The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-05
For the Good of
 the Community

 with his history and achievements are al- ready looking forward to realization of this recommendation made by MT. Bum in his report of the operations of the Traf- fic Bureau in 1919: <
 That the association appoint a commit tee of five or more with real live chair man, one full of civic pride and well known to all of our present manufactur- CTS. The duties of this committee will be to formulate plans whereby the organiza- tion can buy it's own home in which 1t can maintain a permanent exhibit of BIRM- INGRAM MADE GOODS. This can , be financed and handled to a suc- cessful conclusion so easily that it seems a shame for the association not to take this forward step. Such. an exhibit will do more to create civic pride; to stimulate the buying of Brm- ingham Made Goods and bring about that fellowship feeling which should exist be- tween the business men of the district than any one thing that can be done"
 It was done in Chattanooga years ago by MT. Bum when he was manager of the Manufacturers Association (Chamber of Commerce) and Traffic Bureau of that city. How was it done? Like falling off log; this way:
 The association bought building for S52,00O It floated bonds bearing 6 per cent interest, payable semi-annually, to that amount.
 These bonds were sold to members only. They paid 10 per cent cash and gave monthly notes bearing per cent in terest for the rest of the amount.
 The 10 per cent thus raised was paid on the building. The notes were taken to local bank, which was in sympathy with the movement, and the bank loaned the association the face value of these notes at per cent, crediting the association as the notes were paid.
 Thus the association came into posses sion of it's permanent home.
 How were the notes met? This way:
 Space was leased for three-year per- iods to manufacturers. The rate was 8 cents per month per square foot on the ground floor, 7cents on the second, cents on the third, cents on the fourth. There were those who paid only 50 cents per month for small space and those who paid S25 per month for larger space that served not only as exhibit room but as up- town office. Members only could lease this space.
 At the close of each year, after paying interest and the like, Mr. Bum placed $4,000 in the sinking rund to retire bonds
 At the end of twelve years the associa- tion owned the building, which had not cost the bondholders one penny, because tho income took care of the bonds and the bond interest took care of the interest on the notes.
 What was done number of years ago in Chattanooga is feasible of execution on much larger scale in Birmingham with the combined membership of the Chamber and Traffic Bureau; doubly feasible with Mr. Bum merely duplicat- ing an achievement which speaks for itself
 Such building could be equipped with office space for the Rotarians, the Civilians, the Xii. wanians, the Community Club and any number of civic organizations. One large hail could be reserved for dining and assembly room. In this room the various clubs could have their weekly luncheons. A daily merchants lunch could be served
 There could be large and cozy reading and lounging rooms with chess and checker tables n-