The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-12-19

the line was operated for the first
time only few weeks ago.
A line was run to Morton park but
will not be operated until spring.
Hold Park Opening.
A large and unusual park opening
was held on the grounds surrounding
Morton lake. Until shortly after
July 4, the park was a summer recrea-
ton place for the city. Digging for
sewers and other improvements start
ed soon after that time and the
grounds have been torn up since then
in an effort to have the park ready
for living purposes next spring.
In the interests Of the park opening,
two 70mile booster trips were con-
Quoted by the club and Richmond
was literally boosted and exploited
In all towns within a radius of thirty
miles.
The club was active in the campaign
against the 100000 subsidy sought by
Eugene B. Purtelle to build traction
line and through the Richmond ef-
forts, the subsidies were defeated
throughout the several counties, thus
keeping in their treasures more than
100000.
Club Launches Charity.
One of the biggest accomplishments
was the formation of tie Central
Charity bureau. This is got a Com
mercial club idea but the organization
credit belongs to the club. The Com
mercial club has also headed Belgian
relief fund collections in the city.
The growth of the club was greater
this year than it was last year and
while the accomplishments are not as
apparent in 1914, tks. organization is
much better organized for the work
next year than ever before. The
membership was increased to 700 by
a campaign and get-together banquets
were held at times for the new men,
bers.
The Richmond Commercial club in
dicated the reputation it has achieved
in the state by being called on to
organize the Marion and Hartford City
manded organizations from the same
plan the Richmond club organized.
The club was improved and the
1cope of the activities widened this
year by revision of the constitution
months and the club now has a per-
feet set of laws.
Entertain City Boosters.
Marion and Cincinnati boosters were
so satisfactorily entertained that the
reputation of the city and club receiv-
ed boosts.
The taxation committee of the Com
mercial club has been the most active
during the past year. 1t has held
many meetings and collected some un.
n, 4
led taxation until they have been able
to suggest the best methods of stand
ardizing and undermining taxation and
assessment in Indiana. The clubs
activities have made taxation students
out of many Richmond citizens and
the fact that real interest is felt was
shown by Richmond having had the
largest attendance at the last taxation
conference in Indianapolis.
Wants Taxation Reform.
In the line of legislation, the club
has worked chiefly on the taxation
plan. The legislation committee has
also taken up the municipal govern
ment laws of Indiana for criticism and
may make recommendations to the
legislature in 1915 for changes which
will better the charters of Indiana
cities.
One of the clubs biggest achieve
ments would have been the lowering
of the fire insurance rates, had not
the administration been unable to i'm
mediately carry out all the demands.
The club has pushed the work to the
point where only the expenditure of
money by the city is holding back the
reduction. A partial reduction was re-
fused in order to take advantage of
greater reduction in the near future.
The improvements Of the library
were brought about through the meet
ings conducted by the club which
brought Charles N. Sanborn. a state
librarian here to study the Morrisson-
Reeves institution and suggest mod
ern changes.
Makes Credit Book.
The merchants section completed a
new credit rating book a week ago,
the biggest the club has made. 1t con
tains more than 10000 names.
Interest has been taken in all civic
affairs and movements. The club has
been behind almost all campaigns Of
every kind They brought several
conventions to the city during the
year All musical affairs have turned