Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-07-31
CONDITIONS MUST CHANGE
Housing Problem and Railroad
Facilities arc Two Matters
Which Must BE Better.

Wild.rumors, which have been cir
culated around freely, not only in
Alma, but generally throughout this
part of the state, during the past
several months. to the effect that
the Republic Motor Truck Company
Incorporated. would move to Cleve-
land, have proven to be groundless,
it was learned at an informal meet
ing Of some of the officials of the
company and the Board of Trade
Tuesday evening.
That the company did have such
an idea was strongly intimated at
the meeting, but it was frankly
stated that at no time had any Off
cial of the company made any state
ment which would have given rise to
such reports as those which have
been circulated, greatly to the detri-
ment of Alma during these past
months, reports which have caused
"a holding up of building. and other
enterprise, such as is needed TO make
Alma a larger and better city.
The meeting of Tuesday evening
was held at the First State Bank and
was attended by several of the prom
inent officials of the company and
many members Of the Board of
Trade, who Consisted for the greater
part of hustling business men OF
Alma.
Charles G. Rhodes, secretary of the
big Alma company. was the first
called upon by President c. +. Brown,
and his remarks, important though
they were, were made to pave the
way for a few remarks made later
by Mr.. Hepburn, vice president and
general manager of the company.
Mr.. Rhodes stated that at no time
had any official of the company made
any statement TO the effect that the
Republic would leave Anna, and
made mention of the uneasiness
which the. business men would natur-
ally feel in view of the fact that it
was an undeniable fact that the
growth of the company had caused
the doubling of the population of
Alma in the past three or four years.
He stated that the conditions
which surround a company either
make or mar the satisfaction which a
concerns officials may have in doing
business in "a place. He spoke of the
way that Alma has come up to the
needs, as they had come up IN the
past. In closing his remarks he i'm
pressed the fact that it is a grave
mistake for any city to pass up need
led and necessary improvements,
which 20 perhaps towards making
for the welfare Of its citizens.
c. Fisher Hepburn, recently elect
ed general manager and vice pres
dent Of the Republic Motor Truck
Company. Inc. was next called. He
frankly told the business men of the
city that the company had bad pro
Gram to move to Cleveland, the Offices
first. and eventually the entire fac
tory. The fact that the company
was ont Of close touch with the mar
kct centers. the housing proposition,
inaccessibility of~Alma because OF
railroad facilities, and lack Of hotel
accommodation being mentioned as
among the big reasons behind tee de-
cision Of the directors.
Mr.. Hepburn said ttat he had made
"A close study Of the situation. and
that this had led him to the belief
that for the time being the company
would be better off in Alma.
In very distinct way, so that
there could be no misunderstanding
on the part of anyone present as to
his meaning. he continued. and stated
that the basic reasons for his deci-
sion depended upon the progressive
ness of Alma as whole.
The need of better railroad facili-
ties, the need Of solving the housing
proposition, better hotels, accessible
ity with the markets and trade CEN
ters, were things which the company
needed he stated, and then made men,
ton Of the fact that il would be
necessary for the city TO meet the