The Washington herald., 1907-06-20
Body of Manufacturers May
Employ Secretary.
NEEDS OF THE CITY DISCUSSED
Initial Meeting of Chamber of Com
merce Branch Results in Plans to
for the New Building Considered.
Many Properties Are offered.

afternoon in Guido Hall, at which plans
for increasing the Importance of the
Capital as a manufacturing center were
discussed.
Arthur c. Moses, chairman of the com
mlttee presided In opening. he called
attention to the objects for which the
committee was appointed referring to
the definition of its powers as laid down
in the constitution of the chamber, and
spoke in an optimistic vein concerning
the work of the committee.
Mr.. Moses declared that there were
great advantages to be gained If the work
should be carried on In the right way.
He said that as this was the first meet
Ing he would extend large latitude 10 the
members in the way Of parliamentary
order, and he hoped there would be a gen
eral exchange Of opinion upon the propo-
sition Of how to build up the manufac-
lures Of the city.
John L. Weaver, vice chairman of the
committee. called attention TO the fact
that Washington stood seventeenth in
the list Of cities Of the United States, as
regards the number and capital invested
in manufacture. There is much more
manufacturing here" said Mr Weaver,
than people suppose"
Much Manufacturing Here.
/ That It can be increased and will be
increased through the efforts Of the
Chamber Of Commerce. he did not doubt,
and he said it was for this committete
/ to discover ways and means and work
out the problem practically
Mr. Weaver spoke of the smoke law
as a deterrent to manufacture, and de-
clared that there were many similar diff
! ficulties IN the way Of starting new in
dustrieS. He thought that this law. some
Of the building regulations, and other
things that stood in the way of the sue
cessful establishment Of factories in
Washington, could be either gotten out of
the way or SO modified that they would
cease to be hindrances to the proper
growth OF the city. Mr. Weaver thought
that this was one point Of attack 10
which the committee should give special
attention by way of clearing the ground
for the establishment Of factories in that
part Of the District where they would
naturally go.
To increase the number Of manufactur-
ing firms In Washington, Mr.. Weaver
advocated going after them and inducing
them TO locate here. To this end there
was need of propaganda Of the advan-
tages which Washington has to offer to
the manufacturer. and he said those who
have erected factories elsewhere, who
would .be inclined TO move and others
who might establish new plants here.
should be encouraged % come.
Vance Tells of Louisville.
T. c. II. Vance, formerly Of Louisville, /
now Of Washington. presented some inter
esting facts relative TO the growth Of
Louisville through the efforts OF its bust
ness men. Nj Vance declared it was
nonsense to say that Washington could /
not be as great a manufacturing town as
any of its size in the country. Mr. Vance /
described how the business men of Louis /
vile had increased the amount invested /
in manufacture over 100000 I'm d few 4
years by well-direCted effort, and he said I
they did not have so good I foundation 1
to work upon in the beginning as Wash /
ington business men have now. Mr.. Vance /
said the thing 10 do was TO get To work /
at the proposition, and to keep working az 4
II until the water fronts and available 4
spots around Washington should be teem- /
ing with factories.
Mr.. Weaver, in offering a suggestion 4
of ways and means TO accomplish the end /
sought, said there was need Of a man F..
specially trained in that kind Of work.
Need Special Agent.
He might be called a commercial secre-
tary, or simply the secretary Of the com /
mittee, but his work should be to take /
up the task of bringing manufactures TO /
Washington. 1t would be necessary, Mr.
Weaver thought, to pay him salary Of /
perhaps $500 year. Mr. Weaver said /
he should be a man Of wide business ex-
perience and full Of resources to bring
about the object the committee had in
view
T. L. Siddons advised that the commit
tee stand together on this plan. 1t might
mean going deep into their pockets to
provide the salary and expenses Of the
secretary and his office, but it would be
money well spent, and would bring am
pie returns in the Upbuilding of the city,
and, indirectly, all branches of business in
II. c. c. STYLES urged that the coming
Of summer should not be allowed TO deter
the movement. He advised getting to
work Immediately, and taking steps to |
secure the secretary needed, and to have
tangible to show for the efforts
Of the committee before cold weather ar
rives.
Members of Committee Present.
The following members OF the commit |
tee were present: A. C. Moses. John L.
Weaver, George Howard. w. H. Corby,
D. A Smith. H. c. c. Styles E. c. Gra-
ham, J. p. Sacks, J. T. Devine, G. P.
L. D. Callahan, A. B. Lyons, F.
l.. Siddons. Z. II. DroOp. E. 0. Whitford.
r. L. Lamb. Charles Berry. ]. c. NAL
colin, George c. Johnson, II. T. Clarke,
I. c. II. Vance, and d. A Smith.
Charles ]. Bell, chairman Of the build
ing committee, yesterday appointed the
Of seven to choose the site
for the new Chamber Of Commerce build
Ing, as follows: r. n Harper. vice chair
man; Daniel Fraser, Monroe Luchs.
John l. Weaver. Cuno H. Rudolph. E.
{. Graham. and Chaplin Brown.
site Is Discussed.
The committee met at the Office of the
American Security and Trust Company
yesterday afternoon. Monroe Luchs was
elected secretary. Ten or more sites offer
ed by different real estate firms were
placed before the committee and the
subject thoroughly discussed. The COM