Hon. Brand Whitlock, mayor of Toledo, recently writing on this subject in the Success Magazine, declared: "We are beginning to learn that the city is fundamentally something more than a mere industrial accident, a mere place to do business in. We are gaining a new conception that the city is not only a place to get a living in, but a place to live in, and to live in the best and highest, most beautiful sense. The public buildings, parks, playgrounds, rest stations, boulevards, gardens, the great spaces where the people will gather-these will be developed according to one harmonious plan; they will be the expression of the civic mind raised to lofty conceptions. "And these pay in the commercial as well as in the æsthetic and moral sense; they attract people, they excite interest and desire, and they advertise a town; they make a city for the people in it; they are at once the opportunity and the expression of the highest ideals of those people and they elevate the lives of all." Worcester has less to atone for, less to rehabilitate than most other American cities of 150,000 inhabitants. Magnificently situated on her seven hills, Nature bathes her sandals in the limpid Quinsigamond and crowns her brow with the towering Wachusett. What has man done to supplement through art the heritage bestowed by God? Shall the people of this city spend their money with niggardly precision to make this community a stopping-place for an ever-changing, restless and discontented populace, turning out an indifferent product, or shall we make this city so attractive and beautiful and desirable that the finest handicraftsmen in America shall flock thither? The one marvelous phenomenon of the twentieth century is the growth of the American city. More than one sixth of all the great cities of this earth now sprawl their ungainly length on the floor of this continent. And in the next fifty years some American city will be not only the greatest industrial city of this continent, but the world. Shall it be Worcester, great not only by reason of her diversified product and cosmopolitan population, but unrivaled by reason of her artistic embellishment? It all depends on us,-on the sort of a city we want as to the kind of workmen we shall eventually get. They are going to have their choice. Whether they come here or go elsewhere all depends upon the Worcester we work out; it all hangs upon whether we are willing to spend our money to have the city beautiful rather than the city commonplace or the city ugly. All cities have city halls and parks and most of them have art museums, libraries and monuments. It is the exceptional city that is going to lead this generation, the city from which squalor and vice and ugliness have been banished, not because they are a disfigurement, but because they do not pay. When Worcester comes to look at herself from that angle, she will begin to see that ugliness is not only a mistake, but an economic crime and she will plan for the future accordingly. The money that is spent in beautifying a community, if spent wisely and without waste, is an investment in the savings bank of the future that will pay interest, not only in greenbacks, but in grandeur; not only in cash, but in character, citizenship and civic supremacy. The Freight Rate Situation The indications are that the long-delayed decision of the Interstate Commerce Commission with reference to the proposed advance of freight-rates in eastern classification territory will be announced within sixty days, possibly within thirty days. The task of sifting the testimony and examining the tariffs filed is a stupendous one, but the Interstate Commerce Commission has attacked the job with an enthusiasm and a desire to settle the vexed questions involved that are most commendable. The cases have been assigned for argument on January 9 and succeeding days, and it is the belief and intention of the commission that a speedy decision can be reached and announced. The commission has found that the total operating income of the railroads for the first quarter of the present fiscal year ending June 30, 1911, was $230,051,828, as compared with $242,079,975 in the corresponding three months one year ago. The total operating income for the year ending June 30, 1910, was $938,111,109, against $838,617,180 for the preceding twelve months, a gain of practically $100,000,000. If, therefore, the revenue for the first three months does show a falling off of $12,000,000, that ought not to be sufficient reason for any general advance in rates. The operating income of all the railroads of the country for the year ending June 30, 1908, was but $741,547,922, showing that the railroads, if they keep up the present volume of business, will do a business this year almost $200,000,000 greater than two years ago and only about $18,000,000 less than last year. Surely here is no cause for a general advance in rates, and those who have kept in closest touch with the situation do not believe that one will be ordered. If the rates are advanced at all the increases will be so conservative that they will not impair the earning capacity of any of our manufacturers. To prevent the industrial life of Worcester being taxed out of existence, this Board has raised an independent fund of nearly $500, and has spent that money in connection with a few other commercial organizations, notably the Boston Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants Association of New York, in employing counsel and sending delegates to Washington to protest against such sweeping increases in class rates as the railroads proposed. This organization and the Boston Chamber of Commerce were the only two commercial organizations in New England represented at the Washington hearings, notwithstanding the fact that the integrity of hundreds of millions of dollars invested in manufacturing in New England were threatened by the proposed action. If it shall fall out that the work of Mr. Brandeis has prevented these advances being ordered, commercial New England will owe a debt to Worcester and Boston, and to the members of the Executive Committee of the eastern commercial organizations from these two cities. that it can never discharge and probably never will appreciate. An Industrial Museum Prof. U. Waldo Cutler of this city in the December issue of the Worcester Magazine, in his article on "An Industrial Museum," outlined very interestingly a unique proposition for Worcester, but one filled with tremendous possibilities, if it can be carried into execu tion. Probably no city on the continent could assemble a more varied product than Worcester if it started in to do so. The material that could be gathered together under one roof would certainly constitute an object lesson that would fill with amazement our own people, to say nothing of the stranger. Incalculable benefit must necessarily result to the manufacturers of this city from a permanent exhibition of this kind, particularly if it was kept up to date. Many cities have attempted to do something of this sort in a small and incomplete way. The western cities are particularly active in grouping their resources where they can be seen and grasped by the most casual visitor, but outside of Philadelphia no attempt has ever been made in this country, in any large and thorough way, to assemble the kinds of goods made in one community in one spot, readily accessible to all. The European cities have specialized in this line and the industrial museums of England and Germany, Switzerland and Italy are among the most interesting attractions to a hard-headed American business man that the several cities boast. Aside from the revelation such a display would be to Worcester people, its effect upon the youth of the city could not but be most beneficial. Many a lad now halting between two opinions as to his life-work would be unconsciously thrust in the direction of a good trade by the creative desire such a museum would awaken and stimulate. The American Steel & Wire Co., the Royal Worcester Corset Co. and some other manufacturing plants now maintain museums of their own which are very interesting to all their employees and officials. Whether it is possible to incorporate all these and the hundreds of other exhibits that could be made into one concrete display, is of course a question that time alone will answer. New England Getting Together Many attempts have been made to unify and focalize New England sentiment as expressed in its various commercial bodies, but up to the present time the work has been very largely sporadic, spasmodic and unsuccessful. The Boston Chamber of Commerce is at work on a scheme that looks promising in the direction of federating all these organizations, but the latest attempt to get together is being made by the secretaries themselves. For some time a few of the secretaries in the larger cities have maintained an organization known as the New England Commercial Club, which has met semioccasionally at the Boston City Club to discuss matters of general interest to all New England. It is now proposed to widen this organization so as to take in all the commercial organizations in New England, both large and small, doing Board of Trade work, whether the organization be called a Board of Trade, a Chamber of Commerce, a Business Men's Association, a Merchants' Association or a Commercial Club. James A. McKibben, secretary of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, is president of the organization. John L. Sewall, secretary of Boston 1915, is secretary-treasurer, and these gentlemen with Herbert N. Davison, secretary of the Worcester Board of Trade, comprise the executive committee. The name of the new organization is the New England Association of Commercial Executives, and already some forty secretaries from large and small bodies have given in their adherence to the plan. It is planned to have the new organization affiliate. very closely with the American Association of Commercial Executives, and while the secretaries will at the monthly meetings discuss the r local problems, they will also, by coming together, get the broad view of public affairs necessary if New England is to shake off the provincialism that has so long cursed it. The Epler Contribution A contribution unique in its character, showing up one side of Worcester County entirely distinct from industrial preeminence, is given in this issue of the Worcester Magazine when Rev. Percy H. Epler, pastor of the Adams Square Congregational Church, pays tribute to a group of men and women