Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-04-27

The Borough of Washington, thriving
community in Warren county, this state
the populatiou of which, and her indus
tries, being about what we possess, has
recently organized a Board of Trade after
experiences with such organizations differ
ing very slightly from similar efforts here
Dr. G. c. Young. of Washington, in an
article published in the Star, gives his idea
of the functions and makeup of a Board
of Trade, and tells how the people may
assist, which we quote for the benefit Of
our new organic ltion, and the people here
The functions aud makeup of the
Board of Trade are worth consideration.
The responsibility is more weighty than
some of our people think for, and none but
men of ripe experience and broad observa-
ton should be a part of the Executive
Committee. Men of culture and large
business capacity will not spend their time
with inexperienced men, excepting some
times to take advantage Of their unequal
standing.
The Executive Committee will be
called upon to confer with boards of
managers and directors as rart of their
duty, and they must be able to do credit to
themselves and the community they
represent. Too much self interest must be
carefully avoided 1t is the community
and not the individual the Board of Trade
represents.
The introduction OF new enterprises is
only a part of the duty Of the Board of
Trade, but to develop, promote and en-
courage the financial and commercial
productive interests in the community at
the present time The Board must con-
slider all local questions of any imp riance
to the community, and frequently meet to
deliberate upon organized efforts made for
the promotion of all useful industry. The
elevation of the community to a high
standard of commercial efficiency is expect
ed of a Board of Trade. To keep the
community in touch with all Improvements
and commerce. building opportunities with
the ever swelling tide DRIFT of changes in
corporate bodies, such as railroads, cham
bers of commerce and exchanges. These
and few other things will keep the Board
busy.
There are men in Washington who own
land and houses, and there are men who do
not own either. Land in Washington is
valuable, but it's value has been estimated
too high in proportion to the size and
ROA OduCO VI tuC SONh SnAc 100 DCNA OhC
of the chief obstacles to developn emit
IfeVery man or woman who owns i've
Thousand dollars worth of property in the
borough OF Washington were to contribute
but FIVE hundred dollars, and five hundred
dollars for every five thousand dollars worth
of land they own in town, as an induce
ment for new manufacturing firms to
locate here, it would be a privilege equal
for all to increase their acquired power as
everyone who 20 contributed would nat
urally look for an Increase in the value OF
their property just as the population and
importance of the town increased but
everyone would be disappointed here if
they expected large increase for the first
few years, because the land mas been held
at an abnormal value, and every owner has
received more ia rental income than was
correspondingly proper. With proper
management no property owner can make
money with less effort and at less cost than
giving the necessary financial inducements
for increasing the population and import
ance of the town."