The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-08-19
HEAP of WORK IS
DONE by BOARD OF
COMMERCE
Review of Big Organizations Activ-
tiles for Past Few Months Shows
It Powerful and Persistent Force
In Promoting City's Progress.
Securing New Industries and Solv-
ing Municipal Problems Features Of
Fine Record Of Accomplishment.

While there is no special incident In
the activities OF the Board OF Com
merce that calls for a review OF It's
accomplishments since last April. the
recital OF events is more Of a strong
hppreciative realization OF the board 8
accomplishments of it's specific achieve
nights. II is also a tribute to the wide
membership the board enjoys among
citizens of standing In the commun'
ity. or vital interest to industrial De
troit Is the bringing of new industries
TO the city through the boards labors.
Since April /, there have come TO De-
troit the Henry & Wright Mfg. Co..
from Hartford, Conn. which started
with $50 men; the Continental Motor
Manufacturing Co., from Muskegon,
Mich, which employ about 1000 men,
and the Zenith Carburetor Co., from
Lyons, France. which will open its
shops with about so men.
In addition to these the board has
laid wires which will bring several
other large institutions OF great bene-
fit to the city. or benefit TO the house
holders i'm the city, is the Doaru's cam
paign for the $4,000 bond issue by
the water department. This depart
ment is now perfecting and extending
the water supply system of the com
immunity, giving employment TO hun
dreds or working men and placing the
city in position TO assure its nhab-
itants that IL is obtaining service un-
excelled I'm any large city of the Uni
ted States.
The board was very active, also sue.
cessful In Its work before the board
of estimates. Ten very important
items were In danger OF elimination,
and were restored by the intervention
of the Board of Commerce. and
Throughout the consideration OF the
liquor license problem, the board ex-
erted it's influence to have licenses de-
nied TO undesirables, with the result
that over 20 were finally driven out
of business. 1t discovered that fire
insurance bill was being railroaded
Through the legislature. which con-
tanned several clauses very harmful TO
Important Industries In Michigan. A
delegation was sent TO Lansing in con-
junction with other bodies and was
Buccessful In eliminating the undesir-
able parts of the bill.
A delegation OF Board of Commerce
members brought about the renovating
BIZ the inhuman cell block at Jackson
prison.
The part the board has played urg-
ng the passage of the reciprocity
agreement was very important bit
bf work, and a delegation of nine
prominent members which went 10
Washington. May II, to appear before
he finance committee, accomplished
what Ii set out for.
During the period OF four months
The board gave seven public luncheons
and the various men OF prominence
who spoke were greeted by an average
attendance OF $780, showing the desire
bf the Detroit business men to learn
rom those who have become eminent
n various walks OF life. In addition
o these about 90 committee luneheens
have been held, to make possible the
accomplishing OF some of the subjects
mentioned herein.
The board took a referendm vote OF
Is membership on the proposed re-
numbering OF Detroit streets, accord
ng TO the 100 number to block sys-
EN- The vote showed the members
overwhelmingly in favor OF the renum-
berlng, and after gathering all the
iata on the subject, II was presented
o the common council. The matter
now in the hands OF the ordinance
committee and will be brought up for
consideration by the council next
Tuesday evening.
The boards cruise to northern Mich
gan In June, did much toward cement
ng relations with the citizens OF up