banquet that turned out
to be one Of the biggest things that
ever came here. There were railroad
and mill magnates, tobacco manufac-
turers and ex-governors. This was
given to the directors and stockholders
in the Erwin Cotton Mill. It took
place in June of 1903.
The occasion which is to be cele-
brated in December is one that will
very likely be made permanent There
has been a sentiment for it several
years, but not until recently did it
take serious aspect. The merchants
have given number of big banquets,
among them being the entertainment
Of the Advisory Board Of the National
Religious Training School, headed by
Judge Pritchard. and attended by
YTvl>o
set the pace for the entertainment Of
the city superintendent of schools
and gave them a function that hasn't
been eGualed before Or since.
In a few days the program will be
announced with the names of the
speakers and the visitors who will
come here for it.
The Western North Carolina A. NJ
E. Conference, which has been in ses-
sion here several days. adjourned
this afternoon to meet next year in
St. Matthews Church. Raleigh.
The closing and big feature OF the
meeting was the address of Prof. Jno.
r. Hawkins, Of KittreIl, one Of the
most eloquent men in the entire race.
He said many good things and held
up the leading white men Of this city
as examples Of what is best in a race
and admonished his hearers to do like
the leading coIored people who had
learned from whites and found their
chief inspiration there.
The Conference was presided over
by Bishop L. D. Coppin, of South AZ
rica. 1t is the largest division of the
colored Methodists and it had some
noted black men here. The principal
contest was for delegates to the next
General Conference in Kansas City.
K. w. knight, Of Cary, has been
made temporary deputy marshal to
| take the place Of James B. Jordan,
the popular officer who died Friday
evening at his home in Cary.
Mr.. Knight will be in the service
until the Government makes it's
changes and may hold permanently.
though that Is uncertain. He is a
| man OF nerve and has to be to follow
one like Jim Jordan.
There is great sorrow here over
Mr.. Jordan's death. It was