Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-24
COMMERCIAL CLUB OF OMAHA
Organization Finds Itself at Last Oh Self.
Sustaining Basis,
PAYS ALL OLD DEBTS AND HAS A BALANCE
Its Early Struggles, Narrow Escape
from Dissolution and Final Sue
ccss-SomcthiBR OF It's work,
Objects and Prospects.

Congratulations are current among the
active factors OF the Commercial club over
the knowledge that the institution is at last
on a solid financial footing and equipped
for the performance Of some of the purposes
for which 1t was originally created. During
it's career It has had a hazardous tenure Of
existence. Not until the last few months
has its continuance had any satisfactory
assurance back OF 1t. Its present condition,
however, affords assurances that it is one
Of tho permanent institutions Of Omaha's
commercial life.
The club is an outgrowth Of the old Board
Of Trade. Fifteen years ago, or more, the
Board of Trade was organized. II was in
the days of marked progress and enterprise
all over the west. when property was climb
ing toward the top-notch figures that ruled
in the latter sos. and the Board of Trade
enterprise in Omaha was an enthusiastic
one. The Chamber of Commerce building
was erected and a commercial organization
installed therein, with a secretary drawing
a high salary, to perform the functions us
ually carried on by such commercial bodies.
1t was especially intended for promOtive
work and in keeping with optimism Of the
time was its intention to make Omaha a
great grain center, with an active exchange
In daily operation.
without reverting to the troublesome ex-
periences of the board, it may be said the
ardent hopes entertained for its usefulness
We're never realized and in 1898 a reorgan-
i2ation of the board was effected with the
purpose OF relieving It of the strain c-nse-
quent upon the expensive plan upon which
II had been operated. w. A. l.. Gibbon was
made president under the new regime and
a plan was adopted whereby a commercial
club was organized to perform the functions
that had devolved upon the Board of Trade,
thus allowing the latter to become simply
a property corporation. The Grain and
Stock exchange was abandoned and the up
per floor of the Chamber of Commerce
building was rented to the new Commercial
club. f. F.. Roggen was made its secretary
and John Il. UT freight commissioner a t
the end of two or three months Roggen was
succeeded as secretary by Charles +. DreXol.
At it's inauguration that club had spent
about ST, 200 in fitting up its rooms. 1t was
intended to conduct a high-Class restaurant,
which should be open day and night, and a
high-priced chef was engaged to look after
it.
At the end of a year of Drexel's seretary-
ship the club found itself about $500 in
debt. 1t had started out with a membership
of about 700, the membership dues being
N-u d year. ENtuNS plbNtu' HpNtNtl. DIS Is
often the case, that about half were mem
bers only on paper. The restaurant feature
had run about 81 500 behind during the year
and, to add to the other embarrassments,
the period of depression set in about that
time. No one felt able to indulge in promo
tive work and. indeed, such work seemed
to be absolutely hopeless of results.
At this %juncture John e. UT became both
secretary and freight commissioner. On his
own responsibility he borrowed money sufi-
cient to meet the pressing claims against
the club. Few of the members knew its
exact financial condition at that critical time.
Expenses were cut to the limit and an ar
rangement effected whereby simply noon
day luncheons would be served in the res
taurant. From that day to this the club has
been financially on the up grade.
Has Balance on Right side.
Year by year the old Indebtedness has been
cut, and at the annual meeting in January
the club will show a balance in the treasury
of something like $500, with all indebtedness
discharged. The restaurant has become
practically self-sustaining and promises
henceforth to be a source of revenue. 1t
has an average patronage Of over 100 per
day, and the patronage is growing as the
club expands. The paid membership of the
blHdnlLilluI i' " " " NV abSuN my
have been added during the year. The dues
are 800, so that this membership will yield
revenues of about 1900. This will be sutti-
cient to establish the club on i good financial
footing, although the revenues are less than
those enjoyed by similar clubs in neighbor-
ing cities. The Kansas City club, for in
stance, is said to enjoy revenues reaching
$4,000 a year.
1t may be supposed that everyone can Join
the Commercial club, but such is not the
case. 1t has been found advisable to Gull
out some of the applications for membership.
The bylaws provide simply that any per-
son of good standing shalf be eligible to
membership. and while this is somewhat
indefinite the executive and the
committee on membership seem to realize
about what it is intended to mean,
The objects of the club are set forth in
the constitution to be to secure co-opera-
tion from all classes of people in the com
munity, representing real estate, banking,
commercial, mechanical and professional in
terests, not to supersede or antagonize any
existing business organizations, but by con
sultation and united efforts TO work for the
common good of all in matters touching the
general welfare of the city; TO promote com
mercial progress and increase trade and in
dustries; to acquire and sSemina valuable
commercial and economical information; to
increase acquaintance and harmony among
the business and professional men, using