Semi-weekly herald., 1915-06-03
EXCHANGE WILL BE
A BIG SUCCESS

O1Ierent people look at tne same
things from different standpoints, and
their conclusions or deductions as 20
facts which may be offered on any
subject will vary most wonderfully.
People will live in locality for years
familiar with the conditions of their
environment in every detail, and yet
a stranger will come along and see
something of value that has escaped
the eye of many old residents. If
given an encouraging reception from
the people generally. the stranger
will proceed to develop his new idea
to the benefit of the community as u
whole.
But, if the residents shrug their
shoulders doubtfully, raise the incred-
ulous eyebrow and start an element
of doubt in the mind of the strang-
er, he pauses. Then if several per-
sons will go to him and try to sell
thor property or their business, the
finishing touch has been placed and
the stranger passes on to other
waiting fields.
One Of the most striking examples
of the mental attitude of a town
raising it from threatened apathy to
life and hope and development is our
neighboring mining camp Silverton.
From condition bordering on dis
couragement the mining business ot
Silverton has been lifted to one of
future certainty and hope. Why?
Because the people of that town have
decided that the biggest mines, the
richest veins of mineral and the grand
est opportunities exist in their min
ing district to be found anywhere in
the world. And they not only believe
this themselves but they impress
it on every visitor;they get out at
uactive literature, they welcome the
stranger to their city, they put their
money into their own mining pros
poets
And what las wrought this trans
formation in Silverton? Ask any resi-
dent Of inat busy camp and he will
say III n manner that admits of no
ioutt, why our Commercial club, Of
course"
And tbs is the truth. The Silver
ton Commercial club, backed by a
bunch If men who saw the necessity
Of infusing life and activity in their
camp, was the means whereby indi-
viaual prejudice and opinions were
laid to one side, and the business
and mining men furnished up a club
room where they might get together
il a social way and have a center
for every rutlic activity. And after
this sociability had progressed short
way. men VIC had before then look
cd with tttlntss ON others, soon found
that they We're not such bad fellows
after all. And on closer acquaintance,
/ it was found that the suspected party
was a good sport and loyal friend.
1t soon became easier to boost the
other fellows business and prospects,
and soon the entire town caught the
joy Of boosting Silverton came
on the map, never to take another
backward step as long as the business
men and residents maintain the Com
mercial club ut its present STANDARD.
When stranger reaches Silverton he
gets polite invitation from Secretary
Holman to make the Commercial club
his headquarters while in the city, is
given a visiting card and enjoys the
billiard and card tables, the reading
room, the magnificent mineral display
and is made to feel welcome. No dis
cordant note is in the air. No knock
er, for if there ever was one of
this species in Silverton he has taken
his leave.
And the impression a stranger gets
of Silyerton is a good one, and he
scatters this news wherever he goes.
1t is said that the establishment of
the new oil flotation method in Sill
verton is result of the Commercial
clubs work.
Let us see if the new Durango
Businessmen's Exchange will not eff
feet as desirable result for Durango
as Silverton's Conmercial club has
done for Silverton.
The foundations of greater San
Juan basin and, of course, great
ed Durango, must be the develop
ment of the resources that abound on
every side. Are we sending too
much money out for articles that we
should produce and manufacture here !?
he balance of trade is too heavy
against this section to admit of any
argument on this point? Are we ex-
porting as much livestock, wool, po-