The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-18
COMMERCE BODY
STARTSNENYEAR.
BIG PROGRAM.
Officers of Body Will be
Elected Monday
Afternoon


this morning by 7. D. Connoll, sec.
retary of the organization. A presi.
dent. two vice presidents and the
secretary.manager are to be elect
ed by the board Monday. 1t Is quite
likely that George T. Watson will
bo named again as head Of the COM
merce body, while 1t goes without
saying that T. D. Cornell will con.
tinue In the capacity Of secretary.
manager.
The terms of nine directors of
the body expired last night and at
the annual meeting last evening, six
OF the retiring directors were re-
elected, while three new names
were added to the directorate.
Those reelected to office were
Brooks Fleming, Jr., J. L. Hall, H.
L. Heintzelman, John M. KIsner,
E.. E. Masten, and George r. Wat.
son. S. D. Brady. 7. L. Cordray and
John S. Scott were named to sue
ceed R. NJ. Hite, Carl Riggs and S.
Ray Holbert.
The meeting last evening, attend.
ed by 102 members OF the organiza.
tlon, was presided over by Presi.
dent George T. Watson, and a very
interesting program was enjoyed
by the membership represented.
In introducing Secretary Connep,
who made a report for the year and
outlined the program for the com.
ing months, President Watson paid.
a high compliment to the popular
secretary, giving him full credit for
the great work done since he had
been connected with the organiza.
tion and for coordinatlng the et-
forts Of Fairmont citizens In sup
port Of the commerce body. Mr..
Connell was given what must have
been very gratifying ovation when
he arose to deliver his speech.
: Mr. ConnelI stated that a year.
ago he had declared at the annual
meeting (the time 1t was announc.
ed) that at would be pleasure to
work with such a fine bunch OF
men) and he could make the Same
statement after a year in office
with added emphasis.
"a year ago." said Mr.. Conneli,
81 declared that / was an amateur
in this line OF work, and | /. still
claim that am; but have gained
a lot Of experience. Experience is
u wonderful teacher, and ! have
tried TO profit by the experiences
have had and the mistakes | have
He declared that at all times he
had the loyal support OF every Fair
mont ci.izen, and that he had never
been refused the time, counsel and
advice OF any business man when
lie had sought aid In any problem.
Mr.. Connell outlined In detail the
program for the coming year, which
includes eleven major efforts, viz:
the housing problem, which in large
is dependent on reduced
costs Of labor for fulfillment; the
matter of better streets and roads,
which will be pushed at all times
until conditions have greatly i'm.
proved.
The next problem is that OF pas
senger stations. Mr.. Connell stated
that at the present time the rail.
roads had no money, but when they
did start building passenger sta
tions again the two roads coming,
one on each side of the new bridge,
would have to build stations In
keeping with the beauty OF the riv.
er viaduct, or one would be permit.
ted to be erected. The secretary
got great hand when he made this
statement.
The commerce body Is also
pledged to assist the city directors
in regulating street traffic; in pro-
viding a filtration plant: in provid.
ing additional incinerators; in pro-
viding sanitary sewerage system.
The Amerlcanization work will
be fostered by the commerce body.
Only one class In this line Of work
is at the present time conducted In
theV city, this at the Y. NJ. G. A. It
Is hoped to have a much larger field
OF operation within the next few
months.
In the matter OF new industries,
Mr.. Connell stated that many con.
Germs with propositions to come
here had been turned down the last
year, because the prospects were
not self supporting and were look.
ing for easy marks. Mr.. Connell de.
clared Fairmont wants only first
class institutions.
The last item on the program for
the year Is adjustment Of freight
rates. This matter has come to the
point where money will have to be
expended to bring justice to Fair.
mont, and the commerce body will
be on the alert at all times to help
solve this problem.
Ira Atkins made report OF the
special committee Of the Monon.
gahela Valley association on the
Hickman Run switching case, which
advised a survey 10 be made and
the cost apportioned among the
parent bodies Of the organization.
Eairmont's share Is 5000, and a
motion prevailed that the board OF
directors could expend this amount
of money for the survey IL they
deemed 1t wise.
While a committee composed OF
G. w. Evans, Hugh f. Smith and
Otis Wilson retired to bring in nom.
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