USA > Ohio > The Ohio blue book; or, Who's who in the Buckeye state; a cyclopedia of biography of men and women of Ohio > Part 117
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Within the past months the Columbus Chamber of Commerce has been instru- mental in no less than a dozen modern examples of city legislation as exempli- fied in ordinances for paving. street im- provement, creation of Franklin County conservancy board, re-cstablishment of refuse collection, restricting of parking of automobiles in retail districts, street sign regulaton, smoke abatement: all of which have to do with the comfort, safety and welfare of the city. To this may be added approval and support of bond issue for a contagion hospital and others.
Besides this broad scope of civic activi- ties. the other activties of the Chamber are divided into an Industrial Department which endeavors to bring live industries to the city and to promote those already established; the Retail Merchants' Asso- ciation which looks after the collective in- terests of the retailers; the Manufacturers' & Jobbers' Association which develops new trade relations throughout the state and country; the traffic department cares for the interests of the Columbus shippers; the publicity and entertainment depart- ment which publishes and distributes in- formation concerning the city, furnishes news articles for newspapers, magazines and trade publications, answers hundreds of inquiries monthly from all sections of the country, and abroad, concerning Colum- bus commerce and advantages; and the Social Service Department which investi- gates and systematizes benevolent projects which solicit money from the public.
Among the recent activities of note the Columbus Chamber has been instrumental in the organization of an Industrial Se- curities Company to promote and foster industries, a Franklin County Co-operative Farm Bureau, and a Columbus Chapter of the American Red Cross.
The Chamber brings together the com- munity's natural leaders, the men who are interested in the community's advance- ment and organizes them into an efficient working machine. In such matters as clean-up and paint-up campaigns, open- ings of the base-ball season, reception to returning National Guardsmen from Bor- der service. fire prevention propaganda, trade extension and acquaintance tours, and inaugural and civic celebrations, the Chamber heads the movements. At State Fairs. the Chamber organization is used largely as the machinery to promote the attractive features which are planned for these events.
Affiliated with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, of which they are branches, are the Retail Merchants' Association, Manufacturers' & Jobbers' Association, and the Columbus Advertising Club.
The Columbus Chamber has recently taken an active part in a successful en- terprise to finance for Columbus an ini- mense Exposition Building. valued at. a half million dollars. with a floor space of 75,000 square feet. and a seating capacity of 10,000 people and which will meet the needs of all kinds of indoor gatherings including conventions, expositions, carni- vals, grand opera, tournaments, automo- hile, horse and other similar shows, spec- tacular stage performances, athletic and arena contests and mass meetings. The architects are just completing the working plans. following the final stock subscrip- tions in the project.
The Chamber of Commerce has co- operated with the Conventions and Pub- licity Association in securing for Colum- bus next October the National Dairy Show which is expected to bring to the city over 300,000 visitors. In this connection. a coliseum costing $200.000 is to be erected at the State Fair Grounds.
The Columbus Chamber of Commerce is in reality a Chamber of Citizenship. It brings together the community's natural leaders. the inen who are interested in the community's advancement, and or- ganizes them into an efficient working machine, and it molds the public opinion in matters looking toward the comfort, safety and welfare of the city.
TOLEDO. In July, 1909. a stranger like Dick Whittington of old. wandered into a little town in northern Ohio, then hav- ing a population of about 150,000 souls and
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recognized at once its great possibilities as a transportation center and cast his lot with Toledo.
The man was John N. Willys. He had very little capital but had plenty of nerve and vision. His first year's production of cars was 465. while in 1916 the Willys- Overland plants turned out 150.000. It is very difficult to realize the magnitude of a production of this sort until the reader can realize to make it possible, a car must leave the finishing room fully complete every minute and a half, day and night, for the year, and that if these 150,000 cars were placed in a line as close to- gether as possible that they would extend 284 miles which means that this line of cars would stretch from Toledo to Chi- cago and fifty miles past that city.
The building of a monster organization of this kind is little short of marvelous and has been accomplished as a magician
might wave his wand. The floor space of the factory has increased from the original amount of 419,950 square feet to 4.486.680 square feet or 103 acres, quite large enough for the modern farni. John Willys was not over estimating the possi- bilities of Toledo.
The city is now the second automobile center, the largest clover seed market in the world, the largest roaster of coffees in the United States a great flour mill- ing center and foremost producer of glass products in the United States.
Industries Varied. Toledo industrles cover a great variety of products manu- factured. Toledo manufactures a large amount of cut glass. marketed all over the world. It is also a large plate glass producing center and one industry in par- tlcular. located in Toledo, has revolution- ized the making of glass bottles. This is the result of patents upon a bottle machine and all of the bottles manufac- tured in the world are now made on these machines. During 1916, four of these com- panies manufactured 613.959,696 bottles.
Toledo is the home of the Champion Spark Plug Co., whose production of spark plugs during 1916 amounted to 20,000,000. Six ships were built by the Toledo Ship- building Co. during 1916, valued at over $2,000.000. Toledo has the largest concrete dock in the world. located at the Ship- building Cc.
