The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-01-24
Charlotte Raised $122, 600 Friday
Night Towards Fund
SMOKER IN HONOR EVENT
Messrs J. b. and B. N. Duke We're
Present at Large Gathering Of Busi.
ness Men Who Nobly Responded to
Call Which Win Mean Much for
the State.

Charlotte. Jan. 23.-Enthusiasm
over the interurban swept a congress
Of commercial and professional men
of Charlotte on their feet Friday
in the assembly foom Of the Selwyn
hotel after vice-Presiden, w. s. Lee
aud Manager z. v. Taylor had made
ringing and convincing arguments in
behalf Of this immense development;
and as resul; of the inspiration
which flourished under the pressure
Of the occasion subscription u $222.-
900 of the needed 100000 was secur-
ed. This achievement in the light Of
the facts OF past history is epochal TO-
Charlotte has always been regarded
as ultra-conservatiye and slow to
move.
The meeting was unique and event
full. II was easily one of the most
important ever held in the fruitful
and resourceful histo' y OF the Queen
City. The crowd was representative.
Men OF all vacations were there In
numbers that excel the records OF at
tendance for any session under the
auspices of the Greater Charlotte
club. The occasion was one OF I'M
common delight as we'll as historic
interest. Chairman Kuester keeping
the crowd in excellent humor while
the work Of raising the subscriptions
was being done.
Shortly after the plan Of the Dukes,
both OF whom were present, had been
outlined, clearly, precisely and
cogently by Messrs Lee and Taylor
and after a few insoiring words from
several citizens OF Charlotte in earn
est advocacy OF the interurban pure
ID as business proposition, Mr.. w.
S. Lee arose when the time for rails
ing the allotment of 100000 was at
hand and said that he would resign
for a moment from the Southern Pow
er company and appear as citizen
Of Charlotte. believing in the enter
prise which Is before you and having
studied IL from It's very incipiency, !
am assured that II rs a project that
merits the investment OF my money
and while haven't much, have
made arrangements 10 borrow a sum
sufficient to give me a slice Of stock
in the interurban and | ask 10 be put
down on the subscription list as a
citizen OF Charlotte for $4,000" This
was the sign Of an uproarious demon
stration and prolonged. Mr.. Lee was
time and again given distinct oya-
ton during the eventual session Of
the evening Hardly had taking Of
subscriptions progressed to any ap-
probable extent when Manager 2. "
Taylor, late gift of Greensboro "a
Charlotte. aroge and after saying he
had decided TO make his stay in Char
lotte commensurate with his stay on
earth, he asked TO be put down on the
list as citizen for $4,000. Mr. Tay-
lor was likewise given great applause
lasting for several moments. He had
previously sent the meeting well on
with splendid appeal for good will
cooperation and support on the part
Of the citizens In which wit, humoI
and argument were artifciaily mixed
After calling the meeting TO order
riday. President Kuester asket
Mr.. Lee to explain the plan Of the
syndicate that Is promoting the IN.
terurban and afr. Lee was explicit IN
his explanation He irst spoke OF n,
Dukes as pioneers in number Of In.
dustries and the assurance which
their very activity gave the people
that something would result.
Mr.. W. =. Lees kemar1s.
Two years ago ] tried 10 Undue,
them TO undertake a mammoth inter.
urban development for this section
but they could see little IN Il at thai
time. ! thought that the Southern
Power company which Is only parial
ly interested IN this enterprise cvult
50 pave the way that an interurbsr
company could more easily be estab
lished In the piedmont section ant
the fact that the Southern Powel
company now has sub-stations ever
20 miles from greenVille on the ,sou,i
10 Greensboro on north gives The In
terurban 4 handicap Of more than 81,
100000 right from the start. Tn
Southern Power company will be nj
more inteffsied IN this concern thai
/ some individuals. When I tell yoi
that the poedt that viii be necsstaf,
70 operate this entire system Of IN
terurban will be only 1900 horse
power you can understand why II 4
not essential TO have a railroad o
! electric energy TO consume the powe
from our plants. There are a larg
number Of individual enterprises ina
consume more power for their plant
j than will be- needed 10 operate thi
lnterurban. Mr. Lee told OF the pur
chases AZ Anderson. Greenyiile an
Charlotte for the purpose OF facIlitat
: Ing the building Of this project an
then entered into an explanation 0
: the management Of the proposed In
1 ,erurban, saying that the Dukes woul
e raise three-fousths ~ The enlir
2 amount necessary 10 building II II IN
< towns and citlzsns Interested woul
!. Raise the other ona-fourfh. The syn
y dictate being organized wlII BE- mana
iged By q board consisting Of hewrl