The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-01-14

lOloWlnR LOT your considerations:
First, l desire to express the sim
cere appreciation of the officers and
committee chairman for the loyal and
tireless support given the organiza-
ton by the membership. Whenever
called upon, members of the various
committees have given freely and un-
grudgingly valuable time for the
community good. The spirit in which
the voluntary service was rendered
has been source of genuine pleasure
to me and in looking back it occurs to
me that whatever may have been ac-
complished during the last year is
not the accomplishment of one man
nor of a small group of men but the
result OF a powerful, compact COM
mercial organization working consist
emily and enthusiastically through
good times and through hard times
with but single purpose-the ad-
vancement OF the city and its tribu-
tary territory.
The Caldwell Commercial club was
the hrst to adopt comprehensive ad-
yertislng plan during 1915. Ten
thousand pieces of literature were
printed and a large proportion of
them distributed during the wear.
over one thousand inquiries from
prospective settlers were handled bv
the club direct. the balance of the
advertising matter being distributed
through the following agencies: the
colonization department of the u. P.
railway; c. L. Blanchard in charge of
the government exhibit at San Fran
cisco; the Idaho exposition commits.
sion and local real estate firms.
Whether or not the advertising &C.
complished its purpose we do not
know. But we do know that there
has been a decided revival in real es-
tate transfers during the last six
months. 1t will perhaps not be vain
glorious to attribute part of the in
flux to the fact that the advantages of
Caldwell and tributary territory were
presented to the prospective settler in
an attractive and truthful manner.
The publication of the booklet Sc
cured for Caldwell the most valuable
of all publicity. Free newspaper art
icles commenting the progressiveness
and initiative of the Caldwell COM
munity in inaugurating an advertising
campaign at time when practically
every community was complaining
Justify of business depression" ap-
pearing in hundreds of Idaho and
northwestern newspapers. In middle
western and eastern papers the work
was also well received and in a num-
Der OF instances received favorable
mention.
With the cooperation of the city
officials your clubs secured a twenty
minute stop of Americas historic en-
blem, the Liberty Bell. This city was
one of the three scheduled stops made
in the state. With the exception of
the larger cities Caldwell was given
one of the longest stops on the en-
tire schedule, resulting in this city re-
ceiving much favorable publicity
throughout the country.
Under the direction of the enter
tainment committee complete patrio-
tic prgram was arranged covering the
entire day. One of the largest crowds
ever assembled viewed the bell and
participated in the celebration. Mem
bers of the party with the bell esti-
mated the number gathered to view it
at $4,000 and fully two-thirds took
part in the celebration which follow
ed. Five thousand souvenirs appro-
pirate to the occasion were distribut-
ed free to school children by the club
committee.
The annual chautauqua conducted
under the auspicies of the club was a
complete success. The chautauqua
committee readily disposed of suffic-
lent tickets to meet the guarantee and
in addition secured enough pledges
to assure the event for 1916. The
program presented last year was ex-
cellent and the week was one of rare
enjoyment and educational value to
the patrons. 1t is my belief that a
chautauqua is of great value to COM
munity, not only from an educational
and inspirational standpoint but also
because it appeals to the intelligent
citizenship of the surrounding coun-
try and attracts them to the city
where ii is held. resulting in ultimate
benefit to that city. A city is much
like a modern merchant who strives
to have prospective customers enter
his store. He knows that once they
have called and become acquainted it
is quite probable that when wanting
goods in his line they will return. In
attempting to broaden its trade terri
tory a city must first induce its pros
pective customers to pay II friendly
visit. Once the ice has been broken
IL is safe assumption that with trans
portation facilities and marketing
conditions being anywhere near equal
with its trade rivals a permanent town
customer has been gained.
As you are all probably aware the
board OF county commissioners last
year withdrew from our fair the an.
nual appropriation of $1,000, which
heretofore had been donated for the
payment of premiums. While this
was a staggering blow the fair offic-
ials announced plans for holding an
exposition of greater magnitude than
ever before A reorganization of the
association was affected with the pri-
mary object of charging its field of
operation to cover the entire state.
The name of the association was
changed from the Canyon County
Fair association to the Idaho State
Fair association.
The president, Mr.. B. NJ. Holt, and
the secretary, Mr.. J. B. Gowen. ap-