Cañon City record., 1906-04-12

II At the Annual meeting of the Mer
chants Association on Friday night
last President Linkins made an ad-
dress that is full of good suggestions.
1t is herewith given in full;
Gentlemen of the Canon City Mer-
chants Association:-The year just
closing has been one of unusual signi-
ficance and Importance to this Asso-
citation as well as to this city.
II The report of our secretary shows
a material increase in the member
ship of the Association. as well as
widening of its influence. l think this
is due in a great measure to the fact
OF our having held a banquet about
year ago, at which our members came
in touch with many other business
men who up to that time had not
been informed as to the real purpose
4 and work of the Association.
''The information then disseminated
and the good fellowship then prevail
| ing, coupled with the energetic efforts
of committee appointed for that
purpose. resulted in large and valu-
able additions to our membership
These, with the persistent efforts of
our secretary and some of the mem
bers has given us a steady growth
that is most gratifying.
THE Association has produced good
results in many ways. One of the
most important being the mutually
| friendly and very cordial relations
that exist among the members. which
is developed and strengthened by our
meeting together.
| Another of the really good results
of the Association is its effect on
credit relations. We do not claim to
make men honest. but we do make
them act SO. The very careful and
| Just system of credit rating employed.
showing both prompt and slow pay
i ing parties, together with the efficient
working Of the collection department,
lis having marked tendency toward
making persons who otherwise would
be careless and neglectful in these
matters. TO pay cash or to meet their
bills promptly This is of great ben
eft TO both parties for 1t saves the
creditor from loss and makes the
debtor self-respecing.
Il Il am satisfied that large savings
have been made for the business men
of the city, both in and out of the
| Association through its influence in
/ the past, and that sull greater and
better results await us in the future,
II our plan is properly employed; but
/ that will mean real cooperation
among its members. For myself j
can say that a careful examination in
to our own business shows loss
from doubtful accounts during last
\ year of less than one-haf OF one per
cent OF the sales
Another of the direct results of the
work OF the Association is the pro
jected electric road, which has come
from the efforts of n committee from
this Association, and which we be-
lieve is to be of great value to this
city and valley.
/ would not fail to mention as hav-
ing been fostered and encouraged by
the Association, the illustrated edition
OF The Record. production of which
we may be Justly proud. This has
given to Canon City advertising of
the highest grade in many sections OF
the country and is doing us great
good. While these and many other
things may be placed to our credit,
we have not accomplished all we
have wished. believe we are but on
the dawn of our day of usefulness
Having given the work OF the
Association some thought, and desir-
4 ing to see II attain its greatest useful
ness, have few suggestions to
make which | believe will aid in this
direction.
81 would recommend: First-A
change of name and suggest the name
of Business Mems Association. or
Business Mems Association and
Chamber of Commerce. as Indicating
more fully its scope and membership
l doubt II separate organizations can
be maintained successfully In town
of this size, while together they will
succeed.
"The credit-rating system. which is