The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-01-25

Monday night AT the COuIl AOuSc' ny
resentatives from all the various Gem
mercial and professional interests OF
the town being present
The meeting was called to order by
Hon. John w. Fry, who made the state
ment that the need of some organized
and working commercial body had
been foreably brought to his atten-
ton. and that he had called this meet
ing for the purpose of organizing
body of this character.
On motion Esq. George w. Hayes
was elected temporary chairman anu
E. R. Farrell temporary secretary.
Mr. F. d. Lander was called upon
and stated that in his opinion the very
first thing necessary was to get an
influential organization. That when
that was done, the rlonthly or annual
i duas could be put within the reach OF
all and canvass of the town could De
made TO get as many members to the
organization as possible. That every
business man and every working man
of Columbia would be benefited oy
ANYTHING that builds up or helps the
town. GET more manufactures here
and Won give the working man more
work to do and better wages. Bring
more people to town and you help the
newspaper, the merchant, the barber
the banks. in fact, every interest. A
business league or commercial club
here IN Columbia should have 1000
members. The people Of the county
are interested in Columbia, and what
ever helps the town. helps the county
as well, and there are many men In
the county who should and probably
would ioin the club and lend held
ing hand. Get 1000 men and let the
dues be so cents or $1.0O per month
4 and we would soon have working
fund. The first thing to do If we wish
to see the town grow is to show
readiness and willingness to put In
our money for its development. When
we do that and show our own conn
dence in Columbia, we may expect
outside capitalists to take hold and IN
vest their money.
Mr.. Clifford Adkisson wanted to
know whether it was the purpose OF
the meeting to establish CONNER
cial club or an investment association.
Mr.. Lander said he thought 1t might
be made a combination Of both, that
is a commercial club with enough cap
ital accommodating each month so that
II could lend assistance to every wor-
thy enterprise that wanted to start
up here.
Mr.. Fry suggested the idea that with
some working capital the club could
buy a tract of land suitable for manu-
featuring sites and when a worthy en-
terprise wishes to establish here the
club could furnish them a site, with
the promise that when the business
of the factory reached specified pro-
portions, the site would be decided to
the incorporators. Mr.. Fry said with
an organization, these manufacturers.
who proposed establishing plants here,
would have some one to go to for infor-
nation and assistance. AS the matter
now stands the manufacturers come
here and look around, but no one takes
much interest in their movements or
their proposition, ana they go away to
some town where there is a live COM
mercial organization.
Senator Greenlaw agreed with
Judge Fry He said that he had
number of communications since he
went to the Senate fronO~1 rivate In
dividuals in regard TO laws many OF
which would be of benefit to the town
or county. That i was not difficult
to get local measures through the leg
islature, provided the members of the
House and Senate we're satisfied that
the public sentimen. of the commu-
nifty affected was behind the propos-
ed law That with proper organiza-
ton behind the laws public sentiment
would be practically determined. Mr..
Greenlaw said many good things had
been missed by Columbia because
of lack Of organization. That we have
good town, but he didn't believe we
had the best town in the State simply
because this was his home, but he did
believe II was possible to make 1t the
best In the State, of It's size. That we
simply needed organized effort, That
II had been HIS fortune to visit many
towns near Columbia's size in various
marta OF the Union. and Il had been