The Harrison times., 1901-01-12
A Situation the Business Men OF Harrison
Cannot Dodge With Safety.

Although for many years Harrison |
has by the aggregated effort OF her
citizens, so impressed the outside |
world as to enjoy the reputation, OF
beng. without exception, the most |
thriving and enterprising inland
town in all this broad country, it IS |
a fact which surprises all new COM
ers that she has so far been without
any sort of an organization of her
business men to- look after such of
her interests as are general rather
than personal in their nature
This lack of organization seems to
have worked very little disadvant-
age in the davs when personal thrift
counted for more than general ad-
vancement, but on the threshold of
the new century a condition pre-
sents itself which calls for something
more than strict attention to pri-
vate interests. With the incoming
throng. which marches close up to
the music of the railroad blast, will
come and even now are coming Op-
Dortuinties which, If not met in the
spirit of public enterprise, will pass
on to build up and enrich other
points in our section and give TO
them advantages belonging rightly
to Harrison in the philosophy to the
present situation.
1t should be a matter of gratiica-
/tion to all, that with this new situa-
tion the future of Our section is fully
assured; but, notwithstanding our
people have paid more than all 9th
ers for this advantage 1t is a fact
that so far as the town is concerned,
opportunities rather than conditions
have been purchased; and in order
TO make profitable our inve tments
up to date much must be done III a
general way to meet the opportuni-
ties as they come to us.
Already letters come to the TINES
asking as TO the openings in Harri-
son for manufacturing enterprises,
reducing plants, foundries, canning
factories. etc. In most cases where
large investments are to- be made the
promoters expect cooperation ON
the part of the citizens, at least Io
the extent of grounds for their
plants,-and as this assistance will
be promptly furnished at other
points. 1t is only a question as to
what we propose to do about it.
The TIMES itself is not prepared to
donate such lands. and as there Is
no organiza tiOn to which to submit
such communications, can only give
cheerful words of encouragement,
trusting to- the good luck of the
town solely for the result. Similar
communications have been received
by others of our citizens and similar
ly disposed Of By some strangers
who have investigated personally
the business outlook and real estate
prices it has been asserted that APP
pearances hereabOuts seem adjusted
to discourage rather than encourage
the intending investor.
The next six months will be pre-
cious time indeed to our town, and
in no other way that we know of
can proper action be taken save by
an organization of our citizens such
as a Board of Trade or Commercial
Club In times gone by we have
Ioked mildly over the reluctance of
our citizens to leave their firesides
for the purpose of attending organi-
cations of any sort, but it is a fact
which must not be realized too late
that unless Harrison gets herself in
shape to catch the good things sure
to be flying around with the spring
boom. they will in all probability go
flying over our heads
Let us organize Board of Trade
for Harrison at once, and demon
strate that we are equal to our OPP
portunities-