Newspaper Page Text
PAGE TWO
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
MAKES ANNUAL REPORT
Herewith is reproduced the remainder of the first annual report of
the Chamber of Commerce since reorganization. The introduction to the
report appeared in Sunday’s edition. The report is published in full so that
all members may have the benefit of it before the ballot box in the annual
election of directors closes, the hour of which is Tuesday afternoon at 4
o’clock.
This report will differ from the average Chamber of Commerce report
in at least two outstanding features: first, its brevity, and second, it will
deal frankly and fearlessly with facts as they are regardless of-individual
views or preferences.
While many of the propositions referred to herein are accompanied
by only a few words or sentences, the reader is reminded that these few
words or sentences may represent several weeks or months of effort on the
part of certain individuals.
*
PACKING PLANT
A thorough investigation of the advisability of promoting a packing|
plant was made through active committees. Information and data were!
sectired from several communities in which packing plants are located; I
committees visited some of these points and secured definite information !
at first hand, in addition to which much valuable data was gathered through i
correspondence and otherwise. The information secured proved beyond I
a reasonable doubt that Sumter County farmers are securing very much;
better prices for their live stock than farmers living in the vicinity of pack-1
ing plants. This fact is due to the excellent co-operative marketing faeili-i
ties arranged by the County Agent co-operating with the Chamber of Com-1
merce. Live stock growers of Sumter County have saved more than $22,000
during the past tw r o years as a direct result of these co-operative sales.
MEETINGS
During the past year 296 meetings have been held at the Chamber of
Commerce offices or at other places as a result of Chamber activities, j
These meetings may be classified as follows: Directors 27; Committees 215; j
Members Forum 8; miscellaneous 46. Every one of these meetings had
for its object some proposition to make this community a better place in
which to live and do business.
OF FIG E ACCOMMODATIONS.
Office space is provided by the Chamber of Commerce for the follow
ing community service agencies: County Agent, Home Demonstration
Agent, District Veterinarian. County Veterinarian in Charge of Tick
Eradication, Sumter County Fair Association, and Red Cross Headquarters.
NEW INDUSTRIES
The following new industries were established in Americus during the
past year; j
Americus Ice Cream Co. I
Model Bread Co.
Gate wood-Cogdel I Hardware Co.
Ideal Farms Corporation.
Lundgren Motor Co. , |
Rylander Theater.
Americus Laboratories.
West End Market Co.
Hale Live Stock Co.
Smith Burgin Lumber Co.
MARKETING
Especial attention has been given to the proposition of providing
ade mate marketing facilities for surplus farm products. Through the
<•• ordained efforts of the Chamber of Commerce and the County Agent
th ands of dollars worth of farm products and live stock were sold for
! er County farmers at satisfactory prices.
INDUSTRIAL POWER
For several months at least two communities have been giving active
:i tion to the matter of securing cheap hydro-electric power for Americus,
li ■ safe to say that within a reasonable length of lime this city will enjoy
the benefits of cheap and unlimited power for industrial purposes.
’ ADVERTISING
More than 7,000 pieces of advertising matter have been prepared and
.'( nt out; hundreds of direct personal letters have been mailed to every
section of the United States, as well as to points in Cuba, Mexico, Canada
and South America. A full page advertisement is being carried in the
\utomobile Blue Book. Several hundred tourists have passed through
Vnericus and many of them have stopped over here during the present
season.
TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION
During the year just ended the Chamber of Commerce has handled
eleven cases of discriminatory rates and secured reductions’ in every
instance; filed application for milling in transit privilege on lumber which
would place Americus on the same basis with other South Georgia towns,
the application being acted on favorably; filed with railroads request
to discontinue stopping passenger trains on Jackson Street and Cotton
Avenue, which was granted; protested to Central of Georgia Railway
officials against making Americus a “flag station” for through passenger
trains from the North to Florida points, which protest secured the desired
results and Americus is advertised as a regular stop; handled numerous
minor matters for individuals; filed strong protest on change of Seaboard
“Sho Fly” and proposed change held up. A Freight Traffic Bureau has
recently been established in charge of H..P. Everett, through which freight
bills, rates and other transportation charges will be handled for citizens
of Americus, and claims filed and collected.
