Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-06-07
UNITING WITH OTHER BOARDS or
TRADE.


The importance and value of thel
work done by the Boards of Trade
and Chambers of Commerce in adver,
Using the resources of the state, in
concentrating attention on its oppor-
tunities and in bringing investments
from other sections, is no longer ques-
toned. These unions Of business men
have long since passed out of the ex-
perimental stage in the work done by
them. for the states upbuilding aud
have won for. themselves recognition
as strong and highly potent factors
in all movements that seek to advance
its industrial, agricultural or CONNER
cial interests
Heretofore these various organiza-
tons have worked with an entirely
local spirit. Each one has sought to
promote the material welfare of it's
town and county, without regard toI
other sections of the state. AS a result
of this restricted scope, it is claimed,
there has been much waste of energy,
much loss of power as represented
in time and money expended along
lines that were largely unnecessary.
Implications Of sim
liar efforts by other trades bodies.
On Thursday there will be con-
yention at Atlanta composed Of dele
gates from trade bodies, the purpose
Of which is to devise means to con
serve TIE energies of the numerous
Boards of Trade and Chambers of
Commerce, to unite their efforts,
wherever practicable to the end that
results commensurate with the expen-
ditures may be had and the past waste
avoided. Why, for instance, should al
half dozen Boards of Trade in a terri
tory that offers exactly THE same
class of inducements, work independ-
emily of each other in efforts to bring
their common resources before the
world when united effort would
doubtless be far more successful and
much less expensive?
To avoid unnecessary duplication OIL
efforts, to conserve energies and di-
rect them along channels that promise
the richest results, is the purpose for
Which federation Of Georgia trade
bodies is proposed. If this can he
worked out without diminishing local
feryor, without diminishing local inter-
est in local Boards of Trade and with
out creating the impression that thel
advantages will be in favor of al
few, snch a federation may be prolific |
of benefits. But undoubtedly great
care will have to be exercised not 20
stultify the local organization or 70
create any impression that their value
and necessity has been diminished.
1t is difficult, as it is, to keep up the
interest in these organizations. and
the impression that their local value
had been lessened by the creation Of a |
central federation might be absolute
" fatal to their future existence.
The Americas Board of Trade viii
be represented at the Atlanta meeting
on Thursday. The organization here
desires to be in touch with every
movement that seeks to increase the
efficiency of such organizations. Bot
the mere creation of a central organ
ization will in nowise diminish the
efforts of the Amercus Board of
Trade to persistently advertise Amer>
ieus and Sumter county, and contin-
uously parade their advantages and
opportunities to the public Without
conceit, and with no desire to dis
parage other communities and coun-
ties, it can be safely asserted that the
advantages and opportunities offered
by Americas and Sumter county are
so superior to those offered by the
vast majority of Georgia towns and
counties, that Americas and Sumter
county are in a class almost by them,
selves. The work of rs Board of Trade
must necessarily be along somewhat
different lines from those OF many
other localities in the state. But while
no one here would countenance any
thing tending to destroy or minimize
the autonomy of the local Board IF
Trade, it can gladly unite hands with
other similar organizations in any
thing that promises benefits for the
state as a whole.
The reason men don't understand