The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-29
WORK FOR THE STATE.
What the Board of Trade Nav
Accomplish.
DR.. G. v. CALHouN'S VIEWS.
Accurate Information for Those Want
Ing to Know Washington's Re-
sources-Tacoma's Jealousy.

DR.. G.. '. Calhoun, of La Conner, presi-
dent of the State Board of Trade, arrived
In the city last evening and is at the
RAINIER hotel. II came" he said, ito
attend meeting of the executive commit
tee OF the State Board of Trade, to be held
at your Chamber of Commerce building
Thursday afternoon. We are Just organ
izing now, and / suppose it will be neces-
sary to hold meetings of the committee
every week or so. The other members of
the committee are the secretary Mr.. w.
i. Rupert, Mr.. Percy w. Rochester. of
this city; DIR. S. Il. Conover. of Port
Townsend; Mr.. ". 7. Clark. of WILDLY
island; Mr.. w. d. Jenkins, of Whatcom,
and Mr.. &. III. Warner, of Colfax.
Il am confident that the State Board of
Trade can do much good-a better work
than can be done by any local board of
trade or chamber of commerce. We shall
try TO work on much the same lines. For
one thing, VIC shall do all in our power to
induce Immigration, by sending out in
various forms information regarding the
resources and prospects of the state. One
trouble with circulars distributed by local
chambers of commerce is that people are
likely to discount the statements, saving:
'Oh, they're trying to boom their town.
Now we propose to get, if it is a posi-
bic thing, accurate information from every
town and county in the state. So when
man writes from any part of the world
asking about this place or that in the
state, We can tell him exactly what the
condition of affairs is there. and our
answers, carrying the authority of the
state board, can be relied upon, for we
shall favor no section by painting rosy
pictures. We are for the state as a whole,
not for any locality in it.
Know town-a place which really
has something to back it, good reason
Tor exlstence-whose real estate dealers
got out beautiful maps showing improve
ments which exist only on paper, got out
circulars declaring the place had advan-
tages which it never had and perhaps
never could have. A lot of investors fell
into the snare, went there, and found the
facts had been so greatly overstated that
they went away disguised, not trusting
even the witness of their eyes for what
actually was there.
Now our State Board of Trade wants to
counteract the effect of that sort of thing
by becoming the recognized center for au-
thentlc information; and we hope to be
even more effective than similar board
has been in California.
Another work we shall assume is to CO.
to make the states exhibit at Chicago as
complete and as successful as may be.
our headquarters, as you know are to
be at Seattle. and our work will be mainly
done by Mr.. w. +. Rupert, who has al
ready performed excellent service of the
same kind for the Port Townsend Cham
Der of Commerce. Your local member of
the executive committee. who will always
be within reach, is Mr.. Percy w. Roches-
ter, who is not only very energetic. but
with brains to direct his energy.
Exactly what funds we shall have to
use cannot be determined in advance. The
business men of Seattle have generously
promised us $1,000 for the year. Then our
fee of admission tor membership is 500;
and we expect as members delegates from
many of the towns, cities, counties and
chambers of commerce in the state, for
each is entitled to a delegate. Beside that
an individual, corporation, or business
firm can become member, and we hope
that number of the railway, steamboat
and land companies. as well as other firms,
will thus assist in supporting the work of
the board.
at was almost a foregone conclusion
from the start that our main Office would
be at either Seattle or Tacoma, for IS per
cent. of the newcomers to this state visit
one or both of these cities. Then, too,
they are the most accessible and can be
easily reached for meetings of the execu-
tive committee. As the members pay their
own expenses this item is of some account.
So you see that either city would be better
than Olympia for our headquarters.
Il was very sorry that Tacoma behaved
as she did in the matter. Her representa-
tive brought to the meeting of the assoeia-
ton liberal offer from her merchants, if
we would have our office there. But at
the same time he made the threat that if
the offer were not accepted, Tacoma would
have nothing to do with the board.
''Then Mr.. Percy w. Rochester presented
Seattle's claims, but added that which,
ever place was chosen. Seattle and King
county would render loyal support to the
State Board of Trade.
1.-THE result was that the vote was rs to
- for Seattle. / think the choice was
doubtful between the two places until the
good temper of Seattle was shown"