The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-09-22
SEES COLUMBUS
ASTRADE CENTER
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over or around winch would have been
a great deal easier, if we could have
had form of assistance and support
which are given to business enterpris-
es in other communities.
'In word, ! think / am entirely
within the bounds Of strict accuracy
when / assert that if Columbus and
Lowndes county had had, all through
the past 10 years, strong, respected,
progressive and aggressive Chamber
of Commerce, my own business would
have been built up faster and with
considerable less wear and tear on the
4 individuals behind it than has been
the case.
Il appreciate fully that in thus con-
sidering Chamber of Commerce, Il
am applying to its usefulness some
what selfish test. That is not my
thought, however. On the other hand,
| am a believer in a Chamber of Com
merce because of the wide range of
activities in which it should engage
for the general good of the commun-
| ity, and | am using the illustration |
have chosen only because it leads me
to suggest in what manner the pro-
posed new Chamber of Commerce can
be of inestimable value to this COM
munity along only one of the many
lines which / hope it will operate.
Our Location is Strategic.
my business is now securely built
up, if may be pardoned for saying
that and believed in my assertion that
do say it without any thought of
boasting. But | would like to see
even my business more secure. With
the pride of all business men, / am
anxious that my business shall be-
come larger and the field of its acti-
vities wider. That, however, is after
all only an incident to the point |
want to make.
"There are in Columbus today
number of businesses and a consider
able number of business men, repres-
enting a rather wide range of COM
mercial activity, that are the potential
foundations of large wholesale enter
lprises. Any business man in this
community can think Of at least a
dozen such possibilities.
"Let us make quick survey of the
conditions as they actually exist. Col
ambus and Iowndes county constitute
The most favorably located community
between Birmingham and Greenville,
and between Tupelo and Meridian.
East and west Of Columbus there is a
natural trade territory of considerable
area. North and south there are pos
sibilities almost as good Why, then,
should we not aspire to build up here
a general distributing business for
this great territory which is at our
doors-and having done that, extend
our operations even farther?
Capatalizing Our Possibilities.
THAT it can be done is proved by
the experience of dozens of other COM
munities all over this country, even
by some of the experience of men in
business right here today.
"And is not this fair question to
ask of ourselves:
will we not go faster and farther
in making Columbus and Lowndes
county great distributing point for
all classes of merchandise bought and
sold in this territory, if we could feel
and know that behind us stood live,
alert, aggressive community organiza-
tion doing business under the name of
a Chamber of Commerce?
Il sense only one answer to that
question.
"There is another phase of this
same question which ought to have
proper emphasis. If we are going to !
have Chamber of Commerce, let us
make it the best Chamber of Com |
merce in every respect that lies with
in our united and individual ability.
One of those respects is the matter of
management. We shall need guild /
ing hand for our new chamber, man.
ager or secretary.
HE should be the best man we can
find. We should make up our minds
now that we intend to pay fair price
for the efficient management of our
new community organization; that we
do not want small town man at a
small town mans wages. Columbus
and Lowndes county constitute big
community, with bigger possibilities,
and we should have big vision for
them, and build our new Chamber of
Commerce to fit our ambitions"
BRlDES-TO-BE