who have made the Heart of the Commonwealth forever famous in the literary annals of the world. Barton, Ward, Bancroft, Gough, Whitney, Morton, Hoar, Howe, Burbank and Dix are names to conjure with in every realm. The philanthropist, the humanitarian, the patriot, the orator, are all represented in this list, as well as the inventor and the agriculturalist. Master minds Mr. Epler calls them, and they are master minds. In a masterly way they have handled the opportunities that came to their hand, and have risen to positions so eminent as to enable them to write their names high up in the universal hall of fame. Massachusetts and the nation owe Mr. Epler a debt of gratitude for having accented the remarkable qualities of this group of men and women, and the Worcester Magazine needs not to apologize for turning aside this the first month of the new year, to exploit in a few brief pages what is still her grandest manufactured product-manhood and womanhood of the highest type. Denver and Worcester A rather remarkable and interesting exhibit, and one calculated to appeal particularly to Worcester people, is made in the last issue of Municipal Facts issued by the city of Denver. Denver is a community of 213,381 souls against Worcester's 145,986, and yet the valuation of Denver as returned by the assessors is but $134,000000, against our $141,000,000. In other words, and in order to put it more succinctly, with 70,000 less population Worcester returns $7,000,000 more taxable property. As a result of this state of things taxes in Denver are $36.50 against $16.40 in Worcester. The trouble comes, it appears, from the methods pursued by the assessors in the two communities. In Worcester the assessors assess the full fair value of every piece of property in the city. In Denver the real estate and improvements are assessed at about fifty per cent. and the personal property at about thirty per cent. of their true worth. The way this works out is that the per capita valuation of Denver is but $679, against $972 here. In this respect Worcester compares very favorably with Newark with its per capita valuation of $999, Jersey City of $1000, and Providence of $1100, all larger cities of about the same type as this. Current Events Nov. 22. Hearing in Boston in the matter of abolition of northern grade crossings. 30. Stamp sales at Worcester postoffice in November amount to $36,563.55. November sales of 1909 were $33,145.45. 30. President Charles T. Tatman of the Worcester Board of Trade appointed, at a meeting in Boston, a member of a committee to perfect plans for the federation of all the commercial organizations in New England. Dec. 3. Organization of Worcester Publicity Association completed. 5. Edward T. Esty, associate justice of Central District Court, appointed assistant district attorney. 11. 14,730 employees of Worcester concerns sign resolutions commending work of Dr. Melvin G. Overlock, and the resolutions are given him at mass meeting in Mechanics Hall. Nov. 28. Franchise granted Providence & Worcester Railway Co. through Portland Street to within 85 feet of Park Street. 28. Aldermen vote to authorize City Solicitor E. H. Vaughan to appear before Massachusetts Railroad Commission and enter complaint against lights, power, signs, condition of cars and work of employees of the Worcester Consolidated Street Railway Co. 30. Building permits for fiscal year of 1910 number 1519 as against 1257 in 1909. The estimated cost is $4,071,506. 30. During fiscal year of 1910, City Clerk Towne issues 1587 marriage licenses, 288 more than in 1909. Dec. 5. Frederick H Clark, assistant city engineer, elected street commissioner. 19. George W. Mackintire, treasurer of State Mutual Life Assurance Co., elected trustee of sinking funds of city by Board of Alder men. 159,276 16,746 40,481 10,960 94,270 5,565 6,656 4,250 29,250 3,688 American Elevators in Argentina According to an illustrated catalogue issued by a Buenos Aires house, there are 530 American elevators in use in Argentina, of which 470 passenger and 42 freight elevators are in use in Buenos Aires, the remainder in La Plata, Rio Santiago, Mar del Plata, and Bahia. This creditable showing is the result of seeking trade in a proper way-studying the field carefully, sending out trained men to see after the work, printing all advertising matter in Spanish, and complying with all the other essentials necessary to a successful business $7,270 campaign in the River Platte countries. $293,464 8,847 15,656 150,769 26,892 7,150 12,650 35,344 19,450 423,395 $31,967 2,415 16,978 7,712 141,673 Buenos Aires is a good field for elevators, with its many handsome buildings requiring them, and its skyscrapers and new apartment houses, which must have them. Americans, however, have no monopoly of this trade, as Italian, French, and German elevators are being exploited in this market.