The Little River news., 1921-03-09
DISTRICT CHAMBER OF
 COMMERCE MET AT HOPE
Ten Leading Towns of the Southwest Held Meeting at Hope Friday
 Afternoon.

Hope, March 6.-Matters of vital importance to every town in South west Arkansas were discussed at a 1 meeting of chamber of commerce sec Friday afternoon, when representativ es from ten of the leading towns in the district were present and partici- pating. After discussion of condi- tions and the need for a closer coop eration it was decided to organize a Southwest Arkansas Chamber of Com- merce which will act as clearing house for commercial, agricultural, industrial and civic activities This organization will work through the various local chambers of commerce and will undertake to organize Cham bers of Commerce in towns where there are no commercial organizations at the present.
 Temporary officers were elected to serve until permanent organization could be effected at another meeting, as follows: s. s. Langley, Murfrees- boro, president; Matt Martin, Prescott, vice-president; c. A. Tunnell, Hope secretary. The committee on perma- nent organization was as fellows: s. s. Langley, Murfreesboro; Mat Mar tin, Prescott; c. A. Tunnell, Hope; John Davis, Prescott; A. P. Cantrell, DeQueen This committee will pro- pose plan of organization, draft con- stitution and by laws and fix the time and place for a meeting to complete the organization. A committee on membership was named and includes the secretaries of Chambers of Com merce in Hampstead, Nevada, COlum- bia, Lafayette, Miller, Little River, sevier, Howard, Pike, Clark and Qua chita counties.
 Address by Noted Man. A pleasing feature of the program for the afternoon was an address by Carl Baer of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, who stressed the impor- tauce of cooperation in community and regional development MT Baer said that Hope DeQueen, Prescott and Murfreesboro will grow and de- i velop only in proportion to the general development of the country and towns surrounding, and that, after all, a courtry's greatest assets is it's agri- cultural assets. He therefore urged a closer cooperation between the town and country. This could. be brought about, according to MT. Baer through diversification of crops, better mar keting conditions, improved livestock and improved living conditions. He advocated a better balance of activi- ties in order that one branch of de- velopment would not outstrip the oth CT and by means of chart explained the relative value of production to in dustry, commerce, transportation and civics.
 After a general discussion of how the various towns and communities could cooperate in development work, the matter of a closer cooperation in oil activities was urged and each town and county was pledged to boost rather than knock it's neighbor. This proved a very live subject for all Southwest Arkansas is possessed with the belief that great oil pool will be found somewhere in this vicinity Drilling has been stimulated by offer ing bonuses for producing wells and in one instance, at DeQueen, a bonus is being raised to pay for the first dry hole that is drilled in Sevier coun- ty.
 Representatives were present from Prescott, Blevins, Nashville, Murfress- boro, Ashdown, DeQueen, Camden. Mineral Springs, and Gurdon. |
 Gov. T. c. McRae of Prescott, and Carl Baer, of St. Louis were made honorary members of the organizatiqn by unanimous vote of those presenv. This was virtually an endorsement Governor McRae's policies and comt pliment to MT. Baers splendid servicd while serving as secretary of tho Chamber of Commerce at Hope mum Der of years ago.
 The next meeting of the associatiop will probably be a two days affair ia order that the many matters needing | attention may be considered. 1