The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-12-29
CLARK, REED AND
stone TO BE SOUGHT
Commercial Club Decides to Con-
vince Government Big Plant
Should Be Here.
QUICK ACTION NEEDED
Mercer ID. Wilson Pleads With
Business Men Not to
Delay Campaign.

DSl1E SohhFoI6h'
approximately forty business men
braycd the blizzard last night to at
tend the special meeting at the Com
mercial Club to discuss the Cape's
plans to secure The ST, 100000 Gov
erumcnt armor plate plant for this
city.
The meeting was adjourned after
motion had been passed 10 have a
representative of the Cape go 70
Washington and ascertain what Cape
Girardeau's chances are to land the.
plant. Senator r. b. Oliver was the
unanimous choice of the meeting This
special representative, however, will
not be named until today. when the
Executive Committee of the club will
meet at noon.
The meeting was presided over by
NJ. Z. Lcming, the newly-elected pres
idcnt, in the absence Of President Car
ter. who could not attend because of
important business matters. At the
opening of the meeting, Mr.. Leming
had the secretary READ the brief that
had been prepared to be sent to the
representatives of Missouri in Con-
gress.
This brief contained a list of the
advantages Cape Girardeau enjoys
over its competitors. The advanta-
geous location of Cape Girardeau is
dealt with at length. Cape Girardeau
is described as the center of a large
coal and ore mining district with rail-
road and steamer facilities equal to
any town in the United States.
The brief then illuminated this clty's |
Notifications against floods, which |
endanger several towns that are try
ing to secure this plant. Cape Girar- |
deau is the highest place along the
Mississippi River, and at no time has
it ever been threatened by high water, |
the brief shows.
The educational advantages offered
by Cape Giradeau over other cities
that are applying for this plant are
given attention also.
1t is shown that the children of those |
to be employed in the plant can re- |
ceive a thorough education at the Nor
NAL and in the excellent public schools
of this city.
Cane Girardeau is the most central |
ly located city of those considered as
suitable locations for the plant. 1t is
accessible by rail and by steamer. The |
latter facility would aid the shipment
of ore from Cuba, if this is necessary |
for the manufacture of the armor
plate. the brief explains.
After the statement was read gen
eral discussion was entered upon as
to what should be done to enlist the
AID of the Representatives and Scna-
tors of Missouri. 1t was finally de-
cided to send one man to Washington
to urge that Cape Girardeau be given
a hearing.
This man must be a citizen who
has the general interest of our city
at heart" Mercer d. Wilson SAID in
sponsoring this idea. 1--WE must get
busy at once, for Cairo. our strongest
competitor, has had three men III
Washington for the past three weeks
studying the situation and making the
preliminary arrangements for sccur-
ing this plant for that town. We
want immediate action"
He was opposed to having the Ex-
ecutive Committee appoint the special
representative, and insisted that he be
named by the chairman of the meet
ing, and be asked to start for Wash |
ingtOn at once.
Otto KOchtitzky, dwelt upon the fact |
that persistence was the only thing !
that would bring results. He men,
toned the fact that PemiScOt County, |
some years ago, nothing but swamp |
land. through the persistent efforts Of
its representatives, had succeeded in
inducing the Government to build a
levee and in that way protect the
county from floods.
THAT is what we will have to do. |
Be persistent in our efforts and not
rest until we have secured this plant
for Cape Girardeau," ha said.
Fred Naeter said it wOGld be i'm
possible to accomplish anything in
Washington, unless the Senators and