The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-01-25

1
today than the best depot in Norfolk.
Fremont has fine union depot. 9th
or cities have union depots. Union
depots are built everywhere after com
mercial clubs have taken the initiative.
II could not be done in day, but Nor
folks chances for getting creditabe
union station would be much better II
the business interests of the city, well
organized, should go at such goal
with persistence. And speaking of
railroads, there's the switching on
Main street.
| Norfolk needs better roads A good
road is needed between Norfolk and
the Junction. At least one good road
is needed for dozen miles east, north,
south and west. Some day they will
be built because the state is going to
provide for their building. But Nor
folk needs good roads now. The lack
of them costs Norfolk dollars every
day. They will not build themselves.
Norfolk Is ambitious to become a
| convention city. There are conven-
tons flying around in coveys all the
year, waiting to be shot. A thorough
bred commercial club could develop
a convention nose and locate the birds.
| them to fly into our hands.
Norfolk's fort today lies in its retail
possibilities. But not one-tenth of
Norfolk's retail possibilities are being
developed. System and organization
will do it. Cooperation is a neces-
sary factor and publicity too, but
that's another story. market day
once a month is successful in other
ltNln ND
offered up to date by those who smile
at 1t why 1t could not benefit Norfolk
In lieu of a better suggestion, this
plan is worth trying. But it's develop
ment will not grow. That's another
thing an active commercial club could
do for Norfolk. And when north Ne
braska gets gridironed with railroads
like the newly projected extension
from Sioux City to Niobrara it is go
ing to be too late. Sioux City isn't
muffing any flies in the way of rail-
roads that are batted in that direc-
ton, and it's the commercial club over
there that wears the catching glove.
Down in Fremont the commercial
club issues each year little booklet
called THE Blue Book" 1t contains
a detailed description OF the city, it's
it has to offer for new industries.
These booklets are distributed on
trains running through town to passen-
gers who never heard of Fremont. 1t
is advertising in an effective way
Fremont is growing in spite of the
fact that it lies right in the shadow
Of Omaha and Lincoln, while Norfolk
is away out in the open prairie by
n, IL al
have concessions that Norfolk has not,
but II she has it is a safe guess that
they never grew up without nursing.
Fremont has an active commercial
club.
These are few of the things that
could be accomplished by an active
commercial club in Norfolk 1t Is diff
ficult to speak of these possibilities
because of the danger that the sugges-
tions may be taken as personal criti
| cisms. They are not criticisms. 1t is
not anybody's fault in particular and
everybody's fault in general where a
community does not assume and main
tain an aggressive attitude. 1t is not
=
big public matter, of vital interest to
every living being in the community
! To make such an organization conf
dent in its own capabilities; to fill it's
arteries with warm red blood and it's
cheeks with the pink of health, so
that it can offer combat against all
obstacles with strong muscles, the Or
ganization must be made up-arms
legs, head, heart and hands-of the
whole industrial fibre, including every
business interest and every business
man of the community. 1t must go
forth to battle backed with words of
encouragement and kindly suggestion
from the whole community which it
represents. For in community Of
5000 people we are all neighbors liv-
ing close together and what is the in
terest of one is the interest of all.
Any town, any city, any man or in
dustry can float along with the current
and claim that much natural progress;
] bul IL tuhto lolCe
termination and aggressive organiza-
ton to swim on ahead of the currents
flow.
Norfolk business men owe 1t to
themselves to insist that D. Mathew
son, who resigned as secretary last
summer, reconsider that act and re-
sumo the work of that office. He is
the ideal man for the place. A sue
cessful business man, having leisure
time and an Office down town, re-
sourceful to degree and thorough
ly representative citizen, no better sec
rotary could be found With Norfolk
enthusiastic in this work and backing
him with encouragement, we believe
Mr.. Mathewson would conform to the
public wish and accept the Office again.
This Office must be taken at a person
al sacrifice for public welfare by some
citizen; none shall say that he will
or will not serve the public. Norfolk
L