The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-01-18
COMMERCE
M'NEILL AS
FOR 1916
Movement Launched to Put
Pensacola Forward for
Navy Dry Dock.
THOUSAND DOLLAR
FUND TO BE RAISED
One Hundred Citizens Will
be Asked to Contribute
Ten Dollars Each.

Electing J. B. McNeill as presf-
dent for the ensuing year, members
OF the Chamber Of Commerce last
night launched movement to fight
for Pensacola il congress should de-
eide to place a dry dock and first
class navy yard on the gulf coast,
and fund was started which IS ex-
pected to grow to $1,000. The idea Of
the body is to be prepared to send a
representative to Washington at any
moment, and the only reason whv
such a representative viii not leave
today is that il is believed. from the
information in hand, that the time is
yet inopportune. However, the direc-
tors will Immediately get in touch
with the situation and be in a posi-
ton to send representative to Wash
ington the moment his presence will
be Of assistance to the city.
Quite a representative number 81
business men gathered FOR the meet.
ing last night and while the great
majority Of them arc members Of the
Chamber of Commerce, there were
some present who had come solely on
account Of the navy yard situation.
President Dobson called the meet
ing to order and outlined the business
before it. He first gave a talk, IA
hich he emphasized the Importance
of the Chamber Of Commerce to PEN
sacola, and how every citizen should
feel that he Is part Of the organiza-
ton and that it exists for the sole
good of an the residents eff there
was ever a time that the Chamber
of Commerce existed for the benefit
Of a few or was controlled BY Few
men, then that time has passed and
the Chamber Of Commerce Of today
is for an Of the people Of Pensa-
cola" said Mr.. Dobson.
President Dobson then said that
nominations for president were IN
order and in this connection asked
that his name not be presented, FOR
he had served for Eve years and while
he liked the work he could not afford
to serve longer and besides, he said,
he believed that the injection Of new
blood would be beneficial to the or
ganization.
J. B. M'NEILL ELECTED.
Jno. A. Merritt nominated J. b. Me-
Neil of the Consolidated Naval
Stores Co, and this nomination was
seconded by Max T.. Bear, who paid
high tribute to the ability OF Mr..
Mcneil and also his loyalty and
willingness to work for the best inter-
est of Pensacola.
Jas. c. Watson placed Mr.. Dobson'a
name in nomination and this was Soc
onded by r. f. Mitchell, who said that
just at this time he thought Mr.. Dob
son the logical man, although ne did
not wish in the least to detract from
the ability of Mr. McNeill who, he
said, already has a vast amount of
business to handle.
Mr.. Dobson again explained that
he could not accept, saying his busi-
ness required that he pay little more
attention to it than he had in the past
and while he appreciated the honor,
he was compelled to decline.
Mr.. Mcneil as then elected presi-
dent.
REPORT OF SECRETARY.
The report Of Secretary J. +. Phil-
lips, covering the activities Of the
Chamber Of Commerce for the past
year, was then read. In part, it il az
follows:
Gentlemen: The broad policy Ok
the Chamber Of Commerce as defined
in our charter, TO foster, encourage
and develop the Agricultural, Mercan-
tile and Industrial interests of PEN
sacola and the County Of Escambia,i
has been followed out during the year
just past with results that are very
satisfactory considering general BUSH
ness conditions
"One of the most important acts Of
the Chamber of Commerce in 1915
was the opening Of the Pensacola
Naval Stores Market. Prior to April
LIST, on which date the market was
opened, Pensacola was a closed port.
that is each days receipts Of naval
stores were sold under contract at a
price considerably under the Savan-
nah quotations. This differential ia
price against Pensacola amounted to
from 2 to SC per gallon on spirits
and from 10 TO 25c per barrel on
rosin. When Pensacola was declared
an open market, and the naval stores
receipts sold each day to the highest
bidder, the differential began TO de-
acontinnAd PaRa tai