Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-01
VALUE OF INDUSTRY
LOCATIONS IS TOLD
Baltimore Leader Advises
Definite City Surveys, Not
General Propaganda.

A complete industrial survey of a
community and some good, sound fig
ures showing that by locating in that
particular community the specific in
dustry which the community is court
ing can make net savings in manufac-
turing and distributing costs over what
would be possible in another community
will warm the heart of the manufac-
turer seeking a location for his plant.
It will affect him far more than I'M
substantiated greatest little city in the
world" propaganda.
This was the advice given by H.
Findley French, director Of the Indus
trial Bureau of Baltimore, when he
spoke on Recent Developments OF
Chambers of Commerce With Respect
to Location of Industries" before the
industrial conference of the industrial
property division of the National Asso-
citation of Real Estate Boards, in ses-
sion this week in Detroit. Mr.. French
emphasized the part which the indus
trial location plays in the communitys
prosperity, stating that new industries
bring new jobs, new jobs bring more
populations and more population brings
increase in land values.
General Advertising Advised.
Community industrial location work
consists of two things: In establishing
contact with active prospects for loca-
tons, and in service to prospects after
contact has been made" Mr.. French
said. General advertising Is one Of
the most striking methods of making
contact with prospects, particularly
where large sums of money are spent.
We are all familiar with full-page adj
vertisements which appear in general
publications. Where such advertising
is well executed there is little question
but that the average reader Is impressed
by the spirit and faith in the advan-
tages of the community so advertising.
Having established contact with the
prospect, the thing to do is to furnish
him efficient service so that he may be
able to evaluate the net advantages, to
in question, as compared with other
communities.
such an evaluation works down-or
ought to work down-to the net savings
in manufacturing and distributing costs
to be made, plus the nst intangible or
supplementary advantages. few in
dustrial bureaus go much farther than
merely furnishing data concerning their
respective communities, and not only
collect such data concerning other COM
munities, but even work out for specific
industries comparative net costs of OPP
Grafton and distribution as between the
various communities under considera-
ton. Such bureaus virtually offer the
service of consulting engineers in indus
trial plant location. Intensive work OF
this character necessarily can be car
ried on only in the strictest confidence"
Warns Against Bonuses.
Mr.. French warned the location ex-
80 rf~4rR
bonuses and financial assistance from
q community to q courted industry is
q matter in which to proceed cautious
~, since such offers are apt to attract
concerns which are mainly interested
in getting something alleged to be free
and may have little weight with the
superior type of industry.
Where inducements of this kind are
made, 1t Is very necessary to make thor
ough investigations Of all angles Of the
past history and future prospects Of the
interested concerns" he continued. "As
q matter of fact, large industrial GEN.
tiers, while they may offer properly
safeguarded financial assistance. seldom
offer free sites or free gift bonuses to
industries. Usually well developed or
ganizations for assisting industries
financially extend such assistance to
existing local industries, as well as
10 prospective plants, and offer assist
ance in the management as well as the
financing Of the industries in ques-
ton"