SUMTER COUNTY FAIR
The Sumter County Fair Association was organized and incorporated
by the Chamber of Commerce during the summer of 1920. Sufficient
funds to insure the successful promotion of an annual fair were secured
through the sale of stock, and Sumter County’s second fair, held during
the week of November Bth to 13th. was pronounced the most successful
held in Georgia last year. Despite the fact that virtually every fair attempt
ed in the South in 1920 lost thousands of dollars, the Sumter County ex
hibition sustained an actual loss of less than 5 pet* cent to those who made
i possible by subscribing to its stock. *
ARKANSAS VISITORS ENTERTAINED
Through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce, a special train
< ai tying 160 of the leading farmers, bankers and business men of Arkansas,
came to Americus on August 2nd for the purpose of learning how Sumter
County farmers have made a success of agricultural pursuits, and to
study our methods of diversification, fertilization, co-operation, etc. The
party was taken over the county in automobiles and royally entertained by
i itizens of Americus, Leslie and Plains. As a direct result of the visit here
of these leading citizens of the state of Arkansas, Americus and Sumter
County have received a larger volume of favorable and effective publicity
than would have been possible through the exjrenditure of hundreds of
dollars through other mediums.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
The Chamber of Commerce has been fully active and alive to the
best interests of the community in the matter of necessary public utilities.
Vigorous and effective action was taken to secure a betterment of gas and
electric service; protests were filed with the Railroad Commission of
Georgia against increased rates applied for. and representives of this
organization visited Atlanta for the purpose pf appearing before the Com
mission in person. Efforts bf the Chamber of Commerce, with the city
authorities co-operating, served to forestall the full increase applied for
by the Lighting Company, only a small temporary advance in gas rates be
ing allowed. As a direct result of the work of your Chamber of Commerce
<m this single proposition, the people of Americus were saved thousands of
dollars annually.
ADVERTISING AND SOLICITING SCHEMES
Valuable service has been rendered during the past year in the in
vestigation of various advertising and soliciting schemes by the Chamber
of Commerce. Twenty-two propositions were handled and reports rendered
thereon. In at least two instances hundreds of dollars were saved to
The Stage
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Making the Famous Peach Jam in “Turn to the Right," the record
breaking comedy success that will be seen at the Rylander theater on
Wednesday night, February 16.
j The combined fragrance of peach i
i blossoms and home cooking in “Turn i
to the Right,” the famous comedy
success which comes to the Rylander
theater Wednesday night for one!
performance is no more wholesome
than the st-ary of re,- eneration and
mother-love that lures beneaths its
; surface of clean, hilarious, fun. The
, return of a boy prodigal after a term
. in prison and the rescue of his old
. home from the hands of a sharper,
with the aid of two former prison
pals, forms the base of the story and
there is a nappy last act showing tfte
. complete reformation of the three
youths at the hands of the young
interested citizens as a result of information supplied bv the Chamber of
Commerce. .
BOY SCOUT WORK
Realizing that the community’s greatest asset is its children,, the
Chamber of Commerce set about several months ago to organize the Boy
Scout movement in Americus, with the result that at the present time three
well organized local troops are now located here and the movement is
rapidly gaining ground. Recently a meeting of representative men from
over the Third Congressional District was held at the Chamber of Com
merce and a District Boy Scout organization perfected. Americus was
made headquarters for the entire District and a supervising executive will
be located here.
. BUILDING OPERATIONS
More than $600,000 were expended in public improvements in the
city of Americus during 1920. Included in the buildings erected are:
Rylander Tljeat're Building; Americus Automobile Co., warehouses and
show rooms; W. G. Turpin & Co., handsome two-story brick building for
offices and show’ rooms; Episcopal Church, brick edifice; Rylander inter
ests, large brick store for I’iggly Wiggly Co., and office building for Times-
Recorder Co.; Atlantic Ice and Coal Corporation, large concrete addition
to plant; John W. Shiver, several stores on West Church Street; Americus
Screen & Manufacturing Co., brick building; Gulf Refining Co., filling
station. In addition to the above, seventeen new residences costing from
$3,000 to $12,000 were erected.
STREETS AND HIGHWAYS
In the summer of 1918 the Cumber of Commerce inaugurated the
movement for a large bond issue for the construction of permanent high
ways in Sumter County, as a result of which an election was held in
April. 1919, and approximately one million dollars made available for
good roads. On account of unavoidable delays, the actual construction of
paved roads did not commence until the early part of 1920, since which
time morejhan three miles of permanent highway has been built, and other
projects are now well under way.
A little more than 2,500 square yards of concrete street paving w : ere
laid in Americus during the year.
