Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1919-03-28
BOARD OF COMMERCE.
ANNUAL MEETING, WE'LL AT
TENDED sEcRETARY's RE-
PORT INTERESTING.

Business men, professional men and
farmers to the number Of eighty at
tended the first annual meeting Of the
Little Falls Board Of Commerce, held
at the Elks' hall Monday evening. The
meeting was rousing one and all felt
that much had been accomplished dur
ing the year just closed and that the
coming year should be made a big one
for this city. .,'-
j. J. Hilbe, president Of the st. Cloud
Commercial Club and Frank Fandel and
C. j. Ladner Of that city were at the
meeting, the guests of the board, as
were the members of the local basket
ball team and their coach, Frank Hall,
and the new bandmaster, w. J. Schlies-
mann.
AT. $3.50 p, M, a good lunch consist
ing Of mashed potatoes and gravy, bok-
ed beans, roast pork, pickles, buttered
buns and coffee, was served. F. R..
Ziske had charge of the feed.
The business session was called to
order by Chairman j. w. Stephenson,
after which w. E. Olson, the board Is
secretary, read his annual report on the
years work and his suggestions for the
coming year.
Mr.. Olson, in his report, first review
ed the war activities, which during the
portion of his time as secretary and OF
the members, in various ways. He said
that the Board Of Commerce offices
might we'll have been called the Govern
ment War Office. The food administra-
tors and fuel administrator office
were for a time located in this office,
but their detail work grew so heavy
that special help was required. Early
in May the board helped put over the
Third Liberty Loan, the drive being
conducted through this office. As such
an agency the organization IS office was
found to be very valuable and of much
advantage. Other work done was the
handling of the Red Cross second war
fund drive; assisting the home service
section of the Red Cross chapter; put
ting on the War Savings drive in June,
1918; the United War Work Drive; and
now the Armenian and Syrian Relief
drive.
A bureau for returning soldiers and
sailors is maintained at the office under
the supervision Of D. NJ. Cameron, its
object being to assist returning soldiers
and sailors in securing employment.
Much assistance was rendered in the
Fourth Liberty Loan drive; the home
guard company was endorsed and boost
ed. :
In the line Of public and other activ:
tiles Mr.. Olson pointed out that the
club had conducted the community pic
mic last June, which was marked sue
cess; the Fourth of July celebration
was handled to a large extent through
the board; much publicity matter was
prepared for the Fire Relief committee
last fall; the aid of the board was offer.
ed the mayor during the influenza cpl.
demic; President Stephenson: attended
the hearing before the state railroad
and warehouse commission November
26, in regard to the proposed increase
in telephone rates, but in which, forum
ately, this city was not affected; the
band proposition was taken up and
through the boards efforts bandmast.
er has been secured and is now here.
Mr.. Olson mentioned street improve
ments as one of the most important
things to work for the coming year.
Important matters relating to agri
cultural development have received the
attention of the agricultural bureau, he
said. He mentioned among these the
offer of the Minnesota Sugar company
of Chaska to send an expert here to
address interested agriculturists on the
subject Of raising sugar beets, which
proposition will likely be accepted; the
bureau appearing Before the county
board relative to the putting on of an
exhibit by this county at the state fail
next fall; attention has been given to
bills before the legislature and work
done along this line; the possibility of
getting a vegetable dehy drafting plant
located here. E. G. Quamme, Of the
federal land bank at st. Paul, is en-
thusiastic over Little Falls as the site
for such a plant. This is to be watch
ed carefully and advantage taken OF
any opportunity that may present ! it
self later.
Traffic has been given considerable
attention, being highly important. A
delegation from the board represent
ed this city at the meeting when the
Cooley Highway association was form.
ed; last January the directors and 9th
er officers Of this organization met in
this city; meeting will be called soon
for the purpose of establishing mark
ed trail from this city to Walker via
Randall, Pillager and. over the Elwell
road to Pine River; the road to the
quarry was inspected last summer and
found to be in need Of improvements
on Thursday Of last week G. A. Forbes
Of the state highway commission met
with members tof the county board, the
Board of Commerce and other citizens,
relative to the proposed hard-surfac-
ing Of main travelled roads between
county seats; the office of secretary
treasurer Of the Automobile club is held
by the board 8 secretary.
Mr.. Olson stated that insofar as in
dustries were concerned no new ones
were secured, but that the board did
prepare an industrial survey, copies Of
which are in the hands of the Northern
Pacific, the War Industries board and
quite few private concerns. Mr.. o.
son suggested revising this survey and
publishing it for use in connection with
industrial work and general publicity:
Conventions held here and which
were given attention by the board were
the Cooley highway meeting; the meet
ing on November 80 of the representa-
tives-elect; the meeting with Mr..