The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1908-07-31
NE D|SSECTED NORFOLK.
TOWN BOOSTING SPECIALIST
TALKED AT CITY HALL.
GAVE RESULTS OF DAYS VISIT
George Irving Went over Norfolk, Got
In Touch with Business Men and
Then Told What He Thought the
City Needed-Small Crowd.

Epigrammatic statements, town
boosting aXioms, pointed advice, cross
sections of Norfoll, as sawed OF by
an expert were thrown at score Of
Norfolk men in rapid fire fashion last
evening by George Irving, represent
ing the town promotion department Of
the Dry Goods Reporter Of Chicago
"Thc battle of the cities Is on" he
told the business men who were in
the hall "Thc towns that know what
they want and are going after II are
the ones which are doubling and
quadruping their population
The manufacturing center has
moved to the west. Which of the
industries has Norfolk landed? Re
tail business has been shifting to the
great cities, manufacturing business
to the smaller centers. What are you
doing?
rs your capital invested in building
up Norfolk or sunk in wild cat
schemes away? Are you showing out
side capital where it can find prCu IN
Norfolk? Money is looking for in
vestment
Are you loyal to the town? Before
YOU kick "A farmer for patronizing a
mail order house hire some one to
kick yourself for spending money away
that ought to be spent at home.
'ln this marvellous manufacturing
development in the west new indus
tries are either going to Norfolk or to
some other cities.
Are you turning out a hundred
strong to commercial club MEETINGS?
Are you after new industries, conven-
tions. more business? Are YOU pull
ing together or are you knitting each
other? Every man ought to give a
definite portion of his time to com
munity work.
"A community is a firm in active
competition with other live communi-
ties How long would a business firm
last if one of the partners spent his
time going up and down the street
knocking on the other partner?
Norfolk Assets.
Mr.. Irving with the trained eye of
an expert spent the day going over
Norfolk before making his evening
address on Community Improve
ment"
Here is what he listed as Norfolks
Scheduled assets"
Railroad division point.
Fair farming section.
German farming community, which
he listed as a distinct asset.
The Commercial club.
The weekly luncheons of the Com
mercial club directors.
A daily newspaper with a circula-
tion of 4,4O0.
II was amazed when | learned that
such a newspaper had been built up
here, said Mr.. Irving going into some
detail at this point. at is al
great asset to the town and
would be to any town. II tell you
you don't support it as you ought to
because you don't appreciate what
factor such a paper is and can be
There are towns which are literally
dying for lack of a good paper
Here under the fierce competition Of
Sioux City and Omaha you have a
publisher who has built up a paper
which can carry your word and the
towns prestige out into your world
with a circulation which say is
amazing. If lived here | would even
stretch point to support such
paper Two per cent of a merchants
sales should be set aside for advertis
ing. You are not doing it.
"A. L. Killian is one bright spot |
saw in your town. HIS advertising
counts for something for the town.
And looked at the sign cards in his
store and they told me something"
Continuing with the Norfolk assets,
Mr.. Irving reviewed the following;
The steady growth of population.
The base ball team.
The water power.
The cereal mills, candy factory,
pickle factory and other industries.
Three strong banks.
The business houses.
Geographic location.
The young mems organization.
Some Liabilities.
Here is what Mr., Irving talked
about as "liabalities."
Failure to turn every travelling man
and railroad man in the section into
a Norfolk booster.
High freight rates
Tight money interests.
Failure to keep up the trade rebate |
system.
Nearness of Omaha and Sioux City. |
A certain spirit of criticism against
the commercial club which whether
justified or not ought to be remedied. |
County seat at Madison.
The catalogue business.
BUSINESS men who trade away from
home.
What Norfolk Should Do.