Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-01-06
COMMERCE AND THE CITY
Relation Of the Two Fxpcurded and the
Need of One for Other.
WHAT MIGHT Be DONE Fer OMAHA
Je1Reris' Speech at Commercial Club
Banquet Covers Some Points
of Much Interest to
All Citizens.

of Much Interest to
All Citizens.
At the banquet of the Omaha Commercial
club to the members of the Board of Gov
ernors OF Ak-SarB Ben on December Is, Mr..
A. w. Jefferis responded to the toast of
Commerce" Mr.. Jeferis' remarks on
that occasion were:
MIR. Toastmaster and Gentlemen: In
every age since the dawn of civilization,
the browning glory Of the successful man.
be he soldier, statesman, builder of indus
try, or promoter of commerce, has been
and is that intangible, invisible, halo of
good feeling accorded to his deeds, by his
fellow countrymen. and manifested unto
him on such occasions as is this tonight.
The fact that this feast is rendered by
the Commercial club to the board of gov
errors of the knights of Ak-Sar-B Ben, is
proof beyond a reasonable doubt that the
board of governors, with the assistance OF
loyal knights, have done and accomplished
that which has won the esteem and graft
tude of the commercial interests of Omaha.
Those interests permeate and electrify this
entire gathering, and speaking unto the
board of governors of the knights of Ak
sar-Ben. it says: Well done, good and
|
much by your loyalty and devotion to our
cause
What Makes u Town.
Someone has said that God made the
country and man made the town In
measure that is true. Ten men will succeed
in the country where one succeeds in the
city, because nothing grows in the city
| from Mother Earth, to nourlsh and sus-
! tain the body. Neither milk, honey. bread,
| clothing or fuel are there, except they are
| carried there by some method of transpor-
| tation, and afterwards bought and con-
| stunned by the residents of the city. Conse-
| Quently, the citizens of the city should re-
member that that which the people of a
| city buy and consume is gone. 1t cannot
be sold again at a profit, only in so far as
1t may produce force or power. The power
80 produced may be in the form of muscu-
lar or brain energy or it may be in the
roaring forge, in the steaming engine. or
in the electric battery, but whatever, or
! wherever that power, so produced by the
consumption or humiliation of commodities
purchased by the people OF city, it will
bring unto that city no profit, no increase
| OF wealth, unless 1t (the power. the force)
/ is used to produce something for commerce.
| something for the consumer or trader out
| side of and beyond the limits of the city
[ producing II. Any two men of any city
may trade two jack knives Of equal value,
back and forth between themselves all day
long, but when night comes neither of
them is a whit better on than when they
commenced, though they perhaps have
made a thousand trades.
Commerce of the cities.
And so the people OF any city may ex-
change commodities and values over and
a I'm a1vr
they shall have finished, If they have sold
to none but themselves, that city, as an
entity as a city or community. had added
nothing to its aggregate wealth. 1t is
also true that that which the merchant of
a city buys from abroad and sells again
to the consumer or trader. outside of its
borders, in order to be profitable commerce,
from the city or jobbing center's stand
point. must be sold for and return unto
the city the original cost Of the COM
modify, plus the cost of labor for the
handling selling and transportation thereof
to the distant consumer or trader. and in
addition thereto a profit for the manage
ment and ownership of the business.
ut follows therefore. that that city
which employs the greater portion OF its
energy and power in commerce, not alone
with its own people, but with others out.
side Of its borders. or that city which en-.
cages the greater portion Of its wealth
and power in manufacturing raw materials
, into finished products for sale and con
sumption. not only at home, but abroad
is an accumulation Of wealth and profit fol
its people far in excess OF that city which
expends the greater part OF its substanc,
, in building houses and, buildings for rent
which when completed only furnish shelte
, for many, but labor and sustenanca 10
a few.
e Does More Than Garner wealth
q but commerce does more than game
wealth for the people engaged therein
While It has bought and sold commodities
j It has exchanged ideas and disseminate
knowledge. No people ever emerged fror
4 a family or tribal condition without de
,veloping commerce. The higher civiliza
tions OF ancient times existed where com
merce fiourished. The civilization OF Egyr
was because OF its commerce, and it's com
a merce increased and multiplied because Q
o the camel the beast Of burden the shi
e of the desert. which transported its goods
4 The civilization Of Greece and Rome ex
d sted because Of the commerce carried o
u the Mediterranean sea. And when W
?. read history We have but 10 follow tn
active routes Of commerce TO follow
the footprints OF an advancing civilization
The commerce of our own country is nov
!, and has been for some years, penetratin
; every nook and corner Of the globe. an
IS who would say that the commerce of III
: United States has not led toward a co,
N mopOlitan condition among great commel
y uonal peace7
y sAa fha tYada ana coraunarca ~ . o.,,ne,