The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-05-03
SPLENDID RECORD
CHAMBER COMMERCE
FOR PAST YEAR
Continued from Page ~

tinuous service, because our good
friend Powell of Lake county. while
secretary of tie Tampa Board Of
Trade when we went on the job, left
his first love for a few years of sue
cessful newspaper work.
And now, ladies and gentlemen,
there are several big problems con-
fronting the State and nation and in
which in one way or the other, we
shall be compelled to take some part
and the newly organized Chamber will
find itself with plenty of worth while
work to do so soon as it's new Of
fcers are elected and qualified.
Like the state legislator this Cham
Der of Commerce will have to come
cut into the open on the question of
the No-Fence law. 1t is impossible
for us to be neutral, even though we
may have to lose friends on one side
or the other. The question is up
row in a big way and it is up to us
as well as others.
The proposition to bond the state
for $20,0o0,OOO is another big problem.
easily solved perhaps by the shallow
thinker, but knotty question for the
thoughtful man. Between the argu-
ment that Polk county has done her
road building and ought not now to
be called upon to pay taxes. in order
to build roads for poor or neglected
counties who have not built, on the
one hand, and the argument that Polk
county cannot afford to make an is
land, so to speak, Of herself and re-
fuse to help construct some means of
transportation for those who wish to
come over, on the other hand, there
i, much to be said and doubtless will
be said before the end of the year.
This organization cannot afford to
stay in the background. -
Another problem which to my mind
we might as well meet now as later
is the hou sing problem. This com
munity h'.s reached the limit Of its
developm mt so far as increase in it.
population from an outside source is
concerned. More and more the
thoughtful men of the country are
coming to the conclusion that build
ing costs are not going to fall mater
tally for some time to come. For the
next two or three years at least and
Probably longer, Europe will call
loudly to America for building mater
ial of all kinds and she will have t>
pay and she will pay the price. Con-
sress is not willing to place an EN-
barge on exports of that kind and we
will have to pay the price, too. We
are soon going to feel the pressure
which this choking is beginning to
bring to bear on the life of the com
munity. This organization ought to
take up this question as the most i'm
| portant it has to consider today and
sit day by day and every day if only
| nnct
Of this problem and bringing every
possible influence to bear on its
speedy solution. 1t is idle to say the
money is not here. There never wa;
more. Equally idle to say we canno,
| set labor Or material when othe"
towns are getting both and going
ahead in substantial way. We need
geo new homes right now and we
easily boast 200 men in this commun-
ity able to build one each. The first
25 who make the break will, believe,
solve the problem. An apartment
house is needed badly. 1t can be built
in connection with a plan to furnish
|some much needed store rooms. The
financing Of it is no problem for half
d dozen men in this community we
could easily name. Soon we shall be
slipping back for there is no standing
still, unless one is either az the TOP
or the bottom of the hill and we are
like the men of the famous Duke Of
York who, when they were half way
up the hill were neither up nor down
One of our most prominent bank
ers has solved the problem for his
community with the slogan, Money
was saved here, belongs here, and
Continued on Page 81