The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-11-17
DEVELOPING RESOURCES
PLAN FOLLOWED IN IDAHO THAT
MIGHT BE PROFITABLY
USED In VERMONT.


vertising the National Advantages
of the State.
Editor Morning Journal:
In his address at Burlington recent
ly, Governor Mead said:
81 am always pleased to see the
spirit of loyalty of every man and wo-
men for his or her State in every
place West of the Mississippi and
have ever wished that the same spirit
of loyalty might exist among the peo-
pie of our State"
This reminds me of the fact that
the new State Of Idaho with popula-
ton no greater than Vermont has a
State or rather district development
league composed of % commercial
clubs from the southern portion of
the State called the League of South
ern Idaho Commercial Clubs, which
is doing good work in the way of adj
vertising the resources of the State.
Recently a member OF our staff had
an interview with Mr.. Reilly Akin
of Southern Idaho Commercial Clubs,
which may be of interest to the read
ers of the Journal and the people of
Vermont in general.
The % development organizations
in Idaho referred to above have rails
ed a joint advertising fund and when
requests for information are received
at headquarters at Boise, Idaho, Mr..
Atkinson Immediately sends the names
of the inquirers to the secretary of
each of the % Commercial clubs in
order that each may send advertising
tory.
Vermont should have a State organ
ization of commercial clubs, support
ed by money from clubs in different
towns throughout the State. The
beauties, attractions, and business op-
portunities to be found in the State
could through this State organization
be advertised to the world.
The sixth annual convention of
the League of Southern Idaho Com
mercial clubs was held at Gooding,
Idaho, Oct. II and IS. The reports of
the officers and committees aroused
a great deal of interest. The traffic
committee reported reductions in
freight rates which are already saving
the people of Southern Idaho over
100000 annually. This, in addition
to the reductions obtained by the traf-
fic committee and the secretary-treas-
urer, makes total of over 100000
year being saved to the citizens OF
Idaho, through the action of the
league.
| The convention was the most en-
thusiastic and best attended one ever
held by the league. The report OF
the secretary treasurer, Reilly Atkin-
son. showed that the league carried
itself during the year; had expended
over $250O in advertising the re-
sources of the State and had bal
lance of $246 on hand. 1t was unani
mously decided by the delegates tC
continue the work along the same line:
for the coming year.
Speaking of this organization ant
it's work ecretary-Treasurer Refill!
Atkinson said:
The advertising campaign of thu
league has been conducted this yea
on the same plan and with the sam
object in view as during the last tw'
years. According to our financial re
port $775.66 has been expended f.
advertising space in the following med
iums: Pacific Monthly, Des Nome
Capital, Des Moines Register an
Leader. Omaha Bee, goth Century Far
mer, Kansas City Star, Toledo Blade
Mail and Breeze, n. w. Agriculuturis
The Denver Post, Dakota Farmer, s.
Paul Farmer, The Farmers Leader
The National Irrigation Journal, tn
Iowa Homestead.
"The average size of our advertise
ments has been 20 agate lines but i
several instances we have used
much as a page. l have largely dis
continued this practice, however, bC
cause find that the smaller advertise
, ment brings larger returns in proper
ton to it's cost than does the large
one. | have continued the policy
writing such advertisements and III
erature as would appeal mostly to tn
higher class of homeseekers. 1t al
. pears to be even more true now ina
it was last year that we have in ldah
, enough people regarded numericali
but we are short of experienced fal
t mers, fruit growers and dairy mel
Our booklets therefore, and our az
vertisements have been written VIII
the view of obtaining as many
these as possible and not trying
Interest the man who has nothing b'
is looking for a country which wi
=, yield to him.
, 81 do not mean that we have eve
failed to encourage any one to con
y here If we felt this to be good pla'
! for him. but simply that our stronge
. appeal has been made to the oth'
! man. During the last year, since u
last convention, period of IL month
we have received and sent out to u
I different clubs on the same day the
y came to the office $751; inquiries.
: have also sent to each of these boo
j let containing a two-page write-up
II the towns in the league, obtained
II us from the commercial clubs OF ea'
. town Nine thousand booklets ha
y been issued during the year ana
nm