The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-06-08
MANAGER HoRNER OF THE RED
PATH cHAUTAUQUA.
Over a Million Miles Of Travel-$25,
600 Spent for Advertising.

3 discusses at some length the plan
| and scope of the Western Redpath
System, whose manager, Mr.. Chas. F.
Homer. has his Office in the Burr
Block OF that city. The writer Of the
| article explains that the independent
Chautauquas all over the country have
been forced to abandon their projects
because the receipts have been insult
ficient to warrant them in continuing
to hold annual assemblies. 1t is
pointed out that what is everybody
business is no body's business" and
that lack of careful buiness manage
ment has compelled q readjus:ment Of
method in the conducting the peoples
university"
Mr.. H0rner is credited by the Journal
with being one Of the originatOrs of the
Circuit plan" The season Of 1910 is
the fourth for the Western circuit and
will be the largest ever attempted by
any management anywhere. Between
seventy and eighty assemblies will be
held in five states. In every case the
original Chautauqua idea-refined and
uplifting mental and moral education
and entertainment-will be main
tanned.
The Journal is quoted in part:
Already Mr. HOrner and his corps Of
trained assistants have mapped out
the safest and best route for each Of
the two hundred and fifty persons.
who will have part in the seasons
work. This is not so easy in view Of
uncertain train schedules and the liza
bility to washouts. floods and natural
hindrances. To Obviate this possible
difficulty substitute route are studied
out and when each man reports for
duty he is furnished a preferential and
an alias routing.
To give one an idea of the magni.
tude of the systems plan it is neces-
sary to give but few figures. The
total mileage to be travelled by the
people that make up the system for
1910 will be more than a million miles,
the equivalent of two trips to the
moon and then three times around the
earth. $4,000 will be paid for railroad
and automobile travel And yet the
average move from place to place will
not be more than seventy miles.
But aside from the routing of the
talent. which has been reduced to such
system as to make it a marvel of de-
tail. there is a small army of office
people and attaches all of whom are
essential.
To properly conduct seventy-five
assemblies thirty agents have been
assisting Mr.. Homer for several
months in selecting the towns where
the demand seems TO warrant the
holding of a Chautauqua. Here con-
tracts have been made for the sale CT
the required number of tickets. ar
engagements have been made for
proper site to pitch the big canvass
auditorium. advertising has been ar.
ranged for and hundreds Of details
have been worked out.
Eight superintendent or platform
managers are employed. There must
be eight cashiers. sixteen gate keepers
thirty-two uShers, forty or more tent
men, three travelling auditors. three
or four advertising managers and a
couple of press agents to say nothing
Of dozen bookkeepers and stem
Ographers.
Thirteen car loads of advertising
matter will be sent out by mail and
express-more than one million
pieces.
Over fifty thousand letters will be
mailed before the close of the season
hot a bad thing for Uncle Sans cot.
fers.
Advertising will be purchased from
two hundred and fifty newspapers.
Twelve carloads of tents. seats and
necessary equipment will be kept on
the move and ten different railroads
will be patronized.
The Man Behind the Plan.
And now what Of the personality of
the young man whose genius this
clock-work system is due? It will be
interesting to know that measuring
his age by the birthdays he has cele-
brated, this Napoleon Of detail is
barely on the shady side of thirty
years. but measured by his experience
he is old beyond his years.
1t requires q superlative degree of
optimism and an unbounded confidence
in human kind to enter into contracts
aggregating 100000 a year in advance
of the opening Of the season: 10 in.
vest thousands more in perishable
equipment that must withstand the
fury of the elements; to arrange for
the expenditure of other thousands in
transportation and all the while bank
ing his judgment upon his ability TO
please the public and give them what
they need and want.
Yet this is literally what Mr. Hor-
ner does and he makes it 60. Perhaps
the controlling factor of Mr.. HOrner's
personality lies in his ability to Judge
people and to surround himself with
efficient. able assistants. To them he
imparts his own confidence in his pro-
jects and infuses them with his own
virile ambition and earnestness. Tai
ent. agents. employees. all are person
ally devoted to him and would 60 TO
any length to assist him. OF the hun
dreds Of men who have been connected
with him at different times he holds
the warmest respect and admiration
of all
But aside from his pleasing manners
he is genius. To his keen, quick and
discriminating judgment is due the
success Of the business. the perfecting
of system that works like a clock and
the solution of the Chautauqua prob
lem for the people.