Evening star., 1936-05-24

than merely signing a call. Let all
who signed the call, and all who have
not, but who feel the desirability of
such an institution as a Merchants
Exchange. come up to the work of
starting it. and it's success is assured.
Such an institution, we'll established
and incorporated by Congress, might
do much for the interests of the city,
1t might, amongst other things, erect
building known as the Merchants
Exchange Building, that would not
only be an ornament to the city, but
also a good investment for the money
put In it. A mercantile library, such
as is the boast of almost every North
ern city, might be made O feature of
the institution.
Such an association OF leading
merchants of Washington would have
weight and influence in urging upon
Congress legislation favorable to the
business interests of the city. In
every point of view such an institu-
tion presents itself favorably, and we
trust that Tuesday nights meeting
will result in its establishment beyond
peradventure"
HE first regular meeting of this
early trade organizat ton is re-
ported in The Star of October 27,
1865, as follows:
Board of Trade.-The first stated
meeting Of the Board of Trade was
held at the City Hall last night. There
was a very good attendance. The
president, Mr.. Norment, called the
meeting to order, and in the absence
OF the secretary (Mr. Elvans), Mr.
Mohun of the firm of Blanchard &
Mohun was appointed secretary pro
TEN.
"On motion of Mr.. A. r. Shepherd,
an opportunity was offered for other
merchants to join. and the following
gentlemen were elected members: L.
H. Schneider, William M. Files g.
Brother. John Gaynor, Christian Rup.
pert, Thomas ]. Gait. R. M. Sutton
SS Co. George J. johnson & Co.,
James Harris & Co., George w. Riggs
George Hill, jr,, Georgetown; c. w.
Boteler & Son, John Farrell, Camp
bell & Son, J. w. Colley, H. B.
Sweeney, E. C. Dyer & Co.. Sioussa
d Ennis, p. ]. Lawlor. McGil &
Witherow, j. C. MCGUIRE & Co., S.
w. owen, c. w. Cochrane & Co.,
Sibley & Guy, William J. Murtagh,
George L. Sheriff, William Ballantyne,
Lewis Clephane, j. F. Andrews
Georgetown; r. H. Graham, Gideon 6
Pearson and q. F. Gulick"
The election that followed for the
highest Office was very close one,
George w. Riggs, the banker, receiv-
ing 80 votes, while his opponent, John
H. Semmes, of John H. Semmes 81 Co.,
grocers, whose place of business was
at the corner of Louisiana avenue
and Ninth street, received SO, and
Mr.. Riggs was declared elected. Mr..
Semmes and John T. Mitchell of
Georgetown were elected vice presi-
dents.
According to the City Directory for
1865, MIR. Riggs was still president, he
being followed in Office. in 1867, by
John H. Semmes. who served through
1858, being succeeded by John T.
Mitchell in 1869, and Samuel Bacon
was president in 1870, the year the
organization seems to have gone out
Of existence.
If one were to visit the Offices Of the
present Board Of Trade and see its
corDs of energetic eunloves engaged
in their work, Its equipment and its
businesslike appointments, all under
the personal direction of Mr.. Cottrell.
he would not wonder why such an
organization had thrived and sur
vived for so many years, but rather
he would be impressed with the fact
that 1t has grown to be one Of WASH
ington's great and worthwhile insti-
tutions and that II has come TO stay.