The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-05-26
GENERAL RESUME OF REJUlRE-t
MENTs IN uPRulLnlNG COM.
MuNlTlES.
DIV Charles H. Dlckey, chairman Of
the Greater Baltimore Committed

.(By Charles II. Dlckey, chairman OF
the Greater Baltimore Committed
There is reason for the fierce COM
petition between cities for the acquis-
ttion Of new industries and expansion
of trade territory. There is a grow
ing consciousness that 1t means a
struggle for survival; that those COM
munities only will survive and remain
prosperous which furnish employment
to enable their inhabitants to live
comfortably.
No social institution exists except in
RESPONSE to a well.defined need. The
competition for industries and trade IS
no exception. This need has Its tap
root in the demands and the llmita-
ton Of those demands, Of the social
organization as whole for method
Of producing and distributing the ne
cessities and luxuries OF life ina man.
ner to best promote the physical and
moral well being of all the people.
The last two or three decades have
witnessed q revolution in methods OF
production and distribution. growing
out OF thei Increasing intelligence OF
the populace which demands as neees-
stiles what were erstwhile Injuries;
and this demand has had Its reflex IN
the stimulation Of invention and OF
productive industries.
The savage living in the forest in a
barker wigwam is content with a bed
Of leaves, and the quarry of the chase
satisfies his inner wants and provides
him with simple habilfments; the bar
barian lives in a tent of skins, and his
needs are supplied by the fruit of the
field and the products yielded by his
flocks and herds; pastoral people
demand houses as homes, with betit-
ting equipment and better food.
The common school system, which
includes high schools in the country,
has educated the present generation
in this country to demand the COM
forts and conveniences of advanced
civilization. Industry has responded
to the demand, and has drawn many
Of the workers from the country to
make up the urban population. me
cities have filled up with country peo'
pie, converted into artisans and work
ers in the marts Of trade. The cities
in consequence, are over-fulll, and the
army of the unemployed demands
work and wages to live. Large NUM-
beers OF these workers are but a little
way ahead OF want, IL not actually In
need, and each city has Its struggles
to keep employed those at work, al
living wages. ~.
society has grown in completely
and while the city has filled with the
people from the farms, the country
districts themselves are rapidly In
crcasing in population; and all De
mand the products Of handlcratt anc
modern machinery.
The South and West are neglectlnl
their heretofore neglected lands, ant
n steady tide Of immigration pouri
| into both city and country. Science
has reduced the death-rate by tindint
1.-THE antidotes for disease, which as
slsts In augmenting the population
Notwithstanding the rapid increast
of population, the growth OF industrial
development has more than kept pace
There is a limit to the purchasing
mower OF the people, and this hmt
Functions in limiting the number OF In
dustrial establishments. The compe
htion between cities, therefore, is t
secure for themselves as many Of tn
productive establishments as they pos
H sibly can, and cultivate the trade tel
ritory for business to keep them g
ling and to constitute themselves tn
4 market centers for their products. Y
fail In the accomplishment OF TIL
Imeans city's retrogresslon; and re
Iltrogresslon means not only lack Q
| prosperity, but also OF civic deYeloI
ment
So keenly are these facts realize
THAT today evn the small towns hay
|IorgQnlzed their commercial clubs
chambers Of commerce, boards q
trade and similar organizations II
tended to secure and promote indus
Itries. Fifty or more cities have 81
listed the assistance Of communh
builders, promotion secretaries VIII
have made o profound study Of ect
nomic conditions and municipal need'
a And they are a dynamic lot, tn
community promotion expert must b
dozen. kinds Of genius rolled int
one. He must have an intimat
knowledge. Of men and affairs, and
industrial and commercial condition