-U. S. Consular and Trade Reports. Export Opportunity in Brazil It would appear that American manufacturers have not made any serious or practical efforts to secure their share of Brazilian trade to which they are entitled, and which, with proper efforts-efforts such as are put forth by their European competitors-they can secure. American manufacturers and exporters seem to have well-organized selling branches in other parts of the commercial world, even where the markets are not equal to those of Brazil, while here not only have they no representatives, especially in the iron and steel trade, but they have no connection with local agencies through which a small trade, at least, could be done. They should at least have an expert salesman attached to the office of the local agency. Some such arrangement could doubtless be made to maintain one or more experts on the Brazilian field to work in conjunction with local importers already having American connections.-U. S. Consular and Trade Reports. The December Meeting Directors Act on Many Matters, Including the Proposed The December meeting of the Directors of the Worcester Board of Trade was presided over by Mr. Charles T. Tatman president, and those present comprised, in addition, Messrs. Edward M. Woodward vice-president, Charles E. Hildreth, Louis H. Buckley, S. Foster H. Goodwin, Albert H. Inman, Arthur C. Comins and Ernest P. Bennett. A communication from Hon. Charles G. Washburn, offering to give $1000 toward a $10,000 fund to double the size of the manufacturers' building at the Greendale fair grounds of the Worcester Agricultural Society, was read and referred to a special committee consisting of Albert H. Inman chairman, Walter D. Ross, J. Lewis Ellsworth, Clinton S. Marshall and Edwin J. Seward, with the president ex-officio. cester Board of Trade, subscribe a sufficient amount of money, as, for example, $10,000, towards the enlargement of the present exhibition hall, with the idea of ultimately extending it to the shores of the lake adjacent to the grounds, and he says that he will be glad to start the subscription with the sum of $1000. Two members of this Board, Prof. Leonard P. Kinnicutt and Mr. T. Hovey Gage, are delegates representing the organization on the Medical Milk Commission of Worcester. The annual report of that body was presented at this meeting and filed. It is as follows: Report of Medical Milk Commission Last year the commission reported their organization, the drawing up of the rules and regulations for certified and inspected milk, and the giving of a certificate for certified milk to one producer, which, however, after four months had to be withdrawn because of the failure of the producer to live up to the requirements of the commission. In December, 1909, the commission signed a contract with the C. Brigham Company which gave to them our certificate for inspected milk, this milk coming from the Smith P. Burton farm in Grafton. In July the commission gave the same company another certificate for inspected milk from the E. C. Richards farm in Paxton. Both of these farms are models as far as buildings and equipment are concerned, and score among the best in the State. The contract which the commission has with the C. Brigham Company is as follows: This is to certify that the Medical Milk Commission of Worcester has inspected the dairy of Elys-Elyn Farm, of Paxton, Mass., owned by E. C. Richard, and the plant of the C. Brigham Company, of Worcester, Mass., including the care and handling of the milk from said dairy, and do hereby approve the milk produced and handled as aforesaid, as filling all the requirements for "Inspected Milk," subject to the following conditions: 1st. 2d. 3d. Mr. Washburn in the course of his communication suggested that inasmuch as the Worcester Agricultural 4th. Society was organized about the year 1819 for the purpose of promoting the agricultural and manufacturing interests of this community, it is very much in order that thoroughly good facilities shall be provided at the fair gounds for mechanical and mercantile exhibitions in connection with the annual fair. He thinks also that the fair itself ought to be made more and more a festival time for the people of this community for miles around, and that whatever can be done to interest people in a variety of ways will assist in the promotion of the success of the fair and the education as well as the entertainment of the people. He therefore suggests that the manufacturers and merchants of Worcester, at the solicitation of the Wor 5th. The milk shall, when delivered to the consumer, conform to all the requirements of the commission already published. That a report be made to the commission by a veterinarian approved by the State Cattle Bureau, that all the cows producing inspected milk are sound and have successfully passed the tuberculin test-this test and report to be made at least yearly without expense to the commission. That no milk delivered by the C. Brigham Company in Worcester shall be known as "Inspected Milk," except that approved by the Medical Milk Commission of Worcester. That the manager of the dairy shall weekly, on cards furnished by the commission, certify that no disease exists among his employees, and to the amount of milk that has been delivered to the C. Brigham Company; and mail to the Secretary of the commission. That C. Brigham Company shall cover the tops of their bottles of milk inspected and approved by the Medical Milk Commission of Worcester with a parchment circle, on which the following shall be printed: "This bottle contains milk approved by the Medical Milk Commission of Worcester, Mass., as 'Inspected Milk.' C. Brigham Company." |