Americus times-recorder., 1920-05-06
72PCT. RAISED;
TOPAY PROFITS,
SAYS COUNCIL
Banker Declares Enter
prise Should Prove
Good Investment

there is no question about it. All we
need is a little more time for the
solicitors to have an opportunity to
get around, or for those who have
not been seen to come forward with
their subscriptions
This was the statement today of
President Carr S. Glover of the
Chamber of Commerce, after the spe-
cial subcommittee or the building
syndicate had met with the main
committee to report on the results
of the first canvass, which was con-
Quoted Tuesday and Wednesday.
The subcommittee reported it's
work gratifying but incomplete. 1t
reported 72 per cent of the total
$4,000 in stock already subscribed,
with a large number of citizens of
moderate or ample means, men who
are known for their public spirited
ness, yet to be Seen. A -lsrge share
of the balance to complete the total
to finance the home building project,
the committee was certain, could be
obtained in subscriptions from these
people. 1t was recommended to
Chairman Glover, however, that the
committee which had been working
faithfully since Tuesday, at the neg
lect of their own affairs, should be
discharged and a new committee
named to take up the work where the
first committee had left off. The dis
charged committee is composed of
E. B. Everette, chairman; j. E. High
tower, W. S. Kirkpatrick, w. E. Tay-
lor and r. E. Allison. The new COM
mlttee, named by President Glover
with the advice of the main commit
tee, is composed of Sam R. Heys,
chairman; I. c. Tillman, w. NJ. Hum
ber, 7. M. Furlow, Ed Jiles and w.
a. Joyner. - - -
Some Disappointments.
While the results of the commit
tees solicitation as reported was
gratifying, number of reports turn
ed in by the workers were disap-
pointing, citizens who had been
known to have expressed themselves
strongly heretofore on the need for
houses for AHericus. having refused
to take stock or to have subscribed
far below their ability. These in
stances were rather few, however. In
several cases citizens offered to take
the value of building lots they own
in stock. These the main commit
tee expressed itself as inclined to
reject, considering it better business
to separate the TRANSACTIONS, taking
up the matter of location of the
houses to be built after the project
has been financed. In some cases
business interests which would profit
most from the building activity failed
to subscribe as literally as had been
expected, and these interests will be
called npon again.
SIT Strikes me that this is an op-
portunity for the people of Americus,
and the membership of the Chamber
of Commerce, to prove whether this
talk about more houses is sincere or
mot said President Glover. "We
are giving them the Uhance to come
forward. 1t doesn't seen right that a
few men should have to take their
time. from their own business, after
putting up theirNown, money, to go
out and talk until they are blue in
the face attempting to persuade menS
to take sharessin this enterprise. It
is~a civic duty, which should need no
argument and no persuasion. No
man who subscribes for share is
giving penny; he is merely making
an investment in his town, just as
hea bought Liberty bonds when the
interest was low and he needed the
money for other things"
A Good Investment
'I.consider it good investment"
said l.. G. Geuncil.s "We say that we
are not out to make money, but to
build houses. But want to say that
/ 'candidly believe we shall not only
get our money back. but shall re-
ceive a good rate of interest on our
money. We are going to buy our
materials in large lots and get a good
discount there We are going to
build them under one management,
and make saving there too. There
seems to me to be every reason why
this enterprise should pay well as an
investment, as well as dividends in
the way of welfare for the com
munity.
eff the people don't want it
enough, however, to step up and put
their money into it along with ours,
that is their business and we are
wasting our time, energy and brain
in trying to induce them to come in.
The newspaper has been preaching
this house building need for more
than year, and there is not man
or woman in the city who is not
familiar with the need The test
has been put up to. them A large
number of them have put their .
money into the Chamber of Com
merce. This is the first big thing the
chamber has tackled. since it was re-
organized, and if the membership
don't want to put it over we may just
as well quit paying in our dues, sur
Continued on mage fYel