West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-06-13
BOOMING BY BUREAU
How Cities Are Exploited Through
Organized Publicity.
HINTS FOR TOWN PROMOTION.

Notable Instances Of Rapid Growth
Quo to Official Press and Advertis.
ing Asents-Value OF Exploitation
Space In Local Paper
In these days the publicity bureau
plays an important part IN the boom.
ing Of cities and towns. quito recently
several of the larger cities. which are
not large enough To- satisfy the most
aggressive OF their citizens. have cs-
tablished bureaus Of publicity with the
purpose OF making the rest OF the
world acquainted with local opportu
mites and achievements. Only brief
trial is required to show that this
sort OF advertising pays.
The national capital IS one OF the
cities which have adopted the ideo
ana historic old Boston Is another
Washington, after a hundred years as
governmental and social capital.
wants TO become commercial center.
Boston has grown tired OF being mere.
~ the hub OF the universe and pro-
poses to become n few spokes in the
wheel. That is why Boston Is branch
ing out in several directions through
her exploitation agents.
Portland, Ore. has had in operation
for some years an active publicity bu-
reau in connection with the local com
mercial club, while her sister cities Of
the Pacific northwest, Tacoma, Seattle
ana Spokane, operate similar bureaus.
The remarkable growth of each Of
these four cities during the past ten
years Is largely the result of the ener-
getic work OF official publicity agents.
In the case of Portland double por-
tion Of publicity was secured i'm 1903
through the press bureau of the Lewis
and Clark exposition. Seattle Is now
getting the benefit OF much eNplolta-
tion through the publicity department
OF the Alaskan-Nukon exposition to be
held there in 1909 This enterprise or
gained its press bureau three years
in advance of the fair
Publicity pays. Los Angeles, Cal.
now has about 100000 population. Ac-
cording TO the census, IL had but Il lit
tie more than 100000 I'm 1900. The
chamber of commerce I'm that city Is
one OF the greatest publicity PROPOSE
tions on EARTH 1t engineers the Los
Angeles exploitation not only I'm what
IS called press agents stun. but In paid
advertising In newspapers and other
publications. San Francisco has Il
promotion bureau which never sleeps
not even in time of earthquake aud
fire. 1t IS publicity, persistent and con
slant publicity, gained through organ
lied work, which has made score OF
California cities famous.
On the eastern coast Norfolk. Va, Is
now being exploited by organized pub
lefty In connection with the James
town exposition. In Oklahoma and In.
dian Territory are several thriving
cities which have been bullt by organ.
lied publicity.
Every town must blow its own horn,
otherwise the horn Will not be blown
Many towns have recognized this fact
and are blowing with all the lung pow.
or they possess. Any town can be
advanced through systematic publicity
One very good way to start Is to keen
a standing advertisement of the towns
resources and attractions in the local
newspaper. Properly ittcn and dis
played half page OF, better, Il full
page advertisement will engage the
attention of many outsiders, particu
larry IL the publicity agents send out
extra copies 10 selected list OF names
An instance in point IS that of As
bury Park, y. j., now one of the
greatest summer resorts i'm the United
| States. For many years the founder OF
| this town, James \. Bradley, kept
standing advertisements In the loca
papers. setting forth the beauties OF
the place, its peculiar charms as a re
sort and It's advantages for real estate
| investment Now and then special edi
lions of the local papers were issued
thousands of copies going broadcast
with plenty OF text ana illustration
| devoted 70 the booming of the town
| The result shows in the rapid growtl
| Of the place The special editions M
| doubt helped, but Mr.. Bradley's per
sistent hammering with half page anC
full page advertisements undoubtedly
| helped more.
Liberal and attractive advertisement,
| by local business houses OF course do
much 90 uphold q town booming ad
vertisement In a newspaper Such ad
vertisements are the index TO n towns
standing They are q very effectlv,
form Of publicity for any town unde
! the sun