Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-07-15

say to you that the many valuable suggestions you nave made, which will benefit the Cotton Belt and Pine Bluff will receive my most careful consideration. You have asked me to make Pine Bluff the biggest town in the state, and that will be my first aim. You are deserving of that be- cause you have the biggest and best l people in it.
 1 Every gentlman who has made a i talk here tonight said that ne was for | Pine Bluff and the Cotton Belt" said 1 Mr. Everman. This l know to be rue, because when l passed through Pine Bluff en route to St. Louis on June l9, MT. Carl Bair met me at the union station and informed me that a [ large delegation of boosters were travelling over the Rock Island and business 10 Pine Bluff over the Cot 1 ton Belt. This impressed me with 1 the progressveness of your people. While in St. Louis MT. Farrell told me that Pine Bluff was the biggest cotton center in the south, and I wish to make it known now that l am ready to assist you gentlemen in making it the largest in the country"
 Bair TOastmaSter.
 Charles E. Bair who acted as toastmaste:, introduced the speakers in his usual happy manner. Shortly alter the banquet was called to order, MT. Bair populariZed himself with all present, by informing them that It would be polite 10 remove their coats. His suggestion was immedi- ately acted upon.
 MT. Bair in a few well chosen words introduced Secretary E. E. Bloom of the Chamber of Commerce. whom he said was responsible for the good work being done by the Chamber of Commerce in this city, and under whose administration the organization was sure to accomplish much good for Pine Bluff.
 T want to add my welcome to MT. | Everman, vice-president and genera! j! manager of the Cotton Belt" said Mr. Bloom AS to the relations existing between Pine Bluff and the Cotton Belt railroad, there remains nothing TOT me to say. It is an acknowledged fact that the people of Pine Bluff are proud of the Cotton Belt because it gives employment to our people, and for that and many other reasons we are ready to cooperate with the Of j lclals in any move that will tend .C help them, and what helps them is sure to benefit Pine Bluff.
 Pine Bluff As Cotton Center.
 T want to ask Mr. Evermaa and MT. Richards" continued Mir. Bloom that if it is within their power tc make this the biggest town in the state, We want them to do it. Las year we received in Pine Bluff 150, 000 bales of cotton; 50,000 more than any previous year, and we want tC receive o0,000 more next year. would like to ask Mr. Evernpan to d as much for Pine Bluff as the Iron Mountain is doing for Little Rock We would like to have train schedules on locals and freights to favor Pine Bluff instead of Little ROCK not hc- cause we are jealous of our cap.;al city. We are proud of Little iiock If you will help us with better schedules and to make Pine Bluff a city of 90,OOO, then you business will increase here, because you are sure to grow with us. At the present time mos, of the business from Camden goes to Little Rock, be- cause we have not a schedule that will permit them to come and 80 ln one day According to the present schedule their time is lmited 10 one hour, if they are forced to return the same day"
 Can't on Cotton Belt.
 "lt is indeed pleasure to welcome MT. Everman to the City of Pine Bluff," said N. J. Can't, Jr., presi- dent of the Chamber Of Commerce. "Pine Bluff people have always taken deep interest in the Cotton Belt, be- cause it was this road which first opened to it's people the many possi- bilities of making it the large city it now is. It came to Pine Bluff in It's infancy, and the good citizens watch ed and helped to make it what it now is every time the opportunity pre- scented itself.
 "We are indebted to the Cotton Belt," continued MT. Ganntt, mot only fore bringing in and taking Out our freight, but for the large VOL ume of men it is bringing to the city and giving employment A large number of men who started theil career as laborers at the shops, are now among Pine Bluffs most pro. gressive business men, and for this and many other reasons we are in- debted to this road.
 "A most friendly feeling exists be- tween the Chamber of Commerca, the people of Pine Bluff and the Cotton Belt. We look upon it as We dc the other enterprises Of. the city. We will suggest improvements which we think will benefit them. as We would Our brothers, who are engaged m