The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-09-16
MERCHANTS BACK
TOWNS WELFARE
Cooperation of Business Men
Contributes to Upbuilding
of Community

1Or 1T IS obvious that little money
will be passed over his counters by
people who have no money to spend.
On the other hand, if there is no
idleness among the people, if the
factories and mills are running at
full capacity and all the families in
town are living in comfort, with ev-
cry prospect Of good times in the fu-
tire, their well-being is reflected IN
the trade that comes to the mer-
chants store.
No BOzeman merchant, however,
depends on mere wishing to bring
prosperity to his town and to make
It grow. He does not dOze in his easy
chair and dream dreams about out
siders coming in to settle, without
helping to create a magnet to attract
them. When be argues for better
schools and improved streets, it is
not in the expectation that his share
Is to be mere words while other prop
erty owners foot the tax bills.
Merchant Backs Town.
If that were all there is to it for
him, he would not deserve to be a
partner in the successful achieve
ments, Of this community.
Every merchant in this town backs
mp his confidence in this town, in its
prosperity and the prosperity Of those
IN it and in its future as a rising
member Of this splendid common
wealth, by his hard-earned dollars.
Before he can obtain a cent of profit,
he must offer a big stock Of the goods
the public wants, attractively display
I'D IN a conveniently arranged store
uf adequate size, with all the neces-
sary equipment for handling his goods
expeditiously, and with well paid,
courteous sales people whose para
mount purpose is to render service to
the trade. Not until this investment
has been made and this plant is set
IN all its completeness before the peO-
pie Of the town can he hope to get
back even so much as one cent Of
profit.
1t is a big risk to run. If immc-
date profits were his only object, he
never would take this chance. He
could invest his money in dozens Of
other propositions, make more money
and make it without waiting so long
Faith In Towns Future.
At the prevailing prices Of mer.
chandise in the big city markets, and
at the values Of property in BOzemaI
today, it is easy to calculate the dol
lars and cents equivalent of the faitI
which every business man in tow
has in the future of Bohemian. ]
you look closely, you will find tina
every enc goes the limit Of his abil
ity in this direction This holds 70
the general store, the grocer, tn
drygOOds merchant, the flour an
feed store, the lumber dealer, tn
hardware store, the tinsmitb, the fun
niture man, the notions and specialist
store, the jeweler, the shoe store, til
harness shop, the garage la an
al the rest. Their investment is sue
that there can be no question Of day
weeks or months with them, as
when they can quit with a "pile
Theirs is no get-rich-quick schem
Once they locate, they become fiji
lures and nothing short Of a conside
able term Of years suffices to "
for them even a fair return for the
money. To leave before their bu;
ness and the business Of the tOv
were squarely on their feet, wOu
be poor business policy; to leave 8
ter prosperiay had come would
folly.
Does not such a citizen deser
your cooperation?
Spells Real Prosperity?
If a new factory has IN mind
eating in BOzeman but is offered
bonus by a ~neighbOring town, |
merchant digs down into his pocl
and helps raise a larger bOrus brir
ing a new industry here. WhateI
this means to him, it means m,
money. It spell prosperity for ev'
family here.
No group cf citizens are grea
boosters for the schools than the m
chants. Il means greater oppOrtu
fe for the generation that comes
ter them. They reap little din
benefit and they bear the great
share Of the tax burden, because
the larger valuation Of their prop
". Every family benefits its b.
and girls are being helped ca the 2.
70 better citizenship. IN the ga
way do the business men contrib
to libraries, churches and other IS
ciess as vel as take a leading 3
IN patriotic celebrations and comm