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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 >- T ■ ,■ J .M . w W Zi I > wi NrrjXk. 1,11 /r , ■. < liWH ' '5 ■ .HP ! I I 11;^ mb? 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.