Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-12-12

tention Of the engineering department
to the danger of cutting through the
river opposite this city, and the prom
ise of a recommendation for a revet.
ment of the west bank.
| Scores Of occasions call for the as
sistanee of a Commercial club, an or.
ganization that stands guard of every
interest of the community that affects
the business and enterprises of the citi-
zen or the aggregate. Not meddling
with religious, political or moral con-
troversies, it yet stands ready to help
any and all situations in which the
progress, prosperity or development of
the municipal life are involved. Good
roads and Marion county exhibit are
interests especially dear to this club.
The promotion of attendance at the
state fair has been successfully taken
up each year in emphasizing the value
Of Salem day and Portland day. For
two years the. club undertook to raise
purses of $1,000 each for special stake
races. Last year the club confined it.
self to guaranty that the races would
fill, which they never failed to do. Last
year the club appointed a special COM
mittee to secure the establishment or
purchase of suitable residence for the
governor and his family in this city.
The appropriations committee recon-
mended the purchase of the historic E.
N. Cooke mansion, and the bill passed
both houses, but finally went down un-
der veto, not on account of the merits
or demerits of that proposition, but be-
cause the item was sandwiched in with
some other charges against the state
which the governor did not approve.
The club is urged to again press the
purchase of an executive mansion. Once
accomplished, it will be considered an
appropriate achievement for any public
spirited commonwealth.
July 12 this club held the first state
Development league mass meeting in
the city hall, which was addressed by
Tom Richardson and other Portland
men. Large delegations were sent to
the state convention held in Portland
in August, and as result CORE
spondence committee has been organ
lied in harmony with the plan being
pursued by about so similar clubs in
the state. Letters have been written by |
members of this club to eastern papers |
to advertise Oregon, and some of them |
are being given wide circulation, one
letter winning the first prize offered by |
the Portland Commercial Club. By the 1
joint efforts of the club and the city |
council census board was organized |
last April, and the first official census
of Greater Salem was taken under its |
showing the seven wards of
the city to have a population of 13,2S7.
But for this work the city would have
no official census until 1910.
The Salem Commercial Club has at
present 203 members and subscribers to
its correspondence, and a net revenue
Of about $1,000 per annum. 1t closes
the work of the present year with all
bills provided for, and a
cash surplus in the treasury. Dues are
payable monthly, and business men in
this community prefer to pay them
The officials for the ensuing |
year should make provision for prompt |
collection of monthly dues, as the club |
loses both members and dues by fail |
ure to collect. By sacrifices of time on
the part of the executive committee
the work of the club has been brought |
into perfect business order. A first |
class executive committee is indispen- |
sible to the success of the organiza- |
tion. 1t is the soul and life of the |
club. 1t plans work, supplies defects in
the officials themselves, inspires con-
fdence among the rank and file and |
overcomes selfshness and apathy in the !
citizenship of the community. The ex-
ecutive committee are the generals
without whom no victory for the de-
velopment of any city can be won. A
successful commercial club should have
a permanent headquarters, at a central
and accessible location, with opportu-
nifty for the display of local exhibit,
such as will interest visitors, and a
supply of literature and advertising
matter. Public meetings should be
held several times each year, at which
the whole business community should |
be present. These rallies bring new
blood into the organization, and de-
velOp better methods of work and new
sources of revenue. The executive
committee of the club has held several
sessions with special classes of citizens,
and very recently met the real estate
dealers OF this city in friendly con
ference, explaining is methods of work |