The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-29


scented to the chamber, and was list
ened to with the closest attention.
The report was as follows:
To the Stockholders:
The duties assigned to the secretary
the charter and bylaws of the chambe
include but d small portion of the wor
which custom and the exigencies of dali
business require him to do. Although nc
directed TO do so by law. It has been m
practice, as il was the practice of all m
predecessors IN Office, to submit 10 tn
stockholders in annual meeting assemble
review of the business OF the chambe
Tor the preceding year, and some Sugges
ture.
In conformity with this custom 1 be,
70 offer the following:
With this meeting closes the tenth an,
me most trying year of the existence o
the chamber. 1t was organized April IS
/ 1881. and like the wasp was very larg,
at It's birth. Then. there We're Dresen
/ here but few of the many things which
now evidence the city. Our population
was about one-half what it is now, anC
our people were just beginning TO fee
the 7rst impulses of ambition.
Prlor 10 that time Salt Lakes growth
/ Rad been accomplished by its own fnhe.
/ rent strength, and no attempt had ever
/ Dee-- made TO associate its business men
INTO an orSdnlZa ton to stimulate and di-
4 rect L But there was hope in the
/ hearts of the people at this period and
/ even bright promise of prosperity Our
/ business men felt the need of organ
lzed effort. and the chamber was started
WIN the declaration that its purpose was
TO stimulate the commerce and promote
the growth Of the territory to develop
rs agricultural. fruit growing and min
ing interests; It's manufactures and arts,
It's STOCK ana wool growing, Strengthening
ana packing interests: its commercial ed
ucalon,a and TO disseminate information
as TO its wonderful natural resources: to
provide for the accumulation of statis-
ties IN relation to manufacturing. mining.
commercial. financial and industrial af-
IalrS or public interest and value. TO cor
rect trade abuses and secure uniform
~ IN commercial laws ana customs: to
harmonic and facilitate business inter-
course: to treat with railroads in the in
terest OF the commerce of Utah and in
otAer ways to produce the results in the
W. OF municipal growth and state ad-
vancement which everywhere inevitably
follow the concerted and intelligent action
OF representative business men.
Inc chamber commenced its career with
ample funds and at once became a factor
in many NOV ements calculated to produce
pros Jerity.
Our business community rallied to its
support and its original list of members
which included almost every business man
in Salt Lake, was the largest in its his
tory The rooms of the chamber were
the scene OF discussion. within them
every subject of imDOrtance to the civ
Was fully considered and to these dis
cuss:ons and the concerted action then
exhibited, is due much of the credit for
the wave OF capital and population which
SH ept over Utah during 1883 and the four
succeeding years. AS a result of the
organization Of the chamber. Salt Lake
at once took place among the wide
awa1-e cities of the country. From the
chamber commenced to flow q steady
stream Of information intended to awaken
interest in the city and territory and
the beneficial effects of this work at once
lg a ny nrs.nras
that the spirit OF enterprise and activity
which then possessed our people was
ever permitted TO languish when we con-
seer now much was then done and how
little we are now doing. Strong as was
THIS spirit however, it was nor ntrong
enough TO stand the inroads of time. At
ter the first few months of success the
chamber began It's decadence. The baciIH
OF apathy and Of insensibility TO its needs
seized upon the members and as these
deadly germs took deeper root the NOR
taiity OF the membership steadily in
creased.
The vitality the institution has exhibited
IS not TO be attributed to anything like
general support; but is to be credited to
mere handful of citizens whose earn
est efforts and generous contributions
have kept it alive These men have
ceurageously ana continually given il
their support. although they have had no
larger measure OF benefit from its work
IMAM those VINO, not content with with
holding both, have peTsistentIy and merci-
essly assailed it. The writer has had an |
ear for three years for every |
"ero OF announcement given the cham /
Ger, ana LOT every citizen directed against /
L. and his observation has been that the /
comes from those who /
support it and the criticism from those !
who do not.
For myself I cannot understand WHY
L IS we encounter this steady opposition |
ana what our opponents gain by their
Il tenPts 70 bring the institution into |
iiScredlt and hamper its progress No
me will claim that an effective chamber
u commerce Is not good thing and {
'ertalniy no one will expect an effective
'namDer TO exist where. TO the obstacles
u apathy and Indifference. are added the
'lu greater obstacles of calumny and /
Unjust criticism. If the chamber could /
zee itself from the blighting effects of
ne hi-natured remarks of those who
heaven only knows why. seek TO en-
compass its ruin. and could gain the
support of those who are simply indfffer-
mt, It would enter upon a career of use
illness to this city which would be illus
rated IN its progress for many years to
ONE. The wonder is that anyone can be
oucd TO utter word against IT'S work
Y 10 Withhold from II 'encouraz cement
md aid.
What business man is there in this city
VINO. however small mis- investment or
United extent Of his trade. would not be
nc~e than repaid in the increase of his
nccne ana the tulfment of his hopes for
he trivial cost of his membership and /
ues w har business man is there in I
his city, however small his investment
T limited the extent Of his trade. who
an aflord 10 have IL said that this. the
arSest OF inter-mountain cities lacks
he enterprise and public spirit necessary
sustain chamber of commerce2
Why, l am informed that the Salt Lake
'thletlc association has q greater mem
ershi9 than the chamber of commerce
nd that the gate receipts il takes in
very year Tor periodical prize fiei-5s OK
an inc Il.
cannot attempt in this paper TO review
he achievements of the institution or
ONT out the influence is has exerted in
very movement for the advancement of
alt Lake and Utah but 1 make the
-atement and challenge contradiction
nat II has been the greatest single factor
accomplishing the improvement mani {
st during the past ten wears ia Utah
ecause Of Its work. development has
)me 70 our agricultural and mining re- I
lurces and new population has been
1ced 10 every county, city and town in
le state II has given information of /
ar advantages by letter and pamphlet
every portion OF the United States: il /
As originated and carried to successful
Inclusion movement after movement
men mas been productive of public good;
has always told truthful story of ,
IT industrial and social life: II has de- {
llied our resources. our climate and our
fractions; and the list Of those who
ave come to Utah for Investment and
0meS directly through its agency would. {
believe i published. forever silence ;
lose who delight in constantly mouth ;
g the words, What has the chamber :
)ne.' {
Notwithstanding all this the chamber |
les not prosper II struggles along from s
sar to year a poor pensioner on the I
)untles Of n few Working always for +
ut Lake. II is permitted TO have 10 =
ARE IN the prosperity 1t, helps TO pro Z
ice The measure OF its decadence IS I
e growth OF the city. When Salt Lake {
as little more than a village, when the i