Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-05-21

What Greater Omaha Needs.
OMAHA, May 1910 the Editor OF The
Bee; There has been much talk about
the good that would be accomplished by
a consolidation of Omaha, South Omaha
and Dundee into Greater Omaha We
should have had a merger into one city
years ago. for there IL always strength
in numbers. But fail to see just how
consolidation in itself lie to make more
progressive and a more prosperous city.
The mere fact that these cities have
united will not alone bring outside in
vestment and capital here; neither will
conventions do it. / vouch the statement
that, outside a few merchants, conven-
lions have never been of benefit to the
city at large. They have never brought
People in our midst who were to stay nor
have they brought invested capital in
business enterprises. They do advertise
our city. however. and anything tending
TO do that cannot be overlooked. but the
greatest factor in developing a city is the
push behind its Commercial club. This city
IL fortunate in having one of the most
wideawake. live-wire Commercial clubs In
the country. but regardless of this they
have overlooked one thing which, II
properly developed. would make this city
really q greater Omaha in wealth, pros
perity and population.
Several days ago a friend Of mine,
central Nebraska banker. expressed sur
prise at the fact that the Omaha Com
nercial club had failed to bring auto
mobile factories TO this city He informed
me that the freight on Ford cars from
Detroit 70 Nebraska points was approx
mately $50 and that no parts Of the cer
was now protected by patents.
As his business brings him in contact
with the farmers OF his vicinity and sec
ton Of the state he is in a position to
know the kind of car the average farmer
Is able to buy. In his opinion a good
cheap car would always find ready
sale IN Nebraska
1t his been a source of surprise to many
people in Omaha why the capitalists have
| not organized a company for the manu-
| featuring OF cheap. durable cars. similar
IN some respects. but better in others. to
THE Ford cars. Some of the millions now
going to the great Michigan factory
would thereby be kept and expended In
| Omaha. h
The tributary country for sales would
be large. Most of the eastern freight
would be saved by shipping cars made in
| Omaha to Nebraska. western Iowa. the
Dakotas. and western and southern
points. and this could be figured in on
the building cost OF the machines.
Shis section OF the country IL strictly
agricultural In lts pursuits. and where
| the farmer must depend on the success
/ of his crops for prosperity he Is in nc
| position to buy high priced cars. He IL
looking for an automobile that will give
him satisfactory service and one within
his means.
The time Is ripe for the organization
of an automobile factory in Omaha, and
there is no reason why such plant
backed by men OF ability such as we can
proudly point to in our city. should moi
meet with instant success, because We
have the advantage OF freight rates and
location not enjoyed by Mr.. Ford. The
raw materials can be shipped here from
the mills about Chicago practically al
cheap as Detroit gets II.
II would not be amiss for our CONNER
cial club TO take under serious consider
alton the feasibility OF such a sugges-
ton now that they are boosting for q
Greater Omaha. c. r. WALSH.
1O22 Park Avenue.