New-York tribune., 1909-01-10
SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
WANTS A BOOM
PAID PRIZE OF $500 FOK
METHOD.
Gong to Spend sR5, 900 in Adcertis-
ing and Raise Money By Selling
Special Stamps

How advertise city most effectively has os-a
pointed out In than two hundred different
ways in competition engineered by the Spring
field tMsss.) Board OF Trade. The incentivs vas
a 500 prize offer which developed itching pains
in practically every in the country The oae
that sa1ved with the Iucre belonged TO a Chi
cago publicity man. who presented what the cora
mittee having the contest in charge considered ths
most practicable for Springfield. II u not tls
most picturesque suggestion His plan was sinh
lar 70 those submitted by nearly all Or the adver-
tising made a bid for the money, IN that
advertising expert the solution Of shs
problem. but the Chicago went his con1-
petitors few better IN calculating method By
which the publicity expert could be provided with
the sinews OF war. IN the opinion OF the COM
mlttee. at least What the other competitors think
about II has not been recorded for publication
The winners plan Is spend sz5,oo0 a year IN
advertising IN the hfty-two issues OF a pocuias
weekly with national circulation, In q tro-incd
space. with similar advertisements weekly in tbs
nearby metropolitan papers. and to send out per.
sonaI letters to manufacturers wanted IN Spring
field. The manner IN which the S5oo u to be
raised Is by the sale OF 100000 sticksrs, similar
to the Red Cross stamps sold at Christmas and
New Years for a cent each. these to bs placed ca
all public and private letters and packages going
out Of Springfield This. Il Is estimated. would
bring IN f0Oo0. The balance is to be raised BY q
boom supplement to OF the local papers juss
prior to a homecoming festival. 10000 cop1es oe
this edition to be sold at cents a copy.
One thought the best way was TO hsvs tns
Wright brothers make Springfield their headauar-
ters and to take regular aeropans trips out seous
the country and scatter flyers and oookIsts telling
the advantages Of Spring gfseld-
Another thought little journey 10 sprfngnsi4
by noted lecturer would bring sufficient fans ts
the city.
A Boston man suggested another Denocrses
state convention. But Springfield In anxious To
forget the last Henry II whitney ard
Colonel Bartlett whose efforts TO bottIs up ths
delegates made tom" Hissen the logical osndi-
date OF the Independence party FOR President lass
fall. and so brought West Springfield into sonas
slight notoriety. This contestant overlooked ths
central idea Of the which to do sorns-
thing to attract people to Springfield
Still another bidder for the rriZs thought
statue of George Washington. large a. the
Colossus Of Rhodes. would gain Springfield placs
In the guide books for tourists and that the thou
sands who would journey 10 view this wondeT
of the world would be impressed with the de-
STABILITY Of Springfield q place to Hvs n tnas
they would stay there
Baltimore man wrote that after long ard
careful study OF many methods ns had reached
the conclusion that ths best way to advertise cns
city to hold cheerful jubilee once yea,s
If the weather good and promising
Another Baltimore man suggested a large electric
sign in Broadway. New York. with sentences
changing every second or two. This sign would
catch and hold the attention OF the "hurrytns
throngs Of inanciers. manufacturers buyers. etc.
from the world over
"Midgy' Herman, Harvard's star halfbach IN 1903
1901 that he nearly split his sides laugh
ing when he read the announcement Of the con-
test and that the announcement Itself was the
best advertisement. people like to laugh Ksr-
nan wrote from Tampa. Fla: IF this suggestion
wins, just send quart OF wine instead OF the
$500. I do not need the money, married
and have punches OF fish IN the bathtub, a
crate Of Avocado pears yard Of Cuban bread
and a new brand of fumas
Pittsburg inventor thought that Springfield
would obtain worldwide recognition the place
where his inventions were manufactured for the
market, and he would turn them over to Springfield
capitalists for a 10 per cent royalty These
inventions include elastic wheel for street
cars, the very best, simplest and nearesr TOOL
proof transmission gear for automobiles and auto
trucks" This invention will replace all trans
mission gears used, they are all compl-
Gated makeshifts,' - the inventor wrote
Speaking of his elastic wheel gear, he Er1tsss
Il would remark that there is general impression
that one cannot make Improvements on strescc&r
lines. Now. it Is not in every case that they havs
discarded horses from in front OF the cars and
placed mules in the management OF the roads