The Washington herald., 1908-05-10

out when the secretary shall be In his
position. One OF these is the trade train
/ to be sent at intervals into the field OF
/ outside trade. Another is correspondence
| with representative merchants In various
parts Of the trade territory and placine
/ in their hands facts relative to wholesale
trade which might induce them TO come
/ 20 Washington.
! The committee on manufacturing has
also been at a standstiIl waiting the com
| ing of the secretary. It is understood
| that plans for bringing TO Washington
certain industries have been formed which
viii be Immediately started with good
| prospects of success. Many inquiries have
come to the officers Of the Chamber OF
Commerce relative to the establishment
Of industries here These will be taken
up in turn and the possibilities OF their
coming canvassed by the new secretary
| in conjunction with the committee on
manufacture, and though the beginnings
may be small, there is a strong likeli-
hood that when once started Others will
follow and In few years number OF
factories viii be established which will
naturally form a nucleus for more Of the
same kind.
Chambers Plans Taking Shape.
These facts are reviewed to show that
the objects for which the Chamber OF
Commerce was established are taking
shape. A general movement toward CON-
merce and industry, especially where II
must be largely created from the ground
up, must necessarily be slow. but the
promise made long ago that earnest ef-
fort to realize some of these worthy ends
for the Capital City is now being full
filed, and the Chamber of Commerce will
doubtless prove the wisdom OF its found
eTs in e1hbaTking upon the scheme TO 90
for Washington what has already been
done for the principal trade and indus
trial centers Of the continent
In the Chamber Of Commerce is cen
tered largely that part of public senti-
ment in favor Of the expansion of trade
and the building up Of profitable industry
at the Capital. In past months there has
been much talk and a gradual concentra-
ton of energy upon the larger and more
serious work to be done now to realize
these ends. The chamber has not been
organized quite a year. but in that time
1t has secured a permanent headquarters,
and by the time Of the first anniversary
1t will probably have a permanent sec
retaTy to carry on its work.
what Has Been Accomplished.
In the meantime the retail merchants
have passed through one successful cam
paign for the expansion of trade in their
line, have perfected the organization re-
ferred to, and are now in position to
move forward with increasing momen-
tum in the accomplishment of its plans.
Probably as much as could reasonably
be expected has been done in the first
year of the existence of the Chamber of
Commerce. It has been well supported
in its endeavors, and the outlook for its
usefulness is possibly brighter than upon
the night of its organization at one of the
largest and most enthusiastic meetings
of business men ever held In Washington.
Apparently the chamber is on a good
foundation for the furtherance OF its
plans, and a few telling blows at the
start, when the committees, aided by the
new secretary. are ready to move, are
likely to show that Washington is ripe
for the change from purely political
and social center to q commercial and in
dustrial city.