The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-21


is no more. In reality it has been dead
for two years, but it officially died last
night. At the annual meeting of stock
holders a quorum was present, either
in person or by proxy. President w.
A Nelden occupied the chair and Sec
rotary Colborn was at the scribe's desk,
The regular order of business was pur-
sued, beginning with the reading of the
minutes of the previous annual meeting,
which were approved.
THE next business is the selection OF
officers for the ensuing year, an
nounced the president. There were no
nominations and that part of the bust
ness was passed.
The annual reports of the president
and secretary were read, accepted and
filed. Both are given in full below.
Then L @. RognOn offered resolu-
ton to the effect that the business of
the chamber be wound UP and that the
institution retire. The resolution, which
is also given in full below, was unani-
mously adopted without discussion, and
the meeting adjourned.
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
Salt Lake City, May IS, 1898
To the Stockholders of the Salt Lake
Chamber of Commences:
Gentlemen:-The bylaws require me
TO indicate to you on this occasion such
matters as in my opinion tend to pro-
mote the welfare and increase the use
fulnesS OF the association. In dis
charge of that duty, l beg to call your
attention to the recitals contained in
the minutes of the last meeting of the
retiring board of directors, which will
be read to you by the secretary, and
10 say 10 you, that in my judgment the
time has now arrived when the business
az ri Of rhpnGa hzt
:Jhe life and death of the chamber of
commerce.
It is something over ten years eince
the association was organized 1t had
at its birth 4 membership of SEQ. That
membership mas now fallen of until it
is totally inadequate TO support the or
SaniZation. All but one are living Of
the IL men who signed the articles OF
incorporation; but of these II, the,
names OF but two George \. Lowe and
NJ II. Walkerl, now remain on the
membership list.
When The chamber was organized
salt Lake City had less than one-half
Of its present population, but with the
membership fee ten times what we now
require and annual dues two and one
half times the dues now demanded, the
membership list was then well up in
the hundreds.
l have heard many reasons asst ned
1t4 tie III OIldliLS III Tie liiG4AA-
bership list, and for the decadence of
the chamber: but to my mind, none of
these reasons are sufficient to justify
the community in withdrawing its aid
and support from am institution which
has been such an important factor in
the development of this city ard state.
know OF NJ other city of this size IN
the United States where the business
man do not, as a matter of duty, and
out of regard for their personal inter
est, maintain an organization for the
care and direction Of the business COM
munity at large, and l am totally at a
less to know why we cannot maintain
Gle here. Is it because we are less
enterprising, and have less pride in our
city than do people Of other cities? Or
is ii for the reason that we are opposed
TO advertising our resources and ad-
vanrages, so THAI we may not incur
competition in business by those who
might come TO make their homes with
Gs? 1 have from the beginning been a
member of the chamber, and for two
years have been one of its officers. Dur
ing all the time of my official service, I
have been associated on the board Of
directors with gentlemen who have al
ways willingly given their time TO the
work OF the chamber, and their sup
port towards its upbuilding. We have
continually importuned our fellow bust
ness men Tor support. We have walked
the streets day after day, in anxious
endeavor to obtain new members. We
have appealed to the people orally, by
prints and circulars, and through the
press, for announcement. We have
done everything that it was possible
for earnest men to do in the interest
of our trig, but We have had nothing
but disheartening failure for our pains
FROWNED UPON.
When we have asked for help, we
have been frowned upon ana refused.
Wien we have recited our efforts in the
interest Of prosperity. we have been
laughed at; everything we have done
has been discounted. Frequently We
have been insulted, and have been made
to feel that when we asked for help We
were asking q personal favor.
I am not indulging in criticism; am
merely stating facts, and relating the
experience, all of which viii be testified
to by my associates in Office. l am
aware that these statements will be
taken by the public, outside of Utah,
to whom they will be conveyed by the
newspapers, as a certificate of the char
acter OF salt Lake City's business men.
as a class. But the population of cities
make character for cities. as well as do
individuals for themselves, and they
cannot complain OF the character which
the proof is evidence Of.
a
faith in the reasons assigned why the
business people Of this city do not sup
port the chamber. The reasons given
are mere subterfuges offered
for the want of push and spirit, for the
lack of pride in their city. and as
means of escape from the Daltry dues
which the chamber requires TO keep it
alive.
The time has arrived to tell the truth.
and the truth is that the decadence OF
the chamber OF commerce cannot be
ASSIGNED TO the reasons usually giVec,.
or to this or that mans association
with its work, or to this or that move
9reIt which it has undertaken or failed
II undertake.
The true reason is that the men of
Salt Lake City are unlike the men Of
other cities-just as Salt Lake City is
unlike any other city in the United
States. You viii find more evidence Of
these conclusions in the recitala which
viii be read to you. particularly the
portion thereof referring 10 the efforts
of the board TO reOrganiZe the cham
Der on the Indianapolis plan. In this
attempt Of the board 81 letters We're
mailed to our business men, although a
stamp was inclosed. Il had the courtesy
10 reply.
REFUSES TO BEAR THE BLAME.
Do YOU suppose there can be found in
any community. in the civilized world,
any 331 Of business men out of which no
more than II would have replied to
such a communication, with stamp en-
closed2
assigned for the steady decline of the
chamber are good, but with this exper-
fence 1 must beg to be excused from
accepting them.