MOVEMENT FOR AN ENLARGED HOSPITAL
The Chamber of Commerce is not yet ready to make a full report on
the effort being made to secure a large unit of the Georgia Baptist Hospital.
Suffice it is to say that numerous meetings have been held, effective com
mittee work done, and a large sum subscribed. The entire proposition is
now ready for. presentation to the authorities of the Georgia Baptist
Hospital at the proper time.
COMMISSION FORM OF CITY GOVERNMENT
During the Fall of last year the Chamber of Commerce, assisted by
the local paper, conducted a publicity campaign extending over a period
of several weeks in the interest of a new citv charter incorporating the
Commission-Manager plan of municipal government for the city of Ameri
cus. The campaign was followed by a series of direct personal appeal
letters to the membership with the view of securing authoritative expression
of public opinion on the proposition. The business depression which
came at that time may have been responsible for the fact that less than
5 per cent of the members expressed themselves either for or against the
movement.
ROTARY AND KIWANIS.
The officers and directors of the Chamber of Commerce feel that much
of the credit for achievements of the past year is due to the Rotary and.
Kiwanis Clubs of Americus, both of which have responded readily when
matters of community interest came up for action and support. It is
significant that almost to a man the members of both clubs are affiliated
with the Chamber of Commerce.
MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES.
The routine activities of the Chamber of Commerce cover a varied
and surprisingly extensive field, and it would be well-nigh impossible to
give them in any kind of detail. However, a limited number of the ser
vices rendered can be given with reasonable accuracy from records of the
office. During the past year more than 9000 pieces of mail were received
THE AMERICUS TIMES-RECORDER.
I wanderer’s old-fashioned, praying
I mother. June Ellison, the loveliest
of all state mothers, portrays Mrs.
Bascom -:'.h such fine understanding
of the role that she simply radiates
• the njeaning of the word “mother.” ;
—There ie only one company on
tour in “Turn to the Right,” and this
includes well remebered favorites of
the NCw York Chicago runs, many of
whom appeared more than 1,000
I times in their respective roles. In
, the cast are Joseph Striker, Joseph
i! E. Bernard, Charles W. Goodrich,
II John O’Connor, Sidney Henderson,
: I Jane Ellison, Maude Huntley, Be
i j atrice Hughes, Maude Odell, Jr..
! I Lucille Poth and Leo Chalzell.
and 25,000 dispatched: over 4000 telephone calls and telegrams were
handled: approximately 20,000 people visited the Chamber of Commerce
offices; service was rendered or information supplied to more than 12,000
visitors in person in addition to the hundreds of letters sent out for that
purpose. \ our Secretary attended twenty-seven meetings of a civic nature
in other cities, at seven of which he participated in the program by invita
tion.
No reasonably accurate record could possibly be kept of the hundreds
of minor activities not mentioned above, such as locating rooms or houses
for new-comers, showing v isitors over the city and county, supplying mer
chants with trade and credit information, supplying inquirers with the
correct time,- taking care of packages for out-of-town people, administering
oaths bv the Secretary as a Notary Public without charge, etc., etc.
CREATING A NEW SPIRIT.
The most important undertaking has not been mentioned. Being in
tangible, it may seem unimportant, but nevertheless it is the very founda
tion of every other community endeavor. In every legitimate way the
Chamber of Commerce has sought to create and foster the spirit of closer
co-operation in community affairs bv the largest possible number of citi
zens. Particular effort has been made to wipe out any feeling that might
exist to the effect that the interests of city and county are inimical. That
much has been accomplished in this line is evidenced by the fact that
during 1918 and 1919 less than four hundred farmers visited the Chamber
of Commerce, whereas, in 1920, according to records kept, more than three
thousand farmers called at the Chamber for some kind of service or In
formation.
CONCLUSION.
In the foregoing paragraphs have been enumerated a majority of the
year’s activities. Neither is this report a complete record nor does it in
dicate the many hours of community labor spent by individuals in the exe
cution of these activities.
No major achievement is creditable to any one man, but to the organi
zation. Your officers, therefore, wish to express their deep feeling of ap
preciation to those members who have taken an active part in promoting
the Chamber’s usefulness.
THOMPSON
The school community regrets to
lose Margaret Harrison, a member
of the Eighth grade, who with her
family, moved recently to Colum
bus.
A recent addition of which the
school is vbry proud is that of a de
partment of expression. This de
partment is in the hands of Miss
Katherine McDonald, of Sumter, a
graduate of Andrew College. Miss
McDonald is a welcome addition to
the faculty.
