The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1896-01-02
WE SHOULD ORGANIZE
A Board OF Trade so as to Help Develop
the County and Build up Our Town.

A Board OF Trade so as to Help Develop
the County and Build up Our Town.
1t has been asked, how can board of
trade help Friday Harbor? Before at
tempting to answer this question, how
ever, let us first consider the best man.
ner in which to form such organiza-
ton.
First--Let every man who feels an
interest in the welfare of our town and
county be eligible to membership.
SecCnd-Fix an initiation fee at from
81 to SIS, so as to create fund out of
which the necessary expenses can be
paid, and also to show good faith on
the part of the member joining.
Third-Let the members of the board
elect, for one year, a president, vice
president, secretary and treasurer, and
have these four, together with three
other duly-elected members, constitute
a board of directors, who shall meet at
least once a week to talk over and con-
slider all matters Of interest to our COM
munlty and devise ways, if possible, in
which to get men and capital interest
ed i'm the establishment of new enter
prises in our town or county.
Fourth Have the board meet once
month for the purpose of reviewing the
work done by the directors, and also to
offer such suggestions as any member
may see fit.
In these meetings the business men
come closer together, become more
united and will work in better har-
mony and to better advantage than they
have done heretofore. A united effort
to get outsiders interested here is al
most sure to win in the end, but if each
of us leave such work, thinking our
neighbor will take hold of it, we will
get left, and some live community
which is organized will reap the benefit
which we may just rs we'll have had.
Who has ever heard of thriving
city that did not have either board of
trade, chamber of commerce, or a COM
mercial club? If an organization of
this kind is benefit to a:large COM
munity, why would it not help a small
one? 1t has never been tried here, and
the only way to ascertain whether or
not it would be benefit to us, is to or
ganize at once and try.
There are many subjects which
should be considered and ways devised
for the carrying out Of plans which, if
at all successful, would greatly benefit
| us.
First, we should have the govern
ment reserves, in this:county, opened
for settlement, and by so doing bring
new settlers here. If this could be
done, it would increase our assessed
valuation and thereby lower our taxes
quite materially. We need fruit
dryer and cannery, also more salmon
canneries, and more fish caught. How
can we expect to get these if we sit
back and do not try? New sidewalks
should be laid, and some Of our old
ones, which are badly in need of re-
pair, put in such shape that person
walking Oh them would not be in
danger of breaking his neck. Al
though great deal of good work has
been put OH our streets in the past
three months, there is still much that
could he done to improve them. Our
pig-tail alleys should be widened and
respectable looking streets made Of
them; and more of our townsite plat
ted and beautified so as to present
more pleasing appearance to strangers
who visit us. We should endeavor to
have circulars and descriptive matter,
setting forth the advantages of our
county, put into the hands of eastern
people who are contemplating settling
in the west. All of these as we'll as
many other subjects could be dis
cussed, intelligently considered, and
acted upon, and would more than like
ly prove of great benefit to us. The
least we can do is to try. Shall we
take hold and help ourselves? Who
will start the ball rolling? Don't wait
for your neighbor, but come to the
| front yourself.