Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-07-22

Gentlemen:
II regret that notice of your din
ner this evening was received toe
late for me to change my plans and
that ] will be unable to be present
am particularly sorry as it is the
first real opportunity that have
had to meet many of you, and es-
pecially as there are a number OF
matters which we might profitably
discuss.
81 would like, however, to take
this opportunity to assure you that
the John n. WHY'S interests-the
financial end of which ! represent
is fully aware of the Importance to
the Republic Motor Truck Co., Inc
and TO the city of Alma, of proper
cooperation between us.
at has already been gratifying to
see the consideration that has been
shown in our community by the New
York office in matters where il
really might have been more to the
company's immediate interests to
consider itself alone. need not
enumerate these things because they
affect some of you individually, and
are not of public interest, but | do
want to make you feel-as ! do
that every consideration will be
shown to the city and TO its business
men, by the new management of Re
public Motor Truck Co., Inc.
"No doubt we can take the other
side of the picture for granted No
company can properly grow in a
community which does not provide
adequate housing facilities, markets
stores, restaurants, etc, to satisfy
the needs of its employees and give
a reasonable opportunity for recrea-
ton and amusement.
1T is probably a fair statement 10
say that our city has not grown to
keep pace with the growth Of the
truck company, and the other in
dustries. This is not peculiar to Al
ma alone, for, as we all know, there
have been very few cities through
out the country that have been able
10 meet the situation satisfactorily
For some time many industries
have themselves built houses for
their employees, opened their own
stores and provided other facilities
The truck company has depended
upon Alma. and as a result, its mer-
chants and real estate owners have
unquestionably been benefited.
"ln the past few weeks conditions
have materially changed in practical
ly all lines Of manufacturing and
everywhere these undertakings of
building houses. stores. etc, are re-
turning to their proper sphere-are
again becoming problems Of the
bankers. real estate men and mer-
chants, instead Of the manufacturers
81 can therefore frankly say that
this company looks to you as indi-
viduals and as a body, TO make Alma
place where its employees can live
and enjoy as much Of the good things
of life as they could anywhere else
Certainly everyone has been inn
pressed with Alma's growth in the
past, and am personally enthusi-
astic about its future possibilities
but believe that we should all
realize that the future is entirely
dependent upon our mutual cooper
alton toward a common end.
81 feel that your meeting can ac-
complish great deal along these
lines if it can inaugurate some plan
of action which will tend to improve
the conditions enumerated
81 also wish to assure you that !
will be only too glad-personally or
officially-to do anything in my
power TO assist you in this work
Very truly yours.
Republic Motor Truck Co., Inc.
II. d. Minich, Assistant Treasurer
e. Comptroller"
Following a short talk in which
the get-together spirit was urged, by
Mr.. Crawford, county community
head A. f. Davies Of the Republic
was called upon.
Mr. Davies spoke of the rumors
which had been afloa. recently to the
effect that The Republic Motor
Truck Company Incorporated, was to
move from Alma. He said that if
those who were spreading the rumor
really knew what was being done
in the way of Improvements, they
would not talk as they have been do
ing. He stated that improvements
were being made at the factory that
would cost approximately S300,000
this summer. Among the improve
ments being made he mentioned the
new side track. which is to cost the
concern S40.00000. the covering of
the large court new Bridge street,
the construction Of dry kilns, and the
re-arranging Of the factory TO per-
nit better production He stated
that the factory would build bigger
and urged that Alma build to meet
this expansion. In closing he said
that he was at all times willipp to
work in the solving of community
problems.
Carl II. Washburn. cashier Of the
First State Bank, William f. Rey-
nolds, city manager; Henry II. Soule
contractor; Jotham Allen. manager
j Continued on page fve)