Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-10
TMERGER is EFFECTED
WITH SHIPPERS CLUB
ORGANIZED Campaign Will
be Begun to Boost
OttunWa

From Tuesdays Daily.
The merging Of the Ottumwa Com
mercial association and the Manufac-
turers and Shippers association into
one body, retaining the first name, and
the decision to employ a paid secre-
manager for Ottumwa, with salary
sufficient to permit him to devote all
his time to the work, were the re-
suits Of rousing meeting of business
men at the Wapello Club last night.
It was decided that $4,000 should
be raised by subscription from the
business men and by raising the mem
bership fee dues from S. to $40 a year.
The offer Of A. G. Leighton of free
rent room for the secretary's office
in the Leighton block was accepted.
AS result Of the meeting steps
will be taken to secure the services
Of the right man for secretary and an
organized campaign for boosting OF
tumwa will be begun.
A motion was made and carried
that there be but one organization
in the city It was unanimously &C.
cepted by ALL A motion was made
that there be an annual membership
$40 charged. The motion was
carried.
The plan of the members is to raise
the remaining portion of the $4,000
by free will subscriptions on the part
of the business men of the city who
become members. Several large and
liberal sums were subscribed last
evening by different manufacturers
of the city or their representatives,
and many of the wholesalers and
other men present made satisfactory
donations to the fund. Minor matters
were referred to the board of direc-
tors of the organization.
The meeting was called by the board
of directors in their session held last
week in the Courier committee ROOM
twas a gathering of the manufacture
ers, wholesalers, bankers and retail
dealers for the purpose Of presenting
the plans of the board in regard to
the work to be undertaken during the
ensuing year, and to secure their
hearty cooperation.
Reorganization Effected.
/ Some time ago an organization
known as the Manufacturers and Ship
ipers' association was formed This
society has practically ceased it's
activity of late, due to lack
lof, interest on the part of its
members and incapable formation.
The Ottumwa Commercial associa-
tion is also comparatively old soci-
ETY. which has accomplished but little
during the past year because of in
1sufficient enthusiasm and lack of CO.
Operation.
The general spirit of last nights
meeting was to bring about a combin-
as we'll as the interests of every cit
lien of the city, whether engaged in
active business or not, into one asso-
citation, under one head. and to have
one paid secretary employed for the
furtherance of the business of the
body.
The meeting was opened at 8:15
o'clock by the reading of the minutes
of the board meeting. T. D. Foster
gave a short address, following the
reading of the minutes, explaining in
detail the matters handled in the
board meeting, and dwelling upon
the benefits to be derived from the
combination Of the two societies. The
minutes stated that the board had ac-
cepted the offer made by A. G. Leigh
ton to furnish the association free of
rent, suite of rooms in the Leighton
block for their Office during the en-
suing year. also that motion had
been made and carried to the effect
that the association should raise
$4,000 for the sustenance of the So
ciety during the year 1907. This sum
was to include the secretary's salary,
advertising and other matters that
may come up during the year
Business Men Give Views
Mr.. Foster also spoke of the freight
rate adjustment which would have to
be made in order to be able to pre-
sent favorable proposition to any
incoming institution. His, address
made those merchants present who
We're not familiar with the workings
of the association, thoroughly ac
quainted with the work in view ant
with the common benefits to be de
rived by the successful operation Of
such an order.
Joseph Dain followed Mr. Foster
with presentation of the project tc
ombine the two bodies under one
cad. Mr. Dain was in favor of the
ISOLATION obtaining the services o.
FtlG iffEsS 800