Imperial Valley press., 1919-11-15
HISTORY Of
CHAMBER IS
MADE PUBLIC

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The following is concise history Of
the FL Centre chamber of commerce
as prepared for the annual edition OF
the San Diego Union.
The present El Centre chamber of
commerce was organized January 1S,
1915, and is the third effort of the city
to maintain a commercial organiza-
tion. 1t has maintained an office with
a pid secretary in charge, devoting all
of his time to that work, since its
organization. There have been no
special drives for members, but there
has been steady growth in member
ships, largely the result of the efforts
of the secretaries as they passed
about the business section of the city,
doing other work of the chamber. The
following figures confirm the above
statement in regard to steady growth;
members in good standing January l.,
19l8-99: January l, l919-117; No.
vember r. 1919-160. There are IL
plural memberships which make the
total memberships III.
Dues are kept collected up closely;
bills are paid promptly, and there is
handsome balance in the bank for
any special work that the chamber
might wish to take up.
The board Of directors is composed
of II of the leading business men Of
the city who meet every week, not
only for handling the routine, but to
consider the practical things that are
for the good of the city and the COM
munity. One Of the most important
of these matters was the securing of
the United States land office for the
Valley, which has saved thousands of
dollars for those having business with
that office. Some of the more recent
matters of this character are several
important city improvements, an orna-
mental street lighting system, auto
matte fire alarm system, new city hall
and stadium and playground. The
civic improvements committee and
its subcommittee have worked out
these problems and they have been
submitted to the city trustees, who
are expected to call bond election in
the near future to provide for their
construction.
This chamber is a member Of the
chamber of commerce of the United
States and finds this connection very
helpful, especially in matters Of in
terest to this community that are be-
ing handled in the United States con-
gress. We have also joined the Ma
tional One.Cent Letter Postage Asso-
ciation and endorsed its work. We
are also members, of the California
Association of Commercial Secretar-
les, which is pleasant and helpful
connection for our commercial secre-
tary. We work in utmost harmony
with other chambers of this state and
give our support and influence to all
their propositions that are. shown to
be worthy Of help, and they recipro-
cate as freely.
Since it's organization this chamber
has entertained: quite few very dis
tinguished visitors-Governor Steph-
ems of California, the rivers and, har-
bors committee of the United States
congress, consisting of % senator's
and representatives; officials Of the
Dixie Overland and Bankhead Nation
al Highways, the. San Diego chamber
of commerce, and other smaller par
ties and individuals of prominence.
The chamber takes pleasure in extend
ing such courtesies and the associa-
tions are helpful to the chamber and
the community.
J. L. Travers is president and s. W.
II IeffinyWell secretary