Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-27
MYERS EXCHANGE
lis URGED FOR CITY
manufacturers Told That Such
a Place Would Be Greatest
Aid in Boosting Wares
ESTATE INTERESTED

,I,nh;a met last night to discuss plans
~ a sales exhibit building for this
Ia such as the Bush Sales Exhibit
n.id;nr in New York. 1t would be
!, tbe nature Of a buyers exchange.
W, Wood. an engineer. said he
al secured the promise Of the Girard
hSu s,a,c 10 erect suitable building on
Tostnut street. in the block between
rIovcnth and Twelfth streets, if suit
,ho rentals were guaranteed.
Tho meeting then moved that the
rharber Of Commerce be requested to
.aLo a survey and find out what man
nsscturers wanted such a building, then
" cail another meeting Of manufac-
turers.
III boen made. the meeting adjourned.
TSa Gathering, which had been called
~ Mr, Wood. was held in the assembly
,oom Of the Chamber Of Commerce.
A sales exhibit building. according
!. Mr Wood. il a large fair" build
;no where all the manufacturers Sc
nm,c exhibit space. and where buyers
s conld come and find in this central
ro noint everything they might require. He
ppointcd out the necessity for such
pv;ldinr, as It is difficult. he said, for
b.,rers TO come here and search out
n the great area of Phiade'rhia her
IA 800 manufacturing establishments.
Talks in Millions
Mr.. Wood talked in terms Of mil
,ions. When some suggestions were
r,ode that maybe the thing might not
succeed after all and that everything
might not turn out as suggested, the
cbsirmap, George w. Hicks, exploded.
HPhiladelphia has never fallen down
an ANYTHING yet and she won't fall down
an this" he exclaimed. jumping to his
Set "I've no time for the man who
rrouches all the time and offers nothing
4 lien of his objections. We want con
structive criticism.
II tell you we can do anything New
York. Chicago or st. Louis or anv
o,her city can do. II I had my wav
the eternal slogan of this city would
no The Constitution Of the United
States. the Liberty Be'l. the Ameri.
csp Flag-Made in Philadelphia.
THAT'S what I would tell them.
why, when they want anything big
they come TO Philadelphia. >. We can
make this thing a success If We just
get behind it and make 1t GO
Mr.. Wood explained his idea in full.
"This is not my idea" he said. "It
10 not original with Inc. But l have
been going around, trying to get manu-
facturers interested in project like
the Bush Sales Exhibit Building. in
New York city. on Forty second street
there. But unless the manufacturers
nut fight and ginger in this thing, it
will not be a success.
This building must be as artistic
as the Bush Building in New York.
II must be large enough to house all
sorts Of manufactured articles. 1t must
be nationally advertised. Why, we
should get man like +. J. Cattell,
and send him all over the country boost
lag it-yes, and pay him well-it is
time he received recognition.
"The Giiurd estate has available the
block from Eleventh to Twelfth street
on Chestnut street. They would be
willing, they have assured me. to use
half Of 1t, and to put up this building
But, of course, before they do 1t they
must see return on their money
and a reliable organization with (which
TO do business. Now, il you organize
and make proposition to the Girarc
estate. they will meet you more thar
half way.
II don't tie you down to this par
ticular proposition. l don't represent
the Girard Estate. l represent no on,
but myself. | am just trying to furnish
the initiative. am asking you to foru
temporary orga nization--take steps I,
form company oedeal with the Girart
Estate or put up building yourselves
Need to Get Started"
II know the manufacturers are il
favor of such a building; have beeI
Ganvassing them since September !
Two thirds of them are willing to TAX
space to exhibit their wares. The
only need to get started.
Il tried to get Mr.. Bush to put VI
such building here. as part of hi
marvellous system. He would not com
here, as he is going to London, wher
ne will build huge building in tn
heart OF that city-and they have wei
coined him with open arms. But ! don
see the need for PbiladelphianS to e
OUT OF town to get man 10 put up
building for them.
would pay. such n building. IO
products of factories from Lancaster o
the west to Wilmington on the south
/ and Bristol to the north. They are a
@ disadvantage. Why. you would hav
me advantage Of the Bush Building |
New York, for you are ninety mile
nearer the West and South. Ii yo
nad a building that would attract tn
buyers they would come here first. You
taieSmen at your exhibit would be pret
" dumb If they couldn't close wit
mem then, before they got to Ne'
aork: ] only ask that committee b
appointed tonight to begin drawing u
charter. to get right after It, an
'nen we will have this building
Several Give Views
Morris Miller. dress manufacturer
ot 1920 Market street. who said h
did business of 5000. 900 year. tol
Of his troubles with his southern trade
There are no inducements for thes