MISCELLANEOUS. 387 



MERCHANTS' EXCHANGE OF ST. LOUIS. 



(Geo. H. Morgan, Secretary, St. Louis.) 



The commercial organizations of the United States are important 

 factors in the commercial life of the nation, being composed of active, 

 progressive representatives of the various lines of trade in the com- 

 munity, they voice public sentiment and direct public thought in all mat- 

 ters pertaining to the public welfare. Many of these organizations are 

 deUberative bodies, their purpose being to look after and develop and 

 direct, as much as may be, the business mterests of the special commun- 

 ity in which they exist, while others are of a national character and look 

 after matters which affect the country as a whole, while others are 

 trading organizations where merchants and manufacturers meet to buy 

 and sell and encourage business in their various lines. 



To the latter class belongs the Merchants' Exchange of St. Louis, 

 the largest commercial organization in the Louisiana Purchase and west 

 of the Mississippi River. It is the legitimate successor of the St. Louis 

 Chamber of Commerce, organized in 1836, and was the first exchange 

 organized in this country for the purpose of trading. It is an active, 

 progressive body of over 1,800 members, representing primarily the 

 dealers in grain and other farm products, but including also in its mem- 

 bership every commercial, financial and manufacturing interest in the 

 city, as well as many of the professions. It has on its roll of members 

 ex-governors, ex-members of "the cabinet. United States consuls, judges 

 of the State and United States courts, lawyers, engineers and artists, the 

 active members representing banks and trust companies, the grain trade, 

 the packing and provision business, rail and river transportation, insur- 

 ance and all jobbing trades in all its branches, as well as manufacturers in 

 every line, but the principal business transacted on the floor is in grain and 

 other products of the farm in the natural state and in the manufactured 

 product. 



It will thus be seen that this organization is representative in every 

 sense and, therefore, is justly looked upon as the conservator of the com- 

 mercial interests of the greatest city of the Mississippi Valley. 



It publishes annually a statement of the trade and commerce of the 

 city in all its branches, which is taken as authority by all statisticians 

 and writers for the public press. 



The Merchants' Exchange owns and occupies^ one of the most im- 

 posing and substantial business buildings in the cit}^ It covers two- 



