The broad ax., 1915-06-19
MARcHINa ON BOSTON.

A0(1244NS O4N oOo1ONs
The Fifteenth Anniversary of the
founding of the National Negro Busi-
ness League viii be celebrated at Bos-
ton, Massachusetts,, Wednesday, Thurs
day and Friday, August 18th, 18th, and
10th, 1915.
The Boston Local Negro Business
League, as well as the Local Negro
Business League of Cambridge, is hard
at work perfeeting arrangements for
the reception and entertainment of the
delegates who are planning to be pres
ent. Aside from the regular business
sessions Of the League, the social side
of the convention viii not be neglected.
A Guarantee Fund has already been Sc
cured for the purpose Of financing every
feature of the entertainment and re-
eeption of the delegates.
Historical Traditions.
Historic Boston, with its many ira
ditions intimately connected with the
life and history of the Negro people,
and particularly with the movement
which led to their freedom and enfran-
ehisement, is 6 Mecca toward which
our race should from time to time turn.
It was in Boston that the first meet
ing Of the League was held August
23rd and oath, 1900; and in holding the
meeting there this year, it will fttingly
celebrate the Fifteenth Anniversary of
the founding of the League, afford an
opportunity for "taking stock ian in
ventory, as it were-of racial progress
and Development since the organization
of the League; and fortified by the ae-
eumulahed knowledge and experiences
of these years, the business men and
women of the race may face the future
with greater inspiration and q frmer
grasp of the complex problems Of mod
ern business.
Gains by the Race in Fifteen Years.
In 1900, when the National Negro
Business League was organized, there
were about 10000 Negro business en-
terprises; now there are $4,000.
In 1900 there were two Negro Banks;
now there are 81.
In 1900 Negroes were running $50
drug stores; now they have 695.
In 100 there were $50 undertaking
businesses operated by Negroes; now
there are about 1000.
In 1900 there were 149 Negro mer-
chants engaged in wholesale businesses;
now there are 240.
In 1900, fifteen years ago, there were
10000 Negro retail merchants; now
there are $4,000.
Further Economic Progress.
In the fifteen years since the Ma
tiOnal Negro Business League was or
ganized, farm property owned by
Negroes has made q remarkable increase
From 1900 to 1910, the value Of do
mestic animals owned by Negro farmers
increased from SIS, ,216,ss7 to $177, ,2Ts,-
zs5, or 107 per cent; poultry from
$3,Tss.792 to S5,11s, ,756. or 80 per cent;
implements and machinery from t1s,-
5s6.225 to S36,s61, ,41s, or 9s Per cent;
land and buildings from So y6s642O to
S27s, sol y665, or 2O3 per cent. In ten
years the total valas Of farm property
owned by Negroes increased Ason
s177,4O4, ,6ss to SzS2so221s, or III Per
cent.
Special Ra1roa6 AecommOdstiona
Arrangsmsnts are already being made
for the comfort Of delegates who intend
to attand TIE msstingG A Nstioaal
Negro Business Lsagus special trssn,
which win cary deIagAtss from The far
South TO tie Boston meeting, il Al
rsady hang planned for and, IN aadl-
ton. nzr.ngsnats uin also BE maas
fur ON 1E11nds 1Eun the West with
Chicago ss tie esntaE, 70 make the trip