Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-09-02
IN OUR
VALLEY

the issue OF the ltlnerant peddler,
the house-to-house canvesSer and the
similar gentry, who have herded into,the
Valley along with prosperity.
The Chamber of Commerce there is
conducting a house-to house campaign
of its own, using cards on one side Of
which appears the following:
Notice to Peddlersi Agent and order
takers for merchandise NOT DESIRED.
We do not need your goods. Local
merchants carry complete stocks and
we trade at home"
On the other side is letter to Mrs.
HOUSEWIFE:
Dear Madam-We want courteously
to bring to your attention the fact that
we are interested in upbuilding this
city, In presenting you this card we
do not wish to leave the impression that
We. are running your affairs.
Every dollar sent out of this city
for merchandise (not garden or farm
proiuds) through peddlers-to firms
not interested here-cuts down the
ability of your merchant to pay his rent,
to advertise this city, to bring conven-
tons here, to support our charitable
institutions, our schools, our churches
and our homes.
Tests have demonstrated that dollar
circulates twenty times within a COM
'munity during Ssyear. The dollar sent
away moves once and never returns.
Let US consider the matter calmly
and sanely. Your merchant can get
you the goods you want if he does not
have them. His qualities and prices
meet those of other places. In fairness
to your city and yourself we earnestly
ask that you use him. Respectfully,
Chamber of Commerce. P. S.-Wel-
come the salesman from an established
local concern"
A letter to The Herald from Har-
lingen discusses the effect of the cam
paign. 1t says:
These (cards) have been placed in
every American home in Harlingen as
well as in the hands of business men
and merchants. 1t is having it's effect,
too. Many homes have the cards tackled
up in prominent places on their front
doors, and the same with offices.
Through the instigation of the
Chamber Of Commerce an itinerant
merchants ordinance with teeth in it
was passed by the city council. and
Just few DAYS ago an occasion arose
where the peddlers left town rather
th3'. paw the license.
"Of course, we do not expect this
will be a complete preventative, but
if it accomplishes something, or is the
means of making our citizens stop and
think moment, it will have justified
itself.
If these are good for Harlingen,
they ought to be good for other Valley
towns, which have been overrun with
a horde of solicitors for about every
conceivable thing saleable."
Rio Hondo is not on a state highway,
neither is it on a trunkline railroad,
but iRo Hondo proposes all the same
that she be heard from.
The envelope of a letter from that
town, on the Arroyo Colorado, north
east of San Benito, bears an attractive
label with illustration Of tropical seen
cry, and the following invitation
Come to Rio Hondo on the Arroyo
ColoradoA The Worlds Winter Garden,
dNio r1OnuO, texas.
Business houses in Brownsville that
desired to put up attractive cloth avn
ings rather than wooden or other more
expensive awnings in anticipation that
the time was coming soon when the
buildings would be remodeled have
been advised by the city that cloth
awnings considered a fire hazard,
and that their erection would bring
arrests.
What about the numerous cloth signs
so much in view in the business district
of Brownsville?
A Corpus Christi newspaper carries
advertising announcing gasoline at Is
cents gallon.
careful survey of the columns Of
The Brownsville Herald do not convey
that sort of information.
Rnmors reach us that several parties
are planning the erection of homes in
Brownsville costing from $4,000 to
$4,000.
This is not announced as fact, but
as rumor When homes are built in
the city running into those amounts. the
fact is conveyed that somebody is here
Continued on Page Two)