The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-02
TELLS HOW CITY
Is MADE TO GROW
S. Y. Derrah Explains Work of
Commercial Club.
REGARDED AS INVESTMENT
HOW KANSAS CITY PRINCIPLES
May APPLY TO SALT LAKE.
REGARDED AS INVESTMENT

Business men appeared yesterday to re-
ceive with favor the suggestion made in
a letter by a prominent business man
and also in an editorial in The Herald
that a commercial club be organized TO
foster the interests of Salt LaIe and Of
the tributary country. in the letter writ
ten by the business man, the suggestion
was made that an organization Re found
ed on the lines of the Kansas City COM
mercial club
Assistant General Freight Agent S. v.
Derr8h of the Rio GTande system was
for several years a prominent member of
the Kansas City club, while he was com
meicial agent of the Missouri Pacihc in
that city. Yesterday he gave an inter
esting account Of the work Of the club,
explaining the principles which could adj
VantageOuyly Ee applied to a similar or
ganizatioL in salt Lahe.
There Is scarcely a business man Of
star sing in Kansas City who does not
belong TO the Commercial club, and the
organizatio has been the leading factor
In pushing Kansas City to the front in
spite of the competition II has on all
sides. Mr. Derral says the business men
there regard the time and money spent
In support of the club the best invest
ment they can make-an investment
which comes back 10 them yearly many
times over.
Work of Kansas City Club.
'The Kansas City Commercial club has
been in existence something like twenty
five years, said Mr. DerTah, and il has
done a wonderful work in building up the
business interests and improving the
city. The motto of the club is. Make
Kansas City a good place to live in.
That embraces the enlargement and pro-
lection of the business interests the
beautifying OF the .ity. the improve
ment of the school system, and every
thing else that is for the public good.
The club is organized with the usual
officers. and with half dozen commit
tees which look after various portions OF
the work. There is a committee on build
ings, another on entertainment, another
on new industries, and so on. The sec
rotary Is paid good salary and II is MS
duty to look after the advertising OF
Kansas City, furnish Information, and dc
a large part of the active worA. But
everybody I'm the club is active. particu-
iarly the committees, which meet at least
every TWO weeks.
Committees Are Active.
Suppose. for example that a brick
maker in Ohio with a little capital Il
invest, writes to the secretary of the
Commercial clue asking about the oT-
portunities in Kansas City for the star
ing of new plant The letter IS -
knowledged promptly and is turned ovel
TO the chairman of the committee on new
industries. The chairman calls a meet
ing of the committee and the subject Is
discussed.
a letter is written telling exactly what
the chances are, and what inducements
can be offered. If it is an industry which
ihe city needs greatly, the club may &C
so far as to purchase a site or to guar
antee certain amount of capital.
The club watches the school system
and uses its influence in every way L
maintain high standard 1t keeps watch
of national legislation affecting the inter
ests of that region, sometimes sending
committees to Washington when some
bill comes up which vitality affects Kan
sas City or the business interests in gen.
eral. IN this connection it should b
stated. however that politics and religion
are absolutely barred by the constitution
from influencing the club in any action
Trade extension is another subject