El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-30
Coz. Mcdonald L7Oifes the
CITY To Come In With Them
Mrs KOhiberg Makes Plea For More Beautiful City;
Holt Of Deming Praises the Spirit of the Southwest
Y. R. Stiles Makes Recommendations to Cham
Der of Commerce; GridirOn Club Makes
Many Laugh; Big Gathering at the
Annual Dinner of the Chamber.

Urls CITY
Membership Increase.
'The increase of membership as re-
ported by the membership committee
is gratifying, although a better rec
ord should be shown. Davenport
Iowa, has population of $4,000 with
q chamber of commerce Of more Ihan
LOO members. It is claimed that OIL
City, Pennsylvania, leads the world
in the per capita membership Of ITS
commercial organization, having. z'z34
members, with a population OF S 2nly
Mexico, contributes annually $1,000 to
the chamber of commerce Of that
town; while there are in FL Paso
number better able, and several, based
on the value Of their holdings, VINO
could give from three to five times as
much; who DO not contribute one
penny towards the maintenance OF an
organization which is supported for
the purpose Of furthering their inter
ests.
Conventions and Excursions.
El PaSO has gained something or a
reputation as convention city, par
dCularly of knowing how to so enter
tain visitors as to create desire for
q return as soon as possible. The
city is entitled to credit for the very
favorable manner in which 1t acted
as host to the Texas Cattle RaiSerS'
association in March, 1913, and is
anXiOusly awaiting the opportunity to
demonstrate how much better II can
na0ule the 1919 convention OIL the ran
handle and Southwestern StOckmenS'
association, which it expects to Sc
"The 1913 Trade excursion to Ari-
ZCna and New Mexico was probably
the most successful of any run under
the auspices of this organization.
School of Mines.
1.-THE effort to successfully conclude
plans for establishing in this city
state school of mines has been re-
tarded in several ways and obstacles
have been encountered which seemed
az times almost insurmOuntable. The
people of FL Paso who have its fu-
ture good at heart are interested in
this move, and we feel positive they
will support the new board IN any
reasonable effort toward securing an
institution which will surely in a few
years be one of her most valuable as
sets, and something to which every
one can point with pride.
Permanent Agricultural Exhibit.
''The board has been much inter-
ested in securing a creditable agricul-
turaI and horticultural display as a
permanent exhibit in the chamber Of
commerce building. Anyone must ad-
nit that q party reaching this city
from the east, as well as for like
distance west would find little
evidence of rich farm lands here, and
could not be censured Tor asserting
that there was no such thing with
in several hundred miles of this place.
Large amounts Of money are being,
and will be spent to get people here
; II see these lands; when the most ef-
7 fective advertising possible, and at a,
nominal cost could be had by taking
advantage of the fact that thousands
o. people now stop here every year,
may of whom could easily be inter-
ested in farm lands.
Manufacturers Exhibit.
Failing for the time being in get
ting a display of valley products, it
was planned to install an attractive
exhibit of Ell Paso manufactured ar
1 ticles, which, much to our regret, has
1 not been much more of a success than
the former scheme. When we consider
! that a conservative estimate of the
number of strangers that could be in
| dCced to view such an exposition
would number 10000 is anyone justi-
fled in stopping to ask if it is worth
Progress 1913.
THAT the growth Of FL Paso cannot
| be retarded by any ordinary adverse
conditions has been proved by the i'm
/ proVements made in the year 1913.
Among the building activities may be
mentioned the starting OF work on the
Fort Bliss enlargement, water works
extension and Improvement, continued
| good roads work, city street paving,
and miles added to our cement side
walks sewer extensions, Smelter en-
/ largement, completion of the valley
{ interurban, extension of the city street
car lines, the development of Manhat-
I tan Heights, completion Of the First
| National bank skyscraper, the Crom-
! bic wholesale produce house, and the
modern home of the Western Wood
( enWare company.
"As proof Of the growth of Ell PasO
commercially 1t may be mentioned
that the bank elearings are greater.
/ than any preceding year.
Expected Progress In 1914.
THE contemplated Improvements Of
/ the current year, among other things
| include a new and modern High school
. LII
timated cost of $350,00O, a magnifi-
cent municipal building, county road
| building costing approximately $780,,
! 600, partial construction of the NEST
scenic highway, parking and other
ways Of beautifying the Franklin
canal at cost of $500. 900, new home
OF the Union Bank & Trust company;
Commercial National bank building,
First NJ. z church, identifying the
new addition at the top of the mesa
at a great cost, continued construc-
ton of handsome homes and apart
ments, which means additional paving
and street railway mileage.
Fort Bliss Enlargement.
"Of great Importance to the people
of FL PasO are the government plans
for the enlargement of Fort Bliss. The
total cost of new construction at Fort
, Bliss in charging this from squad
ron to a regimental post will ulti-
mately be approximately S550,000, and
the expenditures this year in construc-
ton viii amount to $350.000.
Elephant Butte Project.
1.-THE close of the year 1914 should
see the great Elephant Butte dam
reach a stage where water can be
stored, after which time the prosper
ity Of the valley should be a GER
tainty
Retail Merchants Committee.
eve wOul1 recommend the creation
( Of a retail merchants committee with
one Of the directors as chairman. for
the purpose of looking more closely
after the interests Of this important
part of the chamber of commerce
membership. and also through them
keen in closer touch with the general
I public.
Trade Reciprocity.
AN opportunity viii certainly be