Americus times-recorder., 1919-10-07
RIGHTING AN UNwIsE POSITION.


1t is gratifying that the members of the Board
of County Commissioners saw fit, before their ad-
journment late yesterday to undo a wrong they
had done earlier in the day of turning down cold
the request of the Americus and Sumter County
Chamber of Commerce for an appropriation to aid
in carrying on the work of that body during the
present year
The first action on the proposal taken
hastily and without consideration in the proper
frame of mind on the part of majority of the
board. When the matter was finally reconsidered
and serious thought given to it, appropria-
ton was unanimously approved.
Appropriating money for the Chamber of
Commerce is not throwing money away as one
member of the board is said to have remarked in
proposing that the request of the Chamber be ta-
bled. Or, if it is throwing money away, then it is
also throwing money away to maintain our schools,
churches, hospitals and other public institutions
Too many people view the Chamber of Commerce
private institution or as a strictly Americus in
stitution. In truth it is public institution as surely
any of institutions is public, and it is just
as certainty institution of all the county as is
shown by the character of its activities AS for it's
public character, it is volunteer organization to
which eny citizen in the county is eligible, having
for its object the supplying of an agency for the
handling ot all matters of public interest which
cannot be properly handled by the public officials
Its officers who contribute financially to it. all
serve without pay remuneration Of any kir /
other than the reward that comes with the cons
ciousness Of service done AS to its being an in
stitution of the entire county least seventy per
0f ire i
tiers of interest and concern to the people living
outside of Americus.
Nothing can ever be gained for Sumter coun-
- by antagonism between the city of Amercus
and the remainder of the county AS was pointedly
remarked to the board at yesterdays meeting,
4Nmericus is not separate from Sumter county as
has SO long been imagined by great many people
Americus is part of Sumter county-and large
part The records show that something like sixty
Per cent. of the total revenue which the com
mssioners are permitted to spend is paid from
within the city of Americus
When the County Commissioners vote mod
est and then for some Institution which
happens to have its center in Amercus, the board
should not think it is taking something from the
remainder of the county and giving" it to Ameri
GUS throwing money away" for it is doins
nothing of the sort
1t might also be kept in mind that
While Americus will prosper in a very large
measure only as the remainder of the county pros
pers, so also will the county outside of Americu.
prosper very largely the city prospers. A thriv
ing, growing, live city provides commercial anc
market center that makes land values high because
Of their very location, fertility being secondary
consideration. Institutions of higher education
churches, hospitals and Chambers of Commerce &c
with thriving cities. Men usually prefer to rea
the;r families where they may have access to thes,
city advantages, and in buying farms they will pay
The additional price of such advantages gladly.
No. for the county to vote a small sum tt
the Chamber of Commerce is not throwing none,
o"ay it is making an investment that will pay bi,
dividends in more ways than one