Evening journal., 1916-01-14

days" and the automobile trade ex-
cursion through nearby rural terri
tory. "The year 1916 promises to be
more auspicious when we shall have
received some Of our yearly funds and
are III position to carry on "A more
comprehensive campaign" Mr. Sim
clair said.
Mr.. Sinclair told of the activities Of
the chamber in retaining former
Judge Gray as counsel and having
the car spotting" tariffs suspended.
"On February Is. 1915. our credit
rating bureau was started" added Mr.
Sinclair. The purpose of this bureau
is TO inform members Of the Chamber
of Commerce, with particular refer
ence to retail merchants, as to the
credit standing OF every local pur-
chaser who buys on credit. John f.
hrauss was engaged to conduct this
bureau under my supervision"
During the first year of its ex-
istence,. the Credit Rating Bureau has
not been expensive. During 1916. il
is TO be hoped that this Bureau will
be given more work and it Is certain
that its expense will be considerably
reduced
During the year 1915. we have
had approximately 103 inquiries OF
various kinds relative to the possi-
bility of locating new industries in
or near Wilmington. OF this number
three were going concerns of known
value and high-class reputation. These
three We're, of course, most to be de-
sired, because they We're gigantic en-
terprises, any one Of which would
have made a tremendous difference
in the industrial development Of the
city. Unfortunately, however, they
wanted, and insisted upon high, dry,
fast river land. It is a well-knOwn
fact that high, dry, fast river land in
large areas is not to be secured in
Wilmington. We lost these three in
dustries solely for this reason. or
the others it might truthfully be said
that many OF them showed good pros
pectuses and the individuals behind
/ them had good standing, but in every
case the inquiry for location was
coupled with the demand for free
land, free factory buildings, tax ex-
emptiOn. cash bonuses for overhead
, moving expenses, or made a part OF
some scheme to sell stock, float
bonds, or something similar
There has been in recent months
considerable criticism OF the Cham
ber of Commerce for not having
brought new industries to Whining
ton. I wish to point out very en-
phatically that this criticism. such
as it is. is absolutely unwarranted
when the facts are known.
"We have made every effort to in
duce industries from the smallest Il
the largest to move to Wilmington.
have spent days and days in Philadel
phia and made il a particular point t.
comb the Parkway, in Philadelphia
carefully for prospective new indus
tries; why we have been unsuccessful
may be attributed to one OF three pos
sible reasons:
J Because we have, as everyonl
knows. no fund. or source OF fund
with which to buy land or factorie
to present free or to pay taxes, Of
cash bonuses. The board Of director
long ago took the position that tn
Chamber OF Commerce should net b
made a party to any stock selling
scheme. it being considered the safe
policy to protect our membership a
much as possible against investing i
companies Of improved value;
Because we have no high, dry. fas
land on the Delaware River
( Because industries, which are no
forced to beg favors, moving. or abUu
to move, know what they want an
where they want it, and consequent
go where they please and all tn
Chambers of Commerce on earth coul
not stop them.
"Reverting again to the criticism
that the Chamber Of Commerce ha
not located new Industries. we too
the trouble, a short while ago, to in
quire of the presidents of sixty-fv
representative commercial organiza
tions throughout the country as {
what had been their experience on th
subject of new industries.
"If time and space permitted me
to reproduce their replies in detai
they would make an extremely inter
esting story. I shall be very glad t
onOW AllS bAAbAAdl .AtpAlto " an W
who will call at my Office for {, en-
Suffice it to say. however. that onl
Eight out of a total of sixtv-five ha
obtained a single new industry dur
ing the past year.
1T IS continually pointed out tha
/, Chester gets the industries wort
= While, and wonder is expressed tba
we cannot land them here. ] re
, spectfully submit that there is
great difference between Chester an
! Wilmington. To start with, Cheste
is directly located on real deep wa
ter and there have been, until re
Gently large tracts OF excellent rive
land available. Chester's river from
is traversed by two direct railroad
to Philadelphia, and Chester is thiI