USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume One > Part 23
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The auditorium in the Chamber of Commerce building is open, rent free, to all public organizations who have no permanent headquarters. Free quarters are given to the Danville Community Chest, Red Cross, Associated Chari- ties and Traveler's Aid Society.
In this auditorium there have been collected more than five hundred directories of leading cities of the United States. New directories are added each year. This direc- tory service is very valuable at times, to the citizens and the use of the directory is free to all.
The Chamber of Commerce is undoubtedly the most powerful organization in the city. It has no competitor. Its record is the record of the recent growth of Danville. On January 1, 1930, there were nine hundred memberships in the Chamber of Commerce. Since that date thirty new members have been added, up to March 1, 1930.
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The substantial data of the Chamber of Commerce shows the growth, wealth and progress of the city of Dan- ville. This may be illustrated by figures for 1929. In that year, fifty-two reporting industries showed a total pay roll of more than fourteen million seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and an employment average of ten thou- sand five hundred. Twenty-four reporting plants showed an increase of eight hundred and thirty-six employes dur- ing the year and thirty-five reporting enterprises showed an investment for the year 1929, in new buildings and equipment, of more than three million two hundred and fifty thousand. During the past year, seven new factories have been secured for Danville, which either are now oper- ating or whose buildings are now being actually con- structed, which new industries, when operating, will have an annual pay roll of more than a half million dollars and a total investment of buildings and equipment of more than eight hundred and twenty-six thousand dollars.
During the last two years, the membership of the Dan- ville Chamber of Commerce has increased from four hun- dred to the membership above stated. Fifty-three com- mittees shared the responsibility and enthusiastic en- deavor to preserve the marked increasing development of the city during the past year.
In addition to the system of organization and use of a full time paid secretary, Danville has employed an all time paid assistant secretary. Earl S. Ward is the present as- sistant secretary. His duties are to care for all details possible and thus to enable the secretary to give his per- sonal attention as far as possible, to the major problems of the organization. One full time stenographer, Miss Dorothy Taylor, and assistants from time to time, complete the office force.
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Growing out of its past experience, Danville has re- cently created the so called "Danville Plan." An industrial foundation fund of some one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars has been raised. Eighty per cent will be covered by a stock issue which will be paid back to the stock owners, at the end of ten years. Twenty per cent is a mov- ing fund, voluntarily donated. The use of this money may be briefly explained as follows: Assume that the industrial committee of the Chamber of Commerce has located an ac- ceptable factory in another city, which would be a desirable addition to Danville, and which will relocate in Danville. Let it be assumed that this enterprise will need forty thou- sand dollars for the construction of a new modern factory building. The Chamber of Commerce will present a ground site free. A building and loan association of this city will loan sixty per cent of the value of the building. The owner must advance twenty per cent of the cost of the building. The Chamber of Commerce then, out of its In- dustrial Foundation Fund, will loan the owner a sum not exceeding twenty per cent of the cost of the construction of the building, which amount to be advanced by the Cham- ber of Commerce. In no case shall it exceed thirty thou- sand dollars to any one factory.
This entire expenditure will be controlled by the joint management of the directors of the Danville Industrial Foundation Fund and the Danville Chamber of Commerce, cooperating with the building and loan association, which, in a given case, may advance money on construction of the factory building.
Title to the real estate is placed in the name of a trus- tee. A contract for deed is executed by the trustee to the owner, agreeing to convey title only when the amount ad- vanced by the Danville Chamber of Commerce, from the
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Industrial Foundation Fund, with interest, has been re- paid and when the dues on principal and interest of the building and loan association loan, together with all gen- eral taxes and special assessments, have been fully paid and satisfied to the date of repayment in full to the Dan- ville Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to loaning this sum of money, it has been determined to be sound economics to make a limited in- ducement to the industry. Following out such plan, the Chamber of Commerce will move, free, the machinery and equipment of such industry from its present location to the new factory site in Danville. The Chamber of Commerce furthermore will move, without cost, the household goods and effects of those skilled employes of the industry, which must be, by the owner, brought to Danville. It is thought that the acquisition of skilled employes and their families, is to the city at large, well worth the cost of moving their household goods. Experience has shown that the officers and superior agents of the new industries are purchasers of some of the best property in the city. Those who rent, desire and rent houses of value and often later become pur- chasers of very substantial residences. Their trade with the merchants is a good asset. The "Danville Plan" there- fore, assumes that it is a fair trade to the business man of the community to pay the moving expenses of the officers and higher class of employes of an industry coming to this city.