Other products for which Toledo is cele- brated are children's vehicles, canvas gloves and mittens. atomizers, bottles, chimneys, scales, wagons, wheelbarrows, pig iron. malleable iron, springs, oil refin- ing, oil well supplies, linseed oil, castor oil, sugar, machinery, elevators, flour, electrical apparatus, tinware, women's clothing.
A Transportation Center. Toledo is the second transportation center in the United States. The opportunities for cheap and quick transportation via the Great Lakes are so far reaching as not to be readlly appreciated. Eight great states border the Great Lakes on the south and west and Canada on the north and east.
The cheapest transportation in the world is open to Toledo. Allen D. Albert says that Toledo cannot help but be a trans- portation center on account of its location. Toledo has the following railroad facili- ties: Lake Shore & Michigan Southern operates six lines, to-wit: Old Road di- vision. Air Line division. Detroit division, Norwalk division. Jackson division, San- dusky division. Toledo & Central operates two lines, to-wit: Eastern division and Columbus division; Blg Four; Pennsyl- vania R. R. operates three lines, to-wlt: Mansfield division, Vandalia division, Chi- cago division; Wabash operates two dl-
visions, to-wit: Chicago division and St. Louis division: C. H. & D .; Hocking Val- ley; Pere Marquette: Ann Arbor: Toledo, St. Louis & Western: Wheeling & Lake Erie: Toledo. Angola & Western; Detroit & Toledo Short Line. Outside of the freight steamers, which represent many different companies and which are load- ing and unloading continuously, Toledo has three regular steamship lines.
Materials entering are: Iron ore, lum- ber. wheat. flaxseed. sand and gravel. One of Toledo's best facilities in the way of transportation is a terminal railroad, 23 miles long. making a complete belt of the various lines, something which every city may point to with pride.
Toledo does not owe its growth to any sudden boom, but to a steady rise. and its natural advantages are mainly responsi- ble for its sturdy growth. Toledo is most fortunately located on the Maumee river at its entrance to Maumee Bay. The Maumee River is the largest stream en- tering into the Great Lakes and its ex- ceptional width and depth at its mouth gives Toledo a land-locked harbor, 400 feet wide and 21 feet deep and approxi- mately 15 miles long with plenty of dock- age. This allows the largest freighters ample room to come down into the heart of the city and to turn around in mid- stream without any towing.
The climate of Toledo, both winter and summer, is agreeably tempered by its proximity to Lake Erie; summer cottages are snugly set along the lake and bay shore. which are quickly and easily reached by three lines of electric cars; the river, bay and lake give opportuni- ties for rowing, canoeing, power boating. yachting and bathing.
Besides these natural advantages the railroads, realizing Toledo's importance as a transportation and distributing center, have spent millions of dollars on docks and terminal facilities.
Mercantile Center. Toledo is the larg- est food supply market in the state. Its retail stores are modern and up-to-date, forty-six of these represent a capitaliza- tion of nearly $12.000,000; employes. 5160; monthly pavroll of $292,572, and they ex- pend in advertising in one year in Toledo approximately the sum of $527.850. The total amount of both the payroll and ad- vertising is $4.048.714. Toledo is also a large jobbing center and its manufactures are varied and extensive. It excels in the manufacture of children's vehicles, canvas gloves and mittens.
Toledo affords an excellent opportunity for small manufacturers to locate here, as it has one of the most up-to-date factory buildings in the United States giving in- fant industries the opportunity of locating temporarily or permanently in this build- ing with every modern convenience to launch their enterprise at nominal rates.
Government statistics show figures con- cerning home ownership as follows: Total number of homes, 39.677; total number of homes owned, 17.170; number owned free, 9,622; number of homes encumbered. 7,43S.
THE TOLEDO COMMERCE CLUB. The Toledo Commerce Club. an organization of practically 4000 members, is one builded along the most modern and up to date lines. combining all of the features of an organization interested in civic and community work along with certain club features comprising a noon-day get to- gether club for business men.
The organization takes an active inter- est in all civic matters and matters con- cerning better government of the city.
The club features consist of a reading room, a floor devoted to billiards. Its
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membership is divided into six parts which meet daily at noon day Luncheon Clubs at which timc a general expression of the ideas of the membership on com- munity lines and the running of the or- ganization makes its administration a very democratic one.
The various departments of the organ- ization concern themselves with Munici- pal Research, Traffic and Transportation, Publicity and Conventions, Charities, Mem- bership Work, Agricultural Extension and many other matters.
Various committees meet in the club rooms at noon where they may take lunch together and pursue their committee work without interruption.
One of the more unselfish phases of the Club's work and which has been seldom, if ever attempted by commercial organ- izations, is the summer camp to which 150 mothers and their families of children were taken out along an ideal strip of sandy beach on Lake Erie and were given a two weeks' vacation.
The Club has fostered a work house farm for Toledo and has been successful in putting through this worthy measure. a site for which will be selected in the near future.
