The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-29


generally frouncd down on the Business Mems
Assocston"--"s so called as they put it, Per
haps that is the correct thing. Judging from the
past ii seems quite the correct thing. Alta meet
ing last spring it was determined to issue pam
phlet stating all the facts concerning the town
that any person could desire to know who con
tcmplated settling here either as merchant,
manufacturer or gentleman OF leisure. Outside
Of three or four men no one seemed to take the
slightest interest IN the matter. The compiers
OF the book became discouraged naturally and
the hot weather coming on, the whole subject
was dropped. Three weeks ago meeting OF the
association was called. Two men attended.
Perhaps the business of this fall may have made
our people think there is no need for the action
contemplated by said Association. 1t is certain
ly true that all have had a splendid trade But
is it all Ottawa can do? Is it all she wants.
Is there any reason to expect that the trade Of
this city, rs it stands will ever bc any better
than it has been this fall? Whore is it to come
from? The majority OF our merchants advertise
no longer, nor try TO force trade into the city.
The whole town depends on few houses for all
the Advertising it gets. But for a few men whom
we could name in very short amount OF space,
the outside world would not know but the town
had become deserted. People may tank as they
please the fact IL certain that although done pr
marily for their individual interest, advertisers
should be looked on by citizens of the towns
where they reside as public benefactors and they
should be encouraged accordingly One ner-
chant who advcrtises extensively is worth TO his
own town and its people more than forty that
never show themselves in print and should be
for this reason alone preferred, assuming that he
is, OF course, fair business man. In point of
fact, he is, nine times out of ten.
| But assuming that all advertise extensively,
would Ottawa then get all the trade she could
| do? Is not the country surrounding limited?
Ottawa men could doubtless by advertising get
back a great part OF the trade that now strays
away to smaller towns; but-o come to the point
is it not true that for the future she must de
| pend for great and permanent increase Of trade
upon an increase of the size Of the cty:-the
creation OF a clown trade"
Is there any other way in which this can be
done than by union Of action and the puhlica-
ton of advertisements in such way as TO attract
the attention of outsiders with capital for invest
ment in manufactures? We commend the clip
ping in another place from the y. Y. SIN on the
progress of manufactures in the west. Why can't
we " take some OF il in:'
| The publication of the book proposed would
not he expensive nor advertising in manufacturing
papcrs We know il would be useful. Only the
other day Cast Monday three gentlemen from
New England seeking business site asked for
| lust such information as that book was intended
| to incorporate. They stayed here day or two;
looked around, but would not diyulge their plans
or intentions; and, after getting such informa-
| ton as they wished, went away. Such men are
worth looking after. Every man who comes here
talking as these men did are dead beats and swim
dlcrs AS some Of our men would have us believe.
| The b. NJ 5 Association would be just the thing
| to do such duty 1t would cost nothing to our
merchants and property owners united II might
be means Of making still better what Is now the
most solid, substantial town in the state-' mcr-
camille credits are IA criterion Of solidlty.
The remarks OF the Hon. Washing ton Bushnell,
on assuming the duties Of the Office OF President,
a year ago, reported by us, the truth, rs the
people will one day see, and until the ideas Of
that speech are acted upon the town will never
be soul larger than it is. For the deaths and
removals quite balance the births in which there
is no "boom"-gs yet
The most active men in the Association prom
Use to give the concern ono more trial; il it 10 u
failure the Association, SO far as they are con-
cerned, will follow-Bccchcrs Life"