The expense of moving machinery and equipment and household goods is paid out of the twenty per cent above mentioned, which is called a moving fund, which, when paid out, is not returned.
The owner so coming to Danville to prosecute his in- dustry, by his contract, pays monthly on the principal and
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interest of the loan to the building association and to the loan so made by the Chamber of Commerce on the construc- tion of the building. As soon as the amount advanced by the Chamber of Commerce, with interest, is paid back, the owner is entitled to a deed subject to the then existing loan in the building and loan association. The money thus re- ceived back into the treasury of the Industrial Foundation Fund is again available to be turned over and used in an- other factory building. And so on the money is turned over and used for ten years, at which time the moneys ad- vanced for stock in the Industrial Foundation Fund will be paid back to those who advanced same, or their heirs.
This "Danville Plan" has been followed with marked success for two years. It will be pursued in the future. It seems to be the best solution to date, of the problem of forced growth of municipality development. The efforts of these organizations is shown by the development of this city. The increase of population of 1910 over 1900, was seventy per cent; of 1920 over 1910, was twenty-two per cent; 1928 over 1920, was over forty-four per cent. An increase of over two hundred per cent from 1900 to 1920 and over three hundred per cent from 1900 to 1928, the latest listed figures published, shows the results of ag- gressive civic organization.
The progress of Danville during the last ten to thirty years, reflects the efforts of these organizations through whose endeavors marked progress is shown. School en- rollment in 1920 was seven thousand, and was practically nine thousand in 1929. The value of residential buildings in 1921 was four hundred and thirty-seven thousand dol- lars; in 1929 more than one million one hundred thousand dollars. The value of manufactured products of 1900 amounting to one million nine hundred thousand dollars,
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was fifteen million dollars in 1927. Assessed valuation in 1900 was two million dollars; in 1928 it was thirty-one mil- lion, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Bank de- posits in 1910 were four million eight hundred thousand dollars; in 1928 more than eleven million dollars. Invest- ments in building and loan associations in 1900 were two million two hundred fifty thousand dollars; in 1929 thirty- one million nine hundred thousand dollars. Newspaper cir- culation in 1900 was eight thousand seven hundred sixty- four; in 1929 was twenty-nine thousand five hundred. Such data is uncontrovertable proof of the marked growth of the city of Danville.
Activities of the Danville Chamber of Commerce may be further appreciated by knowing that, in 1929, fifty- three committees functioned on the various problems alloted to them. In that year the board of directors held twenty-eight meetings.
A strict budget system has recently been adopted. The budget is adopted the first of the year and is strictly ad- hered to. The books of the association are audited by cer- tified public accountants. Before a check may be cashed, it must be approved by and countersigned by four different officers.
In 1929, fifty-seven different industrial propositions were investigated by the industrial committee and board of directors. Many were found to be merely bonus seekers. Seven acceptable ones were secured for Danville. Only well established industries are sought. Only industries are desired which will not, by improper competition, injure the success of any existing like industries. The Chamber of Commerce, at all times, cooperates with the various ser- vice clubs of the city. One item of cooperation is reflected in the establishment of large sign boards advertising the
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city of Danville and the service clubs paying for same. Two of these boards have been located along the Dixie highway south of Momence, and east of Watseka. One is located near Veedersburg, Indiana. There is one near Marshall and one near Effingham and the sixth is west of Cham- paign.
The Danville Chamber of Commerce is the powerful booster of the city. It tells the interested investor and the factory owner, who may be induced to move to this city, that over twenty-three million people live within three hundred miles of Danville; that freight rates to all points south, east and west are as low as those from Chicago; that eleven freight carrying lines, in addition to numerous motor freight trucks, radiate in every direction from the city. The Chamber of Commerce tells such interested per- sons that Danville has an inexhaustible quantity of coal at its very door. It lures a stranger to make his home in Danville by assuring him that it is preeminently a city of homes, of schools, of churches, of parks, of magnificent public buildings of natural beauty and wealth. The Cham- ber of Commerce does not forget that Danville is the hub of the first hard road system ever constructed in this state; that Danville is intersected by the two main highways of the country, one from Chicago to Florida called the Dixie Highway and one from the Atlantic to the Pacific called the Ocean to Ocean, or, Pike's Peak Highway.
To further crystalize public support of the Chamber of Commerce, the board of directors in January, 1929, held a community banquet. The estimated attendance was five hundred. The actual number of persons seated at the ban- quet tables was nine hundred. The auditorium of the Masonic Temple located on West North Street, was filled to capacity and over two hundred persons were denied places
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at the tables. The banquet was voted to be an annual event. The second annual banquet was held on January 21, 1930, in the immense armory building on Hazel Street. One thousand one hundred and seventy-eight reservations were made. Again more than two hundred applicants could not be accommodated. This banquet was the larg- est of its kind ever held in any city of the United States. It was estimated by the famous war correspondent, Floyd Gibbons, who was the chief speaker at the banquet, of 1930, that should the Chicago Chamber of Commerce give a banquet with like attendance in proportion to the popula- tion, that there would, in Chicago, sit at the banquet tables at one time eighty-three thousand people.
The board of directors of the Danville Chamber of Commerce consists of twelve members. Four new mem- bers are elected each year to serve a term of three years. The officers and members of the board of directors of the Danville Chamber of Commerce of 1930, with their busi- ness and vocations, are as follows :
President, H. Ernest Hutton, lawyer; first vice presi- dent, W. J. Parrett, manager of the Commercial News; second vice president, Harry Payne, general manager Dan- ville division Illinois Power and Light Corporation; treas- urer, George W. Telling, banker; secretary, Clifford C. Simpson ; assistant secretary, Earl G. Ward; stenographer, Dorothy Taylor. Board of Directors: W. M. Acton, law- yer; R. R. Bookwalter, lawyer; C. F. Carter, business man ; John Cathcart, banker; H. F. Espenscheid, building and loan and insurance; C. B. Hall, transfer and storage; E. Dean Huber, realtor; I. H. Louis, merchant; Alphonse Meis, merchant; W. J. Parrett, manager The Commercial- News; Harry Payne, manager Danville division, Illinois Power and Light Corporation; Fred Spivey, merchant.
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Every officer and member of the board of directors is a prominent citizen of the community. He is a man of af- fairs. His time is his most valuable asset. Yet, unstint- ingly, he gives of his time and experience, gratis, to the good of his community. Only the secretary and assistant receive pay for services rendered.
And so, the story of Danville's industrial and civic progress which began in the log cabin, is ever unfolding. The slogan of the Chamber of Commerce for Danville is "One hundred thousand-in the making." The Chamber of Commerce is working along scientific lines. Lost mo- tion has been eliminated. Results are speaking. The in- dustrial future of Danville is bright. In a few years it will certainly have reached its population goal. Without the Chamber of Commerce, its trend would have been down- ward. The Chamber of Commerce is the heart of all acti- vities of the municipality.
CHAPTER XX
THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHWAYS IN VERMILION COUNTY
(By W. S. Dillon, County Superintendent of Highways.)
TRAVEL IN THE EARLY DAYS-THE "OLD PLANK ROAD" OF 1843-LE- SEURE'S LANE-BRIDGES-FIRST BRICK ROAD-VARIOUS BOND ISSUES -TICE ROAD LAW OF 1913-IMPETUS TO BUILD ROADS-TOWNSHIP ACTIVITY-SUCCESS IN "PULLING DANVILLE OUT OF THE MUD"- COUNTY CONTRACTS.
The history and development of roads in Vermilion County is a big subject.
The County of Vermilion was founded in 1826 and the roads at that time were dirt, and in the spring and rainy season they had no bottom. Travel in those days was on foot, horse back or in buggies or wagons and in the rainy season on foot or horse back. The work on the roads in those days was done by the residents of the county to work out their poll taxes and consisted in dragging and grading the dirt roads.
As time went on, attempts were made to improve the dirt roads and in a great many places where the roads were hard to drain and very bad for considerable length of time, the commissioners would build what was called a corduroy road. These roads were built of poles from six to twelve feet long by four to six inches in diameter and
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placed across the line of travel. If one should run onto one of these relics of roads today, the jolts he would receive would be a lasting if not an injurious memory. In locali- ties where gravel could be found, the commissioners would haul it onto the road, dump it in ridges and let the traffic iron it out. Some roads in some places were made fairly good in this manner.
The first real attempt to pull Vermilion County out of the mud was made in 1843, when a company was formed to build a road from Georgetown to the Wabash river at Perrysville, Indiana. Timber was plentiful in those days and the road was built of plank and was called the "old plank road." The old toll gate was in the vicinity of the east end of Ninth Street, according to old residents of Georgetown. This probably was the only toll road ever in Vermilion County, and according to history, was the first paved road west of the Alleghany Mountains.
In recent times and during the construction of our mod- ern paved roads, parties at various times have taken ad- vantage of gaps in the roads, where it was necessary to detour and have charged a small sum for each vehicle cross- ing a corner of their lot or land. On a detour through Bel- gium Village at one time, was a very bad mud hole, and nearly every car passing there would stick in the mud. A man living nearby would pull them out for a few dollars. The strange part about it was the mud hole would not dry up even after all the balance of the road was in good shape. Upon investigation, it was found that the man spent his nights in filling this place with water and until stopped by the authorities made quite a nice sum.
From 1843 on until about 1894, the roads were main- tained by dragging, grading, cutting down hills, draining and graveling. As the country became more settled, more
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OLD COUNTRY CLUB, HARRISON PARK, DANVILLE
NEW COUNTRY CLUB, DANVILLE, ILL.
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money and material were available and the commissioners of highways who were the supreme authorities in road matters, built some very good roads. One of the earlier roads in Vermilion County worth mentioning was the pike road from the city of Danville west to Tilton and south on the Georgetown road to LeSeure's Lane or Fourteenth Street, as it is now known. This road was built with large boulders and covered with gravel and was an excellent road. The present brick pavement is just on top of these old boulders.
The cobble stone streets in the city of Danville on Ver- milion and Main, were an early day pavement, which would not be tolerated in the present time, although they were good streets in those days and served their purpose.
The old bridges were all built of timbers and most of them were covered. The old red bridge just to the west of the present Gilbert Street bridge was an old landmark in Danville until some time in the nineties. This bridge was built just before the Civil War and was as fine a type of covered bridge as there was in the country. Many of the old residents can tell of creepy feelings, Ichabod Crane rides and mysterious happenings in the old bridge of long ago. One of the old abutments still stands on the south bank of the Vermilion just to the west of the magnificent new Memorial Bridge. The old red bridge had one abut- ment on each bank of the river and a pier in the middle. There is only one covered bridge left in the county at this writing, and it is a much smaller bridge than the old red bridge. It is across the Salt Fork at old Conkey Town, south of Muncie, Illinois.
The first brick pavement in the county was built on Franklin Street in the city of Danville from Main Street to North Street, in about 1886. A few years after this,
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about 1894, the commissioner of highway of Danville Township with township funds and private subscriptions, built the first brick pavement in the county outside of the city. This pavement extended west from the city limits west of the old Parle homestead, west about one mile to the railroad crossing near the present Johnson Oil Station.
From 1900 to 1910, the state of Illinois furnished crushed rock free at the penitentiaries for roads. The commissioner of highways took advantage of this offer and paved with crushed rock, the road from Greenwood Ceme- tery to the Georgetown road. The construction of this road was under the supervision of a state inspector and was built according to state specifications. This was a very good road of its kind, and gave good satisfaction until re- placed in 1927 with a modern concrete slab. During this period, the commissioners of highways of several different townships voted bonds or special taxes for gravel or stone roads and built several miles of good stone roads. Some of these roads were built under good engineering control and others were built by the commissioners alone, but by a liberal use of stone, most of these roads built at that time gave good service, but gradually wore out and were finally replaced by concrete.
Elwood Township took the lead in this type of stone road and built more miles than any other township. Ross Township and Jamaica also built a considerable mileage of this type of road. In 1910, Danville Township voted a bond issue of $80,000 to pave with brick two miles west of Danville from Amos Corner south to Hillery and then one mile east to the pavement; also three miles south from the city limits to the north line of Belgium and from the city limits east of the Soldiers' Home, east to the state line. These roads were all built of brick and were fine pavement,
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although the three miles south of Danville has since been replaced by a wider road built of concrete. Previous to this, Danville Township had done considerable paving around the Soldiers' Home.
As far back as 1906 the Legislature had passed some good road laws and had created a state road department. This department gathered statistics from other states and countries, experimented with various types of roads, aided the commissioners in getting stone for the roads, gave en- gineering advice in regard to roads and bridges and car- ried on road propaganda.
This finally resulted in the enactment of the Tice Road Law, in 1913, which with various amendments, is the law under which we operate today. Up to this time, the man- agement of all roads in the state was in the hands of local officials, but with the advent of the Tice Road Law, a rad- ical change in the management of roads in the state of Illinois was created, until now the Department of Public Works and Buildings in Springfield have absolute charge of all state bond roads and improved state aid roads. The department has an important voice in the improvement of state aid roads. The department also has some jurisdic- tion over all other roads, through the county superintend- ent of highways, who has certain powers over the commis- sioners of highways. With the advent of the automobile and the passage of the Tice Law a great impetus in road building in the state of Illinois was created. Illinois, at that time was classified as twenty-second in roads in the United States, and has since advanced, until now, she is among the first, and the good work is still going on.
In 1913, William S. Dillon, the writer of this article, was appointed under the Tice Law, as County Superintend- ent of Highways of Vermilion County, and in December
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of that year, attended the first state road school at the Uni- versity of Illinois at Urbana. At the date of this writing, he has just returned from the seventeenth annual state road school at the University of Illinois at Urbana, not having missed any of the seventeen sessions. This school has grown to be the most important road school in the United States.
The Tice Road Law also created in Vermilion County a great impetus for road building and during the winter of 1913 and the spring and summer of 1914, a campaign of education was carried on in Vermilion County in regard to roads and the bond issue.
The Vermilion County Good Roads Association was or- ganized. The association had a president, secretary, as- sistant secretary in Danville, a treasurer, outside, and a vice president in every township.
Meetings were held in every town in the county. Speak- ers from the state highway department, public spirited citi- zens from any place in the county and others, made talks at these meetings, and explained to the people the plan for building the bond roads. Statistics were prepared and printed showing that the money spent on roads in Ver- milion County in the last ten years had been more than the proposed $1,500,000.00 bond issue. Pamphlets were printed and widely distributed, showing the benefits of good roads; notably "A Discussion between Mr. Glad and Mr. Blue" and a statement that the plan of the bond issue had been investigated and was a good thing for the county. It was signed and indorsed by forty-three business men, the Vermilion County Banker's Association, the Automo- bile Club, Medical Society, Good Roads Association, the Bar Association and the Danville Industrial Club. The slogan, "Help Pull Vermilion County out of the Mud," was
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