The publicity and conventions work has consisted of bringing numbers of promi- nent business men into Toledo and mak- ing their stay a pleasant one while in the city, showing the town at its best ad- vantage in every case. The publicity work has been successful in having To- ledo get recognition in national periodicals of various kinds and characters. Some of the publicity campaigns which have been put on have been publicity week for the Public Library calling attention to its many good features as well as an exten- sive Buy-at-Home campaign, calling at- tention to the many advantages in buy- ing in your own town.
Through the efforts of the Agricultural Extension Committee, a County Agent will soon be secured for Lucas County.
The Traffic Department has been active in solving some of the complex problems which must be dealt with in Toledo, it being the third railroad center in the United States and through the efficient work of this body, the transportation problems of Toledo have been made com- paratively simple, even through a period of untold commercial activity causing much congestion in shipping.
The Public Research Committee has made investigations into the government of the city and are at all times in posi- tion to give thoroughly reliable advice in matters of city government.
The Commerce Club has been success- ful in bringing many new industries to Toledo. The club is active in its work for the better health and sanitation. Other matters with which the Commerce Club is actively co-operating are in the matter of good roads. Boy Scout move- ment and Charity work.
The organization's administration con- sists of a Board of Trustees, a Secretary and Departments as follows: Trustees, F. B. Anderson. E. B. Conliss, Charles Feilbach. A. E. Fowle. C. E. B. Lamson, Wilbur Owen, R. R. Scott, Dr. C. D. Sel- by. C. B. Spitzer, Rev. A. A. Stockdale; President, Irving E. Macomber; First Vice President, Robert Hixon; Second Vice President, Gustavus Ohlinger: Third Viee President, Henry C. Truesdall; Treasurer, Willam F. Broer: Secretary, Frank G. Saxton; Traffic Bureau, H. G. Wilson. Commissioner: Publicity and Conventions Department, W. A. Phelps, Secretary; Public Research Bureau, Gardner Latti-
mer. Director; Retail Merchants' Board, J. H. Combs, Secretary.
THE GREATER DAYTON ASSOCIATION. The Greater Dayton Association, of Day - ton, largest civic-commercial organization in the United States, was the issue of a new community conscience and spirit de- veloped during and subsequent to the memorable flood of 1913.
Asserting an unbreakable faith in the city and its people, and a determination to rise above the circumstances of dis- aster which most effectively provoked a genuine democracy of sorrow, members of the old Chamber of Commerce decided to enlarge the scope and province of the or- ganization. The Greater Dayton Associa- tion was the result. It was agreed not to confine activities to the ordinary ef- forts which circumscribe a commercial body but to make its efforts extend in all directions.
It was determined to aid the city and its merchants and manufacturers indus- trially, but it was also felt that any move- ment that affects betterment of the con- dition of the workingmen of a community, is a positive step in community welfare. The promoters of the new association and the proponents of the new conception ill community service asserted that in such service women should be on equality with men, hence The Greater Dayton Associa- tion numbers several hundred women members whose loyalty and breadth of judgment makes them valuable assets.
The Greater Dayton Association aided the friends of good government and municipal progress in promoting and having sanc- tioned by the voters. a new charter for the city resulting in the establishment by Dayton of the commission-manager type. It has aided the administration in the formulation and execution of policies and has taken a firm, unequivocal stand in defense of the highly centralized busi- ness-manager form of city government.
In promoting parks and other recrea- tional facilities for the masses; in sup- porting measures for the conservation of public health; in espousing remedial legis- lation sought for numerous public con- nections; and in extending educational facilities The Greater Dayton Association has done systematic and effective work. It is maintaining a permanent industrial exposition, fostering a club school for salespeople, supporting a home economics bureau for the promulgation of informa- tion along food lines, supporting the affili- ation of the various charitable and philan- thropic efforts of the city and leading in many other activities. Forty working committees are maintained, engaged in a great diversity of efforts, educational and promoting public welfare indoctrinating the community with methods and meas- ures for safety. health. thrift. wholesome recreation.
One committee passes on the inventions of Dayton genius, encouraging mechanical skill and design and aiding the inventors to receive the financial encouragement to Which they are entitled if their offerings are meritorious. Another committee is concerned with financial encouragement for financially handicapped industrial en- terprises. An effective traffic bureau and foreign trade bureau are maintained. In all efforts of the city, publicity is given unsparingly yet with discrimination, by The Greater Dayton Association, which takes the stand that, for desirability of location, natural advantages, intelligence of citizenship and opportunities for liveli- hood and service Dayton has no superior in the brilliant galaxy of American cities. From the material side. attention is
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called to the fact that Dayton has eighteen building and loan associations, fifteen na- tional, state and private banks, more than six hundred manufacturing establish- ments. The jobbing trade of the city amounted to $25,123,000 and the output of its factories aggregated $143,071,524. The population is 140,000, based on federal estimates.
The city's industrial plants employ 30.000 wage earners. In the elimination of partisanship and adoption of policies, