Bismarck daily tribune., 1912-03-06
COMMERCIAL bodies
BECOMING POWERFUL

WASHINGTON, D. c., March g.
A survey of the activities Of the loca
commercial organizations of the Uni
ted States, including chambers o
commerce, boards of trade, mercl
| ants associations, and similar bodie
engaged in the promotion of the com
mercial and industrial interest o
their respective districts, has beer
commenced by the bureau OF manu-
factures. department of commerce
and labor. This investigation is ex
pected to produce important result:
in extending the usefulness of these
associations.
Few people realize how powerful
these commercial bodies have become
in the United States and how vita.
a factor they are in commercial and
industrial progress. They now mum
Der nearly 5000, with memberships
ranging from a few score each tC
large organizations Like the Boston
Chamber of Commerce or the Chi
cago Association of Commerce
thousands of members, and exercis
ing activities covering a wide range
of interests.
The position of secretary of an
active commercial association is now
a very responsible one, commanding
high talent for service and the work
ic pooJ1x a nrnfock,i1p ;.;,, n
careful training, wide experience, and
excellent judgement.
There was a period not long ago
when the Chamber Of Commerce
in most cities was little more than
a name. Little real or practical ser.
vice was accomplished. This state
of affairs still exist in some localities
but the active commercial organiza.
tions in hundreds of cities are setting
a splendid example OF efficient ser:
vice. The Bureau of Manufactures
feels that there is very valuable
record to be made of this service in
its multifarious branches.
There has been thus far compare
lively little relation or corporation
between such organizations in dif.
ferent parts of the country. Much
useful service is being carried on in
certain active associations, which
should be established in commercial
bodies everywhere, to the enormous
advantage of the whole country not
only commercially but in such fields
as in the development of better hous
ing conditions, parks, transporta
tions, charities, ETC., etc.
The publication by the Bureau OF
Manufactures Of such a careful and
comprehensive survey of conditions
all over the Uniter States is a task
very definitely within the functions
grasted to the bureau by law, which
assigns to it the duty Of collecting
useful information" for the promo
tion of manufacturers.
This is only one of many subjects IL
the field of commercial promotion
which that branch of the government
will take up as rapidly as possible
Other matters which may later re.
ceive attention by the Bureau are
packing for Domestic Shipment,
Commercial Museums" Location
of Industries" and similar factors of
general interest to the manufacturers
of the United States.
The Bureau has a similar oppor-
tunity and accomplidhes much the
same promotive service in relation
to commercial and manufacturing in.
terests that certain of the bureaus Of
the department of agriculture &C,
complish for the farmer. AS the
work of this bureau develops, it will
be more widely recognized that the
bulletins and circulars are bringing
business and profits to manufacturers
just as the Farmers Bulletins" of
the department of agriculture have
led to larger crops and better prices,
and added enormously to the value
Of agricultural land areas.
Although the bureau devotes much
attention to the extension of Ameri-
can foreign commerce and has been
an efficient factor in its development,
it should be realized that 95 per cent
of the total product of manufactured
articles of the United States is con-
sumed at home. Mr.. Baldwin, the
chief of the Bureau, has invited atten-
ton in his annual report to the vast
field of service for his office in aiding
in developing domestic commerce in
ways open only to federal bureau.
A widespread distribution of the
results of the useful and constructive
investigations by commercial agents
of the bureau to factors in domestic
trade cannot fail to be of great value
to commercial interests.