The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-11-08
THE CHAMBER or CoMAlERoE.
Citizens Of Sumter Must Support Or
g~an'zation, II They Wish II to Con.
tiauc Work for Good of Commun.
ity.

Do tho people Of Sumter want a
Chamber Of Commerce? +
We lind II necessary to put this
proposition up to the people of the
city Of Sumter In a very practical
form. The Chamber of Commerce has
struggled through the past year with
inadequate support. and II 1t is to
continue It's work the people of SUM
ter. a great many more of them than
are now contributing TO it's support
are going to have to come to It's aid.
We believe that the Chamber of
Commerce has done and is doing a
valuable work for the city and coun-
". We have not deemed 1t a suitable
time to undertake to finance new in
dustries and In view of the non-suc-
cess of several heretofore undertake.
en-, We r very doubtful about this
being the chief end of a Chamber Of
Commerce.
The Chamber Of Commerce has.
However. secured the establishment in
the city Of the Tobacco Warehouse.
Sumter Roller Mills. has made
at least partial arrangements for the
purchase OF surplus live stock. and
has looked after many other things
that go to make Sumter a better
market for farm produce. In an ag-
riculturally supported community such
ours no more permanently been
ncial work can be done for q city.
We have also aided materially in
the edcational work necessary to pre-
u section for the coming OF
the boil weevil. The value of this
work will be more appreciated later.
The Chamber Of Commerce took the
Initiative in securing for Sumter coun-
ty a portion Of the Hood relief fund
and has secured for the county 81, 200
from this source. which has been used
give employment T. food sufferers
the public roads in the county. It
has constantly loked to increase the
good will Of the people Of the county
and tributary trade territory.
These are only q few of the more
phases Of the work which
tho body il doing for the city, to say
nothing Of the minor matters, such
INK .M NJ 49, - .AN ~ rel - 80 a.
~ answering inquiries from prospec-
tive corners and Industries seeking
new locations. and much routine work
81 that character.
Il - generally conceded that no
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AFFORD 10
y without commercial body or
Chamber OF Commerce. But gentle
men, We cannot have q Chamber or
without funds with which
o run II, quarters. the salary Of al
secretary. and II any considerable
work Is done. some clerical assistance
must be provided for. Enough to
even these essentials has new
" been subscribed for 1915, and OF
he amounts subscribed a material
has not been paid In. II the
Chamber Of Commerce Is to continue
lts work at least $500 has got to be
raised In the next 60 days. A Cham
Der Of Commerce for a town the size
Of Sumter cannot be run on less than
$4,000 a year and SO far very little
more than half of that amount has
been paid In. Neither the secretary
nor the directors can do good work
when a large part of this time must be
taken up In securing subscriptions
and collecting the amounts subscrib-
cd.
1t Ii up to the people Of Sumter to
say In a practical way whether or not
we shall have a Chamber of Com
merce. viii you do your part? The
time to act is now. Send In your
subscription to the treasurer.