Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-07-18
BY BUREAU
How Cities Are Exploited Through
Organized Publicity.

Organized Publicity.
HINTS FOR TOWN PROMOTION.
Instances Of Rapid Growth
Due to Official Press and Advertis-
ing Agents-vaIue Of Exploitation
Space In Local Paper.
In these days the publicity bureau
plays an important part in the boom.
Ing Of cities and towns. Quite recently
several of the larger cities, which are
not large enough to satisfy the most
aggressive of their citizens, have es-
tablished bureaus Of publicity with the
purpose of making the rest Of the
world acquainted with local opportu-
mites and achievements. Only a brief
trial is required to show that this
sort of advertising pays.
The national capital is one of the
cities which have adopted the idea,
and historic old Boston is another.
Washington, after a hundred years as
a governmental and social capital,
wants to become a commercial center.
Boston has grown tired of being mere
ly 1.-THE hub of the universe and pro-
poses to become q few spokes in the
wheel. That is why Boston is branch
ing out in several directions through
her exploitation agents.
Portland, Ore, has had in operation
for some years an active publicity bu-
eau in connection with the local com
mercial club, while her sister cities of
the Pacific northwest, Tacoma, Seattle
and Spokane, operate similar bureaus.
The remarkable growth Of each Of
these four cities during the past ten
years is largely the result Of the ener-
getic work of official publicity agents.
In the case Of Portland q double por-
ton Of publicity was secured in 1905
through the press bureau of the Lewis
and Clark exposition. Seattle is now
getting the benefit of much exploita-
ton through the publicity department
Of the Alaskan-Yukon exposition to be
held there in 1909. This enterprise or
ganized its press bureau three years
in advance Of the fair.
Publicity pays. Los Angeles, Cal,
now has about 25O,OOO population. Ac-
cording to the census, 1t had but a lit
tie more than 100000 in 1900. The
chamber Of commerce in that city is
one of the greatest publicity PROPOSE
lions on earth. 1t engineers the Los
Angeles exploitation not only in what
is called press agents stuff, but in paid
advertising in newspapers and other
publications. San Francisco has u
promotion bureau which eve sleeps
not even in time of earthquake and
fire. 1t is publicity, persistent and con-
slant publicity, gained through organ
lied work, which has made a score of
California cities famous.
On the eastern coast Norfolk, Va, Is
now being exploited by organized pub.
Lefty in connection with the James
town exposition. In Oklahoma and In
dian Territory are several thriving
cities which have been built by organ
lied publicity.
Every town must blow its own horn,
otherwise the horn will not be blown.
Many towns have recognized this fact
and are blowing with all the lung pow.
er they possess. Any town can be
advanced through systematic publicity.
1 Ono voru Onnd wow f0 ofo rf ic fn loon
a standing advertisement of the towns
resources and attractions in the local
newspaper. Properly written and dis.
played a half page or, better, a full
page advertisement will engage the
attention Of many outsiders, particu.
larly if the publicity agents send OH.
extra copies to a selected list of names
An instance in point is that of AS
bury Park, N. j., now n Of the
greatest summer resorts in the United
States. For many years the founder OF
this town, James A. Bradley, KEPT
standing advertisements in the local
papers, setting forth the beauties OF
the place, its peculiar charms as a re
sort and it's advantages for real estate
investment. Now and then special edi
lions of the local papers were issued
thousands of copies going broadcast
with plenty Of text and illustration
devoted to the booming Of the town
The result shows in the rapid growth
Of the place. The special editions nc
|doubt helped, but Mr.. Bradley's per
sistent hammering with half page anG
full page advertisements undoubtedly
helped more
Liberal and attractive advertisements
by local business houses of course dc
much to uphold a town booming ad'
yertisement in a newspaper. Such ad
vertisements are the index to a towns
standing. They are a very effective
form of publicity for any town under
the sur.