A play soon to be given by the pu
pils of the Ninth and Tenth grades, is
being rehearsed. A definite date for
its presentation will be announced
later.
The boys’ basket ball team is mak
ing splendid progress under the
coaching of Messrs .McDonald and
Chappell, of Sumter. A girls’ team
is under way and funds are being
collected for a ball and set of goals.
The school is just proud of the
honor roll for the past month. This
roll consists of the names of those
pupils who have been present on
time every day during the month
and have made a general average of
more than ninety pei cent. Those
acquiring this dsitinction are: High
school—Carolyn Knowlton, Willie
May Mims, Mary Helen Thomas, An
nie Bivins, Lillian Wishard, Ruby Mc-
Lendon, Julian Thomas, Alvin Do
zier, Hazel Timmerman. John Perry,
Gerald Wiggins;. Intermediate —
Annie Ree Johnson, Christine Mims,
Christine Tedder. Tullis Wiggins,
Lillian Knowlton, Merritt Chappell
Edward Dozier, Vela Bivins, Eliza
beth McLendon, Francis Israel, Wil
liam Dozier. Primary—Leix Wiggins,
Leon Wiggins, Mabel Salter, Oliver
Bishop, J. W. Law, Colbert McLen-
AMERICUS
UNDERTAKING CO.
Funefa! Directors and Embalmers.
NAT LEMASTER, Manager
Day Phenes 88 and 231
NIGHT 661 and 161
Turner Electric Co.
Reduced Prices on House
Wiring and Fixtures
We are ready. Are you? Call
us for an estimate-
Phone 124.
AND LOOK VOUNG
Nobody can ’ Tell when you
Darken Gray, Faded Hair
with Sage Tea.
Grandmother kept her hair beauti
fully darkened, glossy and attractive
with a brew of Sage Tea and Sulphur.
Whenever her hair took on that dull,
faded or streaked appearance, this sim
ple mixture was applied with wonder
ful effect. By asking at any drug
store for "Wyeth’s Sage and Sulphur
Compound,” you will get a large bot
tle of this old-time recipe, improved
, by the addition of other Ingredients, all
! ready to use, at very little cost. This
I simple mixture can be depended upon
I to restore natural color and beaaity to
; s he hair.
A well-known downtown druggist
| says everybody uses Wyeth’s Sage and
Sulphur Compound now because it
darkens so naturally and evenly that
nobody can tell it has been applied—
. it’s so easy to use, too. You simply
i dampen a comb or soft brush and
j draw It through your hair, taking one
I strand at a time. By morning the
gray hair disappears; after another
application or two, it is restored to its
natural color and looks glossy, soft
and This preparation is a
delightful toilet requisite. It is not in
tended for the cure, mitigation or pre
vention of disease.
don, Colquitt McLendon, Theron Mc-
Lendfen, Thomas Jennings, Robert
Kinard, Robert Thomas, Nadine Wig
gins, Margie Knowlton.
SPECIAL
Monday and
Tuesday
With Every Cash Purchase Amounting to
$ 1.00 or More, we will sell— '
15 lbs.
Irish Potatoes 28c
Watch Our Daily Ads. Specials That Mean Great Saving*!
To You.
EDWARDS GROCERY COMPANY
“WHERE EVERYBODY GETS SERVICE.”
Phones 100—197. Opposite Postoffice
Valentine Greetings
Let us send her a box of WHITMAN’S
or NUNNALLY’S Candies, Always
Fresh.
Flowers
Corsages, Carnations, Roses
Give Us Your Order Now.
Phone
Dick* 161 Brownie
Seed Potatoes
Just received our Maine Grown Seed
Potatoes. Direct from Aristook Coun
ty. Get your stock from us, as they
are only the very best grown.
Irish Cobblers, Red Bliss and Early
Rose: Peck, 90c; Bu., $3.00. Special
prices in larger quantities.
Planters Seed Co.
Phone 502 Prompt Delivery
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1921-
FILES
and
SUPPLIES
The factories manufac
turing Y. & E. Filing
Cabinets and Supplies
have reduced their prices
from
16T030PERCENT
We have a complete line of
Wood and Steel, as well as all
Supplies, selling on basis of Fac
tory Cost today.
GOOD
PRINTING, TOO
SOUTHERN
PRINTERS
Windsor Hotel Building.
East Side
dr. e. e. parsons -
Dentist.
Office in Commercial City Ban*
Building.
Office Hours: 8 to 12 m. 1 tn A p.
Work Solicited.
