The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1924-07-18
FEAR'CHAMBER
MAY BREAK UP
at Will Be Too Late Then" /"
Says President Sheep, Who
Wants to Carry On

Commerce if allowed to go into
effect. may result in the final
breaking up of the organiza
ton. which has been alm"rt TO
the end of its rope, according
to President M. Leigh Sheep,
who. with the directorate IS
cndcavoring to keep the organ-
ization togethet by ticing a
knot in the rope anti holding
on awhile longer.
"It will never do now to abandon
the Chamber of Commerce, which
may bc done II Mr.. Job IN allowed
to leave" declared Mr.. Sheep yes.
trr,lny. ITO abandon II now when
il Is beginning to get on It's feet.
would bc detrimental to the best
interests of the city. Once we have
given it up. we will not hc able to
get another started right aIihy,
and having 20 many progressive
measures underway, to lose II would
not only bc a handicap to the pro-
grcss of the town. but n serious re-
Election on our community pride.
The efforts of Mr.. Sheep to hold
the Chamber of Commerce together,
follow the resignation of Mr.. JOl'
last week. when he was offered Il
po>ition n secretary Of the Gains
willie Georgia Chamber OF Com
mcrcr. at a salary NJ $1,000 Il year
Mr. Job expected to report for duty
Un August T..
President sheep calls attention to
the fact that the Chamber of Com
mrrcr ut the present time Is recov'
crimg from a period Of financial
Stringency. dating back to the time
when the organization took over the
drfunct Moose lodge In this city.
with Il lot of fine furniture and a
lot of inactive members. When the
Moose lodge merged with the Cham
her Of Commerce. the mttcr or:nh'
ilation shouNlcrSd and indebted
ness of something like S2,5nn. At
the present time. the Chamber of
Commerce /, carrying m indebted'
ness of Sl,;UO. on notes made 10y
members of the organization. Mr..
Sheen believes II the Chamber OF
Commerce l. held together. that this
amount can hc paid off. AMI thinks
the only fair thing 10 do. IL to try
10 hold II together until the Oblign'
tinns nj least, have been discharged.
NOt only this. hut Mr.. sheep cites
several outstanding and vitality i'm.
purtant movements now underway
for the benefit Of this city and sec.
tion that by no means should he
abandoned. Among them he men'
tirnS the movement Ia bridge the
lower Chowan River, which Is ac-
lively supported 10y the Local Cham
her Of Commerce, and the Chambers
of Commerce Of IIcrtfOrd and Eden
ton. The bridging Of the river viii
he necessary to the adoption OF
route 80 thru these cities as part
of the coastal highway system,
which has already been recon-
mcndcd. This idca o putting
Elizabeth City on Il coastal highway
was Mr.. jobs" says Mr.. Sheep.
And we are indebted TO him for
starting the movement which re-
suited in its being recommended"
Not only this, hut SIR. Sheep
stresses the importance Of holding
the organization together to con-
tinue the fight for Il government
appropriation for the purchase of
The Dismal Swamp Canal. Mr.. Jol'
has compiled and has at his finger
tins tremendous amount OF data
concerning this waterway, and he
led the fight to urge the Waterways
Committee at Washington to III
cludc I'M appropriation in the Povers
and HarbOrS Bill, which was sue
crsSful. and the bill Is now ready
for presentation at the next ses'
sion. Unless we get this project
thru" declares Mr.. Sheep, "Eliz'
ahcth city Is in fair way to lose
Il great amount Of waterway traf'
fic for all time. at tremendous
financial loss. and loss Of prestige
aS shipping center as well.
Mr.. Sheep declares we must con
tinuc the efforts Of the Chamber OF
Commerce to secure lower freight
rates on carlOt shipments Of furni'
turc and coal. This fight Is making
headway and If successful will re-
suit in lower prices to consumers
on these commodities, as well aS a
decided trade advantage to the city
he says.
The cooperation Of the Chamber
of Commerce with the fair at this
city, and the project of sending out
carload of produce grown in this
section to advertise the agricultural
advantages here. to cities thruou'
the easternstntes are other reasons
why the work should he kept up
says Mr.. Sheep.
Mr.. Sheep cites numerous achieve
mcnts of the Chamber of Commerc'
clude an appreciation in the Rivers
and the remarkable energy and re
sourcefulness of its secretary Ht