The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-04-13

Brown, president of the Chamber of
Commerce, read at the meeting Tues
day afternoon, was as follows:
TO the Members Of the Chamber of
Commerce.
Gentlemen: In making this my an.
nual report, as required by the con-
stitution and bylaws OF the organ
izarIon, l wish first Of all to express
my appreciation of the good and
faithful work that has been done by
the other officers and the members
generally, especially by the various
Standing committees and the speciai
committees that nave been appointed
from time to ime- At tisnes the ;..
tendance OF the members upon the
regular or special meetings has not
been as large as conld have been de-
sired, but invariably when there was
work to do each member has cheer
fully and willingly done all asked of
him aud often more besides. It Is
due to this splrit-this readiness at
all times TO work for the good of the
city-that the Chamber of Commerce
las been so successful in its first
year.
The Chamber of Commerce was or.
ganized year ago as result OF q
we'll recognized necessity for some
senting all the interests OF the city,
which would work for the promotion
of the city's welfare upon any and
all lines that might be deemed ex-
pedient or necessary. The member
ship is composed OF men of every
avOcatIon in the city, and our efforts
have been directed toward building
mp the oity as @ whole rather than
any special or individual interest.
PLAN OF PROCEDURE.
A year ago 1t was thought we'll to
undertake to attract manufacturers in
the North and East. who might be-
dissatisfied and want to move South.
A great deal Of work was done along
this line, and some Of 1t, I believe,
will ultimately bear fruit. But, as
all will remember, there was o tight
ness In the money markets OF the
country last year, amounting almost
to panic, and for while there wes
complete suspension of new under
taklngs and industrial development.
1t was recognized that efforts in this
line would be labor and money wasted
until the times and conditions became
more favorable. While our efforts
along this line have not been as great
as we at first intended, we have at
and we have at all times advertised
and exploited the advantages and re-
sources Of this city and section in
the quarters in which 1t seemed like
ly to do good.
HOME WORK FIRST.
The first thing we set out to accom-
plish was to place the city of Ander-
son in the proper light before the peo-
pie Of South Carolina. We have az
complished that most thoroughly.
There is not section in this State,
no matter how remote, in which An
known. The people all over the State
talk about Anderson as they do about
no other city. TO go abroad and in
troduce yourself AS being from Ander.
son is to at once command respect
and attention. or course, in adver-
tising the city we have had compare
lively easy work from the fact that
Anderson Is In herself an ADVERTISE
nent or all that represents thrift,
energy and progress, but by persistent
and we'll directed effort we have made
others recognize these qualities, We
have induced others to advertise us
in endeavoring to build up their own
communities. This has been done by
distributing our literature, by direct
ing correspondence to outside news
papers from Anderson, and by talking
and entertaining visitors to the city.
This could have been accomplished in
such q full and complete measure only
by organization and concentrated and
regular effort.
THE GALA WEEK.
0nr Gala Week la ct summer IS sti!;
being talked about over the State. We
had within our gates during that week
from 10, 600 to2O, 600 visitors, from
near and remote points, and every
one of them returned to their homes
pleased with tho city anu with the
weeks entertainment which we fur
nished them. The carrying out OF the
aale Week, the arrangement and ex-
eoution OF the many details, entailed
q vast amount OF work, much of
which was arduous and vexatious.
But after 1t was all over, and we
heard the congratulations OF the Wis.,
dtors and the commentators Of the
home people, those who had been
charged with the direction Of affairs
felt that they had been repaid many
times over. The success Of the Gala
Week last summer was one In which
the whole city may feel q just pride.
FALL FESTIVAL
This week Of fun attracted smany
people to the city; created business
for the merchants and fun for che
young. Best of all, the Cham ber
OF Commerce cleared aice sum of
money and 1t cost the city nothlng.
FREIGHT RATES.
The Rght which this organization,
in connection with some Of the other
commercial bodies of the State, has
been making for reduced local freight
rates is familiar to the public. The
fight was made before the State rail.
road commission, which has not yet
rendered it8 decision, but we hope to
have it In o very short time. The
fight, we are sure, will result Ia bene-
at. and 1t has served to show to the
State that Anderson has become q
commercial nenter OF snch eise .has
we cannot longer be imposed upon
hot 1v<x u