Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-10-19
DIRECTORS VOTE
UNANIMOUSLY TO
CHANGE LOCATION
Members Of the Central Life Insurance Co.
announced today that definite decision to move
their home office from Ottawa to Chicago has been

reached. AT the same
time 1t was stated that
the company has secur-
ed an option on a site a few blocks
north of the WreIey BUILDING on
Michigan avenue and Lake Shore
drive, where they expect TO erect n
twelve story home. The structure
VIII cost more than a million dollars.
While a well grounded rumor was
published in the Free Trader-Journal
IN August, that the company would
probably move to Chicago. il was not
untll after the quarterly meeting OF
the board OF directors was held last
night that absolute confirmation was
gwen TO this report, While the men,
bers of the executive committee have
Deen busy for several months, con
sidering the proposition of moving
from here, it was not until last nights
meeting that their report was pre-
sented to the official board A un-
aminous vote was then recorded in
favor OF the move.
Bic Blow To Ottawa.
The loss of the Central Life, viii
be big blow to Otaawa's Commercial
LiIc. The company which is now do.
ing a bushes; Of more than 100000
COO annually, has outgrOwn the city.
me removal of the company will not
only mean the taking Of dozens OF
employees from Ottawa, but will also
mean the removal from this city OF
the officers of the company and their
families, who occupy high positions
in Ottawa's business and social life.
Judge II. w. Johnson, the president
OF the company, is also president of
the OTTAWA Banking & Trust Co...
mere. Other officers also have other
business relations here Many out of
town visitors are brought here an
nually to transact business for the
company.
Officers stated today that it was
expected the preliminary arrange
mants for moving from Ottawa would
take about one year However unless
they move by the latter part of Oct.
III 1923, they will remain here until
January 1924, as the annual reports
must be compiled during the latter
months OF the year
Secure Option On Site.
The option to the proposed site of
the new building was secured by the
executive committee OF the company
on Tuesday of this week, The lot is
on Lake Shore Drive in beautiful
part of Chicago, in the territory
which has become so desirable since
the Michigan avenue bridge was COM
pleted
The executive committee was vest
ed with full power by the board to
purchase a site, and erect a building
thereon. Architects will be employed
in the near future to work out the de-
.ails The committee has in mind
.Welve story modern office structure.
Have Fattering Offer,
Inducements offered by Chicago
bankers, is said to have been one of
the principal reasons the company
finally decided to move from Ottawa
For some time, officers OF the Central
Life are said to have realized that
thciR company had outgrOwn the
town. ana become one Of the big life
insurance companies of the United
States They hesitated to break
away from Ottawa, because their
homes We're here, and they had maN
important Ottawa associations.
Their field men urged their NOV
ing to a metropolis, stating that they
found themselves working under a
handicap when they went in big cities
among the large industrial concerns
and big business men of the country,
because the home Office of the Cen
trail Life was situated in city the
size of ottawa,
Previous to the world war, the busi-
ness Of the company was largely in
rural communities. With the period
Of reconstruction at the close Of the
war, the company found that their
business Centers had completely
changed, aud that their business was
largely in the bigger cities.
Members OF the executive committee
the proposition from all
angles before they finally reported
back to the board of directors in fa-
vor Of a move.
Organized in 1905.
The Central Life was organized in
1905 In 1908 the company was or.
ganized as an old line company with
81 100000 worth of business on their
books. Their growth has been steady
and continuous since then, and gives
promise of making even greater
strides than in the past with their re-
moval to a larger city.
The same officers have guided the
des'inies OF the company ever since
it was organized, and it is largely
due to their excellent business mau.
agement that the concern has made
its excellent growth and has always
retained such solid financial foun-
d.tion These officers are Judge II.
W. johnson presideHt. w. r Weese.