The state herald., 1907-07-05
COMMERCIAL CLUBS
CAN BE MADE IMPORTANT FAC
TORS IN TOWN BUILDING.
BEST FIELD FOR THEIR WORK
Their Efforts Should Be Put Forth to
Keep the Dollars in tho Homo
ToWn-Protecting eusi-
ness Interests.

During the past few years there has
been more than ordinary activity In
the organization of so-called CONNER
cial clubs, business mems leagues and
similar associations in the agricultural
sections of the country. Some had
mushroom growth, and like some flow
ers, bloomed and blossomed, withered
gled along indifferently and succeeded
in spending much of the peoples
money without assisting the town to
greatness, while very few succeeded
In doing things that were OF benefit
to the community.
There is little use In trying to make
a suit of clothes for man out OF a
pattern of cloth that has only sum
cient goods for a child's suit. There
is little use In trying to build up a
great town in Il locality where there is
not the material to sustain 1t, and
where there are only resources for the
support of hamlet Towns of i'm
portance exist only where there are
certain natural advantages. resources
that can be utilized in manufacturing.
territory sufficiently large TO command
extensive trade, or some other favor
able condition. In the west manufac-
turing must by the economy OF things
be confined to such lines as can be
advantageously produced In manufac-
turing there are many factors. There
must be considered the cost of fuel,
the raw material. the labor and highly
important are the transportation facil-
tiles.
One OF the noticeable things about
commercial clubs is the optimistic
Tendencies OF their members. Business
men OF a strictly agricultural town will
form an association. Perhaps the
leaders are interested In the real es
tate business. They want the town to
boom. Some OF them may have few
acres OF land worthless unless for
factory" site. Meetings are held,
plans are made for the bringing In of
some manufacturing plant that per.
haps may give employment to half
dozen or dozen hands. Correspond
ence is started with view of getting
some outsider interested The right
man. apparently makes his appear
ance. He wants bonus of a few
thousand dollars. His proposition is
seriously considered. The subscription
paper is passed around. the amount
secured. and the real estate man sells
his factory" site at u good price. The
factory Is started. II runs about n
year and there Is vacant factory
building for rent. or for sale. How
many towns In the southwest have had
this experience?
Even had the enterprise been a sue
cess. II remains that there is n field
more productive Of good for the town
that the club" overlooked. Say tina,
factory be started In small town. II
may give employment TO dozen men.
The pay roll amounts TO $50 n day. The
output of the concern may reach
total Of from $4,000 to $4,000 year.
Every little helps" and all other
things In harmony this adds TO the
Importance Of the place. But let us
do a little estimating" Suppose that
there is about the town territory of
square mile represents four families
farmers families. This would make
COO families who should do their trad.
ing In the town The reports OF the
bureau OF statistics OF the United
States department Of labor and com
mcrco. assures us that the average, cx,
| pondlturv of the farmer each year for
all the supplies he requires In the way
OF agricultural machinery. carriages,
wagons, clothing, and food. IL fGs7
| Careful estimates ~ the amount OF tho
farmers trade that goes to the mail.
order house and IL In other ways d.
verted from his home town. shows that
II Ia more than 90 per cent nf all he
| spends Thus We fnd that from the
territory Of the town there n annually
diverted In trade the nice sum of more
than $4,000 This amount goes from
the town. ccasoh 10 be a factor In iir
uphuiiding II means that every day
the town loscs about iias In trade.
Now would II not be- much better II
the commercial club took NJ the mat
tot Of doylHlng means OF protecting the
business lhtofcata OF the enterprises In
the mercantile lines already cslnb.
ilHhed, than Ia bring In a new enter.
prise " uncertain snernHs7 II not the
trade of the farmers and tho people ~
the town equally ~ beneficial ~ the
wages paid in the few men that the
factory might employs Does not $40,
900 IN trade more than equal the out
nui snd the general nccruing tn the
wealth OF the town by the factory
Il 10 evident that there Ia Wide
field for commercial club rnofi In ths
keeping in the town tho dollars that
are earned and deyinihg means Of pfu.
trciing trade.