The Ottawa free trader., 1879-11-29


generally frowncd down on the Business Mems
Association"-"s so-callcd" AS they put it. Per
haps that is the correct thing. Judging from the
past it seems quite the correct thing. Atameet
ing last spring it was determined to issue pam
phet stating all the facts concerning the town
that any person could desire to know who con-
tcmplatcd settling here either as merchant,
manufacturer or gentleman OF leisure. Outside
Of three or four men no one seemed to take the
slightest interest III the matter. The compers
of the book became discouraged naturally and
the hot weather coming on, the whole subject
was dropped. Three weeks ago a 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 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, it now stands, will ever be 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. Bat for a few men whom
the outside world would not know but the town
had become deserted. People may talk as they
please the fact il certain that although done pri-
marily for their individual interest, advertisers
should be looked on by citizens of the towns
where they reside rs public benefactors and they
should be encouraged accordingly One mer-
chant who adyertses extensively is worth to his
own town and its people more than forty that
never show themselves in print, and should sc
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 10y advertising get
back 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 a great and permanent increase Of trade
upon an increase Of the size of the cityE-the
creation Of 4 town tradcW
Is there any other way in which this can hc
done than hy union Of action, and the publica-
ton of advertisements in such n way as to attract
the attention Of outsiders with capital for invest
| Hlehl III NanuuCIoflcs: we commend luc ClIp-
ping in another place from the n. Y. SuH on the
progress of manufactures in the west. Why can't
We take some OF il inv
The publication of the book proposed would
uot be expensive nor advertising in manufacturing Q
papers. We know it would be useful. Only the
other day Oast 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 divulge their plans
or Intentions; and after getting such nfOrma-
ton as they wished, went away. Such men are
worth looking after Every man who comes here
talking rs these men did are dead beats and swim
dlcrs as some OF our men would have us believe.
| The b. Ms Association would he just the thin z
To do such duty. 1t would cost nothing to our
merchants and property owners united. Itmight
be a means of making still better what Is now the
most solid, substantial town in the state-if mcr-
camille credits are a criterion Of solidlty.
The remarks ofthe Hon. Washington Bushnell,
on assuming the duties Of the Office OF President,
| a year ago reported by Va, are the truth, as the
lpeople 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"-as yet
| The most active men in the Association prom
ise to give the concern ono more trial; IL it il u
failure, the Association, so far as they are con
:, cerned, will follow-Beccher'. Life"
| |