The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-10-27

He interviewed man after man
who had either given notice that he
intended to leave or about whom an
intention of so doing was rumored.
He quickly discovered that it was
not the pay and not the hours with
which the employees were dissatis-
fled
well, what is the matter? Why
are you going away?" he asked.
Then from each one he received
variations Of an answer given by
one OF the more expressive of the
men who vigorously declared:
"Ill tell you why, simply because
this is a he'll of a town to live In.
Pressed for details, the man de-
manded: why, what Is there to do
after the days work is over? Moth
ing but to 20 to that cheap movie
and we get sick of that. There are
no hall grounds, no tennis courts,
nothing"
Provided Sport Fields
So that was it! It was an eye
opener to the secretary. He got
busy. He saw the mine bosses, ex-
planned the situation, and prepared
4 plan which they wisely approved.
To make long story short, a base
ball field with q running track
around it was laid out, a tennis
court was provided, a band and
dramatic group were organized. En-
tertainments and social affairs were
arranged for. The natural human
desires OF the men and their families
We're thus met.
The secretary stopped that pro-
cession out Of town which practi-
cally told others to steer clear OF
the place. He sold the town to its
own people. Incidentally. he saved
the company much money. He did
a wisely human, wisely Industrial,
wisely economic thing. The town
could then tell the world 1t was no
longer q hell OF place to live in.
Industry is generally alive TO-DAY
to the bearing recreatiOnal op.
portunities have on the location Of
their factories. One of the field
secretaries OF the Playground and
Recreation Association, discussing
this matter with chamber OF com.
merce secretary in q large Penn.
sylvania town last May, was told
that during the past two years OF
more five out Of every sl1
industries with which ne mad cor.
regponded had included among the
questions asked. What park and
public recreation facilities have
you2"
Important Question
Recently the head of a large
manufacturing concern In Chicago
was considering moving his plant
TO a certain Indian city. One oil
his leading questions to the cham
| her of commerce was, "Outside OF
your beach and park, what recrea.
| ton facilities are there for my 9OO
employees, of whom ESQ play golfg
I would like to write a true tale
Of two cities-about two American
towns both bidding for prosperity
in terms of new industries AMI
greater population. The cities ara
in neighboring States. The citizens
OF one had every reason to believe
that big eastern manufactures
who had been considering several
n1idwestern towns as sites for 3
new plant was about to select their
community.
But one day out of the blue came
q bolt of disappointment. The city
had been eliminated. Local bust,
ness men got together and picked
out the president of one of the larg.
est public utilities in the county
| to find out why.
The answer was quite to the
point-a careful investigation by
| the company's representative had
| disclosed the fact that the town
| offered less to its citizenship, young
| and old, in the way of public recrea-