Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-02-16
NEW BOARDOF TRADE
Dissatisfied With the Present
sleepy Concern
A csIIENls WANTS ANOTHER ONE
That VIII censetne fseile spirit kates-
pstss Ana Inteasias.1-tf ia.titetea
Issue stN rs ssfaea With ths
Baildsfs and = hfesk kTssssa.

A gentleman consefsant with the
history and inside management Of the
Board Of Trade, pnophesles thai within
a very few weeks, steps viii hs taken ~
reofeaniAe thai s.ody, OF failing Ia this.
another board viii be established. For
personal and business reasons the gen
tleman refused the use u his name for
publication, AID further declined 10
make any statement unless assured
that lac name woaia De withsld. II j.
sufficient 80 know that he Is a wide
awake business man, and holds a re-
spoqslble position IL one OF tne great
commercial establishments Of The city.
The substance Of what be said on the
subject Is sabjoined:
In the first place the present Board
Of Trade is 10; representative. The
benefits or advantages secured 10 the
merchants and manufactures are sore
mote and intangible, that but for the
fact that IL has name we would not tc
aware OF is existouoe. It's policy whllr
osionsibiy liberal one IL narrow and
dwarfed. WITH the exception 81 one
or two business men, notably active ia
ali public Improvements and schemes
for the material development Of the
city, the members of The present board
are inactive aud inert. The principal
aim seems 10 be 10 foster the Interests
OF the few 81 the expense Of the large
majority. About The only knowledge
yonchsafed 10 tae public is tie number
of cars OF beans, wheat and bran al
riying daily or the several railroads.
ASIDE from tins the board is silent. The
primary object of "a board OF trade
is 10 encourage the location
and deveiopmoal OF diversified
industries III a city. Our board seems
10 have but one object and that the
serving and protecting OF the selfish in-
terests OF those lnirusJed with It's man
agement. A board of trade should be
DTosu, Progressive and aggressive. Our
board Is characterized hy the total 40
scnce of all three. IL one desires ~
formation. IL IS first ascertained whether
the information will ia any manner az
feet a select coterie, and II Il ls con-
uded that II Will the lniornla-
ton is very based, and hence
unsatisfactory. ] DO not wish 20 give
otiense 10 the present managers, but
their achievements measured 10y the
standard OF practicability and utility
| are best defined 10y the simple ysI e1-
pressive word failure" They issued
a handsome circular, very artistic ana
comprehensive, inviting attention TO the
city, but when the circular began 10
bear fruit il was nipped in the bud by
the ohtrusion OF selfish interests, seek
Ing 10 reap personal profits on the sale
OF lands and privileges. Capitalists do
not readily invest, nor manufacturers
build, where suspicion II given birth
that selfshness lies al the bottom Of
negotiations.
have generalized In this manner 10
give you an idea OF the feeling general
ly entertained 10y many enterprising
citizens. / am opposed 10 boon" tao
tics, but i believe that the location Of
commercial enterprises should be cor
| daily solicited and unselfshly encouf.
! aged. Our city demands that board
of trade should be representative OF the
alttAtbS1 Vi Aht lft'Rftt &C An0Ats at14
not a lew land owners and Others who
seek 10 profit by name without con-
trbutlng 20 the substance.
The present status of the board bas
been quietly, yet vigorously discussed by
those interested IN the growth OF the city,
both from promptingf of PRIDE and par
| donabie patriotism. apparent that
change should be made somewhere.
| ] believe that reorganization OF The
present board would bc more detlrabie
and advantageous than the establish
ment OF new and separate associa-
ton. IL this can be done IA a harmon
| ious manner. then ] dare ssy II will be
| the course pursued. II, however. op-
posliionls encountered, the latter plan
/ will be adopted AZ all events new
y.gor and enterprise vii be infused.
and the board put on a bass upon
which some advantages may be secured
! for the city.
IT a new board ie organized Il Is prot
able that il will JON With the builders
and traders exchange IN the erection ~
a fine block 70 he devoted 90 the
use OF both bodies. In this connection
II might be proper 90 cay that 4 the
present hoard of trade had acted with
ordinary zesl and enterprise IL y far 10
assume that when tife furniture men
talked OF building an exchange for the
accommodation OF foreign msuufac-
tgrers. something definite and substsB-
tai might have been formulated. Bot
In tins csse sc ia Others selfish
interests oBtwejghed pubic kpir-
Il and enterprise and the
furniture dealers went away 20
return IN July next and pe compelled
/ to snow tbesr goods on back streets and
alleys. Vow, please DO not report me
az finding fault with individuals, for the
board contains many ~ our best citi-
zeDs Where the fs8li ltes - 10 the sc
tive management Of affairs. ff sbopic
s,e eIther Qnskened and made 20 ag5-
precate tne true ot9ecss Of such an M
stifui8on, o. il sb0ulo step ssl1e and Let
another management take the reiBs. il
/ dCes Deitbsr. then a Bew organization
| wll3 be formed.
Tast is al ] care 70 ssy st present. .
1 -------~ - >--s---------~----