terprises; now there are 45,000.

In 1900 there were two Negro banks; now there are 51.

In 1900 Negroes were running 250 drug stores; now they have 695.

In 1900 there were 450 undertaking businesses operated by Negroes; now
there are about 1,000.

In 1900 there were 149 Negro merchants engaged in wholesale
businesses; now there are 240.

In 1900 there were 10,000 Negro retail merchants; now there are
25,000.

In the fifteen years since the National Negro Business League was
organized, farm property owned by Negroes has made a remarkable
increase. From 1900 to 1910, the value of domestic animals owned by
Negro farmers increased from $85,216,337 to $177,273,785, or 107 per
cent.; poultry from $3,788,792 to $5,113,756, or 35 per cent.;
implements and machinery from $18,586,225 to $36,861,418, or 98 per
cent.; land and buildings from $69,636,420 to $273,501,665, or 293 per
cent. In ten years the total value of farm property owned by Negroes
increased from $177,404,688 to $492,892,218, or 177 per cent.

It is significant of the standing and catholicity of this convention
that the Governor of Massachusetts, Hon. David F. Walsh, and Dr. John
E. White, a leading white Southern clergyman, both spoke at the
opening meeting at Symphony Hall.

The National League is made up of more than 600 local leagues which
influence in a direct and practical way almost every community in the
United States with any considerable number of Negro inhabitants. These
local leagues are all chartered, guided, and supervised by the
national organization and with them all the Secretary, Mr. Scott,
keeps in touch. From time to time he issues pamphlets setting forth
methods of organization, activities that can be undertaken, and
subjects that may be discussed under the head of "Some things that it
is possible for a local league to do to be of service to the town or
city in which it is located" are the following:

"(1) To keep a list of the young men and women who are intelligent,
trained, and qualified to fill responsible places as clerks,
accountants, salesmen, janitors, porters, etc.; in this way a league
can do much in getting suitable occupations for as many as are
competent, especially so in Northern States.

"(2) In protecting the community against fraudulent schemes, as false
stock companies, that are gotten up solely for the purpose of
defrauding colored people.

"(3) In fostering an interest in civic affairs, such as sanitation,
c