The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-02-15
SOME WAX POINTS
COMMERCIAL CLUBS SOMETIMES
MAKE BLUNpERs.
STARTING NEW ENTERPRISES
Bonuses Often Given and Little Bens-
fits Gained by the Towns That
oivs-ProtsetIng Estabiiahsd
Industries.

Within the past few years = COM
mercial club organization fever has
taken hold Of many towns in the west
ern country. 1t is q kind Of good fever
to have, but quite often. like other of
the less harmless fevers that afiict
physically. passes away and doesn't
make much difference with the our
general health.
Town. building Is much like erecting
a good bridge. 1t 10 essential. that a
good foundation be laid. Natural con-
ditions have much to do with 1t. Cities
and towns spring up where there is a
good cause for their existence. Arti.
nciai means may be employed for
booming" purposes, but unless there
~ something substantial and lasting,
all the booming that can be done will
not ,Aault In tbs accomplishment of
permxhent good. The average rural
tow receives its principal support
from the business given 1t by the con-
tiguous territory. The trade Of linn.
tied section Of country will sustain
comparative number Of business es-
tablishments. II town possesses
natural advantages. location. etc, for
certain lines of manufacturing, SO
much the better. 1t would be foolish.
az have been demonstrated in num-
Der of western towns, to commence
the manufacture Of cottons, or silks.
or furniture, when the raw material
must be transported from great dis
lance. and also the fuel for power.
Still. II town assume any great
proportions, there must be Industries
to give the people occupation. The
judicious investment OF capital in
canning factories. in paper mills, in
glucose works and few other enter
prises, II these enterprises are rightly
conducted. might prove . valuable
factor in some Of the western towns.
When . commercial club II orga-
nized, generally efforts are made to
secure some industry for the town
that will give its people employment
and which will bring new residents to
the town. Quite often bonuses are Of
fered concerns. which are located In
other places to relocate. It has been
the general experience Of towns which
have made efforts along these lines
that . concern that asks very much
encouragement in the way Of ready
cash, is hardly worth bothering with
and is likely to prove a failure.
Another thing that the average com
meYcial club does not take In cpnsid-
GRAFTON IL that It Il better 10 build
up institutions already located than
to encourage new ones Of doubtful
success. A manufacturing concern il
of placing greater amount of money
In circulation. The greater the pay
roll. the better for the town. But 1t
matters not how big the amount is
that Is distributed among workers on
Saturday night. 1t results In little
good to the town II 1t Is sent to some
other town for needed supplies.
Commercial club members should
keep in mind that 1t is far better to
devise means of keeping money
earned by farmers and laborers from
being sent to large cities for goods,
than 1t IL to have new concerns start
/ ed. II there be few hundred dollars
a day sent from the place to maiI-ors
der houses. 1t would be far better to
prevent this by devislng means for
having It spent in the town, than to.
encourage the location OF factory
with a pay roll of like amount. 1t
should be the first duty of com
mercial organization to protect its
home industries. and when strangers
see that this Is successful they will be
more likely to seek the place as suit,
able for the establishment of some
business enterprise.
d NJ CARR