The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-17
COMMERCIAL POSSIBILITIES

Morgan City's future is promis.
ing. The fulfillment of her pro-
misses is limited to the spirit and de-
sire of her citizens. Nature has ad-
apted her to big business. Procrasti-
nation has deprived her of her pat
rimony. There now appears in her
pathway a fork. To follow one
branch means to retrograde; the
other branch leads to greatness. The
turning point is undoubtedly close at
hand.
The discrimination of several of
the great lumber mills is matter of
frequent discussion. The owners adj
NIT it. It is stated from authorita-
tive sources that in another year
the great Ramos mills will have shut
down. The valuable payrolls of the
Brownell- Drews mill will be curtail-
ed if not entirely withdrawn in a
matter of four or five years. The
Gotten Bros. mill business has
been cut off. The Berwick mills
have gone. These mills have all been
meal-tickets for the merchants of
Morgan City. They have established
the property value of the commun-
ity. Their final withdrawal without
replacement by new concerns to
continue the payrolls will be a ser
ious blow to the economic interests
Of the city.
To exploit her advantages and to
supplement her payrolls, to in
crease the sales of her merchants
and to enhance the value of her
real estate, Morgan City few years
ago organized Chamber of Com
merce. This organization she gra-
ciously endowed with men high in
her business circles, men whom she
knew were wise, capable and in
tensely interested. She selected as
president man who would grace
any organization as the leading off,
Ger but a man whose every moment
IL filled with big personal affairs
demanding strictest attention, the
sighting Of which might incur dan
gerous damage. She selected as
secretary young man eminently
fitted mentally and temperamental-
~ for the post and asked him to neg
lect his vital personal affairs to pro-
mote her welfare These capable
officers have never hsitated an in
slant when chance came to their
hand to help their city. The citizens
have generously stood behind them
whenever they have been asked.
But, has there been systematic,
forcible, concerted, ha .monious
plan of actor? Do they not Justify
the intense. undivided, unrestricted
attention of man who has nothing
else in life except the advancement
Of Morgan ,-'ty? And wna, nta
m ong tn" a.-eadv-enS ag.l bust
ress men a:s citizens ca;i we ask
to lay aside his personal affairs and
look after our collective interest?
And ig we are fortunate enough to
find man among our citizenship
who is willing to undertal the
work, would we ever give him full
and unbiased support? Is the phro-
phet ever appreciated in his own
country?
It is worth every dollar Of the
cost to the Morgan City to place her
future in the hands of an expert. It
Is worth every dollar it may cost to
supply him with the sinues of the
war for recognition which he can
wage. With the cooperation Of the
entire citizenship there will be no
drain and no strain on any individ-
ual. Five hundred dollars per month
devoted to the advar cement of the
city will barely DO til work. A sec
rotary who is big enough for the job
will demand $3.50 a month. IF he
isn't worth at least this figure the
city cant use him. His salary will
justify him in devoting his entire
energy to exploiting the city and
territory in the manner
it deserves. The cost will come
quickly back to those who pay.
After all, the object is perhaps
selfish, but why not make it an en-
lightened selfishness that will tend
10 increase not only individual gain
but gain for the entire city.
Let's 60 after the things to be
rotten. Let's realize that we must
~ for these things and let's un-
|erstand when We start in that
here It no man on earth big enough ,
0 build up our city unless we show ,
im that we are solidly behind him.