The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-29
CHAMbERMANAGER R.
.REPORTSP R0GRESS.
FOR YEAR CLOSING.
Best Year of Organization,
Bum Says, With Many
Concrete Achievements
Recorded

The Chamber of Commerce Is clos
ing what Manager Bum considers its
decidedly best year with 1900 mem
bers, ownership Ola site for a per-
manent home. merger of the civic
forces Of the community in one body
and with a common center of insplra-
tion and action and the wholesale and
retail interests of the community
allied with tho chamber through di-
visions and branches.
Late in the fall the chamber
bought the northwest corner of Sixth
avenue and Nineteenth street for a
permanent home site. paying SOS. 0on.
a large and roomy house on this site
can be used for offices pending per-
manent construction, If desired.
Very recently the Civic Association
became merged with the chamber and
the two bodies are now one. working
as one for the interests for which
they worked in separate channels
heretofore.
During the. year the chamber
changed tho by-laws so that the
membership shall be divided into six
classes. namely, wholesalers, manu-
facturers, retailers, miscellaneous,
professional and banking. insurance
and real estate. Each division is to
have two members on the board of
directors elected from the divisions
and by the divisions. In this way
there is intended TO be a thorough
democratization of representation on
the directorate. The new plan goes
In effect at the beginning of the new
chamber year.
Retailers Organized
Manager Bum says he regards or
greatest Importance the success of
the chamber in lining up the retail
merchants of the city with the
chamber by organization OF the retail
merchants division. This division, in
turn. has branches representing all
the different kinds of retail business
in the city. The chamber furnishes
the secretary and attends to the de-
tails. OF the work outlined by the di-
rectors of the division.
Beginning January 10 the chamber
VIII have weekly luncheons at /
o'clock in the afternoons at the Tut
wiler, some subject being outlined
for each luncheon, an expert speaker
short session to be devoted to free
dom of comment and expression by
the members. Two hundred members
of the chamber have already signed
up for these luncheons.
Among the achievements OF the
year the August convention of the
Alabama Merchants association, held
under auspices of the Wholesale Mer-
chants and Manufacturers association
of the chamber. IS pointed out as an
important one. 1t brought 5000 to
5000 merchants from all over Ala
hama to Birmingham for a three days
session and served to- solidify trade
relations between Birmingham whole
saiers and other Alabama merchants,
Industries Drought Here
Among the industries located by
the chamber during the year are
mentioned the acetylene gas and steel
cutting and welding apparatus plant
ofSthe Air Reduction Sales company,
the Benson Tharp Paint Manufactur-
ing company, the West Disinfecting
company, the Hubig Pie company,
and others. The chamber also located
the Doremus-Daniels company, a large
brokerage firm; tho southern head
quarters of the Canadian Life In
surance company and numerous
agencies. 1obbers and the like.
The years work has been from
the inside" said Manager o. L. Bum,
and / believe the year closes with
the chamber In better position to
serve Birmingham than 1t has ever
been. 1t is now Birmineham's one
business clearing house and the com
munity seems aware OF that fact and
appreolative of the opportunityswhic
this clearing house affords for united
effort that counts"