The Monte Vista journal., 1907-07-20
COMMERCIAL CLUBS
CAN De MADE IMPORTANT FAC
TORS IN TOWN BUILDING.
BEST FIELD FOR THEIR WORK
Their Efforts Should Be Put Forth to
Keep the Dollars In the Homo
Town-Proteetins eusi.
ness Interests.

During the past few years there has
been more than ordinary activity In
the organization of socalled CONNER
cial clubs, business mems leagues and
similar associations In the agricultural
sections of the country. Some had
mushroom growth, and like some flow
ers, bloomed and blossomed. withered
and decayed in an hour. Others strug-
gled along indifferently and succeeded
in spending much Of the peoples
money without assisting the town to
greatness. while very few succeeded
In doing things that were Of benefit
, to the community.
There is little use in trying to make
suit Of clothes for a man out Of
pattern Of cloth that has only suffi
cient goods for child's suit. There
is little use In trying to build up
great town in locality where there is
not the material to sustain 1t, and
where there are only resources for the
support Of hamlet. Towns Of i'm
portance exist only where there are
certain natural advantages. resources
that can be utilized in manufacturing.
territory sufficiently large to command
extensive trade, or some other favor
able condition. In the west manufac-
turing must by the economy of things
be confined to such lines as can be
advantageously produced. In manufac-
turing there are many factors. There
must be considered the cost of fuel.
the raw material. the labor and highly
important are the transportation facil-
tiles.
One OF the noticeable things about
commercial clubs is the optimistic
tendencies of their members. Business
men Of strictly agricultural town will
form an association. Perhaps the
leaders are interested in the real es-
tate business. They want the town to
boom. Some OF them may have few
acres OF land worthless unless for a
factory site. Meetings are held.
plans are made for the bringing in OF
some manufacturing plant that per-
haps may give employment to half a
dozen or q dozen hands. Correspond
ence Is started with . view of getting
some outsider interested. The right
man. apparently. makes his appear
ance. He wants . bonus OF q few
thousand dollars. His proposition il
seriously considered. The subscription
paper Is passed around, the amount
secured. and the real estate man sells
his factory" site at good price. The
factory is started. 1t runs about a
year and there is a vacant factory
building for rent. or for sale. How
many towns In the southwest have had
this experience?
Even had the enterprise been a sue.
cess. 1t remains that there IL q field
more productive OF good for the town
that the club" overlooked. Say that a
factory be started In small town. 1t
may give employment to q dozen men,
The pay roll amoNnts to $50 day. The
output Of the concern may reach
total Of from $4,000 to $50. 900 year.
Every little helps" and all other
things In harmony this adds to the
importance Of the place. But let US
do . little estimating" Suppose that
there 10 about the town . territory OF
100 square miles. Suppose that each
square mile represents four families
farmers families. This would make
600 families who should do their trad.
ting In the town. The reports OF the
bureau Of statistics OF the United
States department Of labor and com.
merce. assures uS that the average ex.
pcnditure Of the farmer each year for
all the supplies he requires In the way
of aRricultural mnchlnarY careiaaaa