Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-09-24
How TO BUILD
Up PINE BLUFF
II. &. SPAjLDING, OF COMMERCIAL
LEAGUE, TELLS OF BORDER
CITY METHODS.
BUILD UP AROUND YOU
Civic Pride An Essentin!-D0n't BE
Selfish and Give Lib
orally.

The home of the good citizen is
the town in which he dwclls," said H
c. Spaulding, business manager for
the Fl. Smith Commercial League Fri
day night in addressing the members
of the new Pine Bluff Chamber of
Commerce at Eagles Hall. Bear in
mind this is my town, for pride and
loyalty is necessary to bring about
progress and development.
And with these Introductory re-
marks the hustling Border City town
builder launched into lengthy review
of what the Commercial League by
system and uninterrupted hard work
has done for the Sebastian county
metropolis. He told of the workings
of the Commercial League. how it
started under unfavorable conditions,
but by persistent methods finally
brought that city to the front among
many of the larger cities Of the
Southwest.
He argued that a city to be push
ed forward must first be in order
Civic pride must be in evidence It
must have good sidewalks and paved
streets, plenty of them; good sewer
age and attractive public buildings and
business houses. And these latter two
essentials are of prime Importance. A
he said, considers first the appearance
of city he visits.
Mr.. Spaulding declared that the i'm
provement district system hade done
more to bring Fort Smith "out" than
anything else. The whole city was put
in one Improvement district. The citi-
zans entered into contract at one
time 20 pave seventy-one miles Of
streets and they specified that the Wit
rified brick used in paving them
should be purchased and made in Fl
Smith. Oil on macadam roads leading
to that city was big success, al
though new experiment with them.
He referred several times to the big
free highway bridge that is being CON-
pleted across the Arkansas river be-
tween Fort Smith and Van Buren,. The
bridge, he stated, will not cost exceed
ing $550,000 and it has already re-
suited in "a joint street railway sys-
tenn. connecting the two towns
This is the plan, according to Mr..
Spaulding, that will win success for
any commercial body. First, he said,
all business organizations should be
under one head. Second, the revenue
of one dollar per capita Third, give
everybody something for their mon
ey.
The speaker described how the Com
mercial League of Fort Smith was
maintained. The individual members.
such as clerks, lawyers, doctors and
others not ordinarily interested in
business concerns, were admitted to
membership for 81 month. Whole
sale houses and other big concerns
are assessed just as much annually as
1t is thought they can stand. The
public service corporations in Fort
Smith pay $50 month to help MAIN
tain the commercial club, every re-
taller pays SO month and real es-
tate men the same amount. One real
estate man, who is more successful
than the others, voluntarily pays $50
month into the League treasury.
There are many prominent women In
Fort Smith who hold a membership
card in the Commercial League. They
asked to be admitted as members. be-
cause. the speaker said, they wanted
to have their part in the success that
was being obtained. The CONNER
cial League there also handles the
charities of the city and the women
identified with charitable organize
tions cooperate with that body in
central zing the work.
This state is no longer joke" de-
clsred Mr.. Spaulding. ut used to be
looked on as such. but If anything the
Joke Is on the other fellow, who aid
not discover its many advantages and
Tesources earlier in the day. The
trorble with the people of Arkansas