The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-06-26
GIVE US SOME TOWN PUSH.

celebration. Among the attractions
will be a big Merchants and Industrial
Parade. an exhibition drill and sham
battle by a detachment of soldiers from
the Columbia Arsenal, horse show,
and last. but not least, the familiar and
time honored "bGby show" The event
is being widely advertised, and the far
ing circulars assert that it will be "the
biggest affair ever given in Maury
County" A great crowd is expected
and undoubtedly great crowd will lie
there. 1t will be a great day for Mt.
Pleasant.
The thought suggests itself why could
not Columbia have had Fourth Of
July celebration? 1t could easily have
been arranged, for we have everything
necessary to have given as >creditable a
celebration as could be seen anywhere
in Tennessee. The only answer is, lack
of public spirit. Either that. or simply
indifference. The business men OF CO.
iumbia need waking up very badly along
certain lines and particularly along this
one of town push; and when we say
business men," we mean not only mer-
chants, but every citizen of this town.
A short while ago the Herald was in
formed that Postmaster Hughes had
received letter from a northwestern
capitalist who wanted to come to Co
lumbia and estab ish q factory in this
city, which would give employment to
at least fifty workmgmen; and which
meant an increase in the city's popula-
ton Of about two hundred inhabitants
Mr.. Hughes was approached end asked
about the matter, and he said that he
had handed the letter to Mayor Yoest.
The latter gentleman was seen and he
said he had the letter, but did not know
what would be done; that he had talked
to few business men about it, but they
did not seem to be interested. The
Mayor said he had received probably
half dozen such letters since he had
been mayor. but there was no organiza-
ton to which they could be referred
And thereby hangs the tale; and that's
just what's the matter with "Hannah.
No organization to which propositions
from capitalists seeking Investment
within our city can be referred. Once
there was Commercial Club. But it
is dead. Columbia is simply living off
of the farmers of Maury County. Her
business men are making absolutely no
effort to bring manufactures and in
dustrial enterprises to this city. There
has not been a new industrial concern
established in Columbia in years.
Why?
Over in West Tennessee is situated
one of the most prosperous and flourish
ing little cities in the uth-Jackson.
It is situated in county that has no
mineral deposits of any kind, and which
as an agricultural county compares to
Maury about like Wayne or Lawrence.
What made jackson? The everlasting
enterprise and push Of its business
men. The town has live commercial
bodies that are not allowed to die; and
when an inquiry goes to the Mayor OF
that town from capitalist seeking to
invest there, representative of the
Commercial Glib is despatched to his
home and the capitalist is taken to
jackson to see what is there. And If he
will locate factory there, tho citizens
through their commercial bodies buy
the ground and give it to him upon
which to erect his factory. That's the
kind of enterprise Columbia needs
That's the kind of enterprise that
builded the Queen City of Atlanta, Ca,
into one of the metropolitan cities OF
the South, in country absolutely naked
of mineral wealth, and in agricultural
suitable for only one or
two or three crops. And that kind of
enterprise never fails of reward. 1t
will almost build q city in desert.
Yet we plod along, caring not whether
Columbia ever gets any larger or not.
We are living in the best county in the
state; there is not better situated town |
than Columbia in Middle Tennessee;we
have good shipping facilities; we've got
one Of the best water courses to be
found anywhere flowing past our very
doors; there is absolutely no reason why
should not grow as fast as any
town in Tennessee. Yet we are stand
ing still, so far as increasing the posi-.
biites of our future is concerned. We
are content to sit down and make all
The money out of our present opportuni
ties, without seeking and devising ways
to increase them. Our ambition to ex-
psnd seems to be lying dormant. We
need to wake up, and need it badly.
Let no man say the Herald is "belit-
ling the town." We are not doing that.
Columbia is prosperous. Her people
we're never in better condition than now.
peace and contentment abides
n our homes. But we must realize that
We can continue to prosper every year