, 1905-03-29
PUBLICITY FOR CITIES
Many Communities Are Making
Use of Newspaper Space to
Secure New Ventures

From Newspaperdom, New York, March
l6, 1905.
Never in the history of the United
States has the importance of advertis-
ing been SO thoroughly appreciated as
at the present time. Merchants, manu-
facturers and even bankers now rea-
lie that their success, depends in a
great measure upon the manne in
which their several enterprises are pre-
scented to the public through the news
papers.
1t is only recently, however, that
cities and States DESTROYS of securing
greater populations or of ~persuading
manufacturers to locate in them, have
awoke to the possibilities of printers
ink. Something has, of course, been
done in a casual way for years, but
only in isolated cases. To-day the
advertising field is being invaded on
all sides.
The business men of Ell Paso, Tex,
are raising a fund of 50, 500 to purchase
a full page of advertising space in each
of four dailies in Iowa, Michigan or
Wisconsin, Cincinnati or New York, in
which to set forth the city's attractions.
California has an organization called
the California Promotion Committee,
which is doing a great deal to advertise
the State. Every person who visits the
State is impressed with the untiring
persistence with which the Californian
proclaims the glories of the common
wealth. This general sentiment has
found its expression in the %organiza-
ton of no less than 146 chambers of
commerce and development associa-
lions. These quasi-public bodies eX-
pend in their regular routine work all
the way from $1,000 to $3.50 each
per year. They, of course must not
be confused with civic improvement
clubs, with societies for the discussion
of public questions, or with municipal
advancement associations.
In addition to the funds raised by
popular subscription, the purposes of
public advertising are legally approved
by an enabling act of the State Legis-
lature. The supervisors of the fifty
seven counties of California are en-
powered to eXpend for advertising an
amount which averages two cents per
every 500 of the total county ASSESS
ment. In one county the fund so
raised amounts to $11 900 a year. The
legal appropriation is for the purpose
of publicity and immigration.
Colorado is being advertised in a
most effective manner by the Colorado
State Realty Association, which was
at first organized fol the benefit of the
real estate men, but finally business
men generally were impressed with
the idea that whatever benefited the
state benefits every n of them, and
the membership of the association
gradually increased until it now has
$40 of the most prominent men in the
State in its membership; has three
corps of lecturers with ~stereoptican
views in the field, who reach 5000 peo-
pie weekly; has an office in Denver
with four men and women; edits a
weekly paper devoted to the interests
of the State; sends out literature; fur
nishes information whenever asked;
!, and has now engaged a newspaper
man to furnish articles on Colorado to
Eastern publications.
r The Board of Trade and other COM
mercial organizations of Louisville,
KY, are cooperating in the formula
J ton of plans for the establishment of a
permanent advertising bureau to sound
the city's praises in every nook and
corner of the land. 1t is proposed to
raise a fund of $40, 900 for the launch
ing of this project, the idea being to
build up a greater Louisville, as the
president of the Board of Trade puts
it by 'letting the world know what
we have, what we are and what we
expect to be-"
The people of Asheville, n. c., have
voted to tax themselves to raise money
! to advertise the city. A committee
has already been appointed to consider
! plans for a publicity campaign. News
paper space will be used extensively.
l Asbury Park and Long Branch have
each made appropriations for advertis-
ing their attractions the coming sea-
1 son.
4 - - kIaA nE loAaf a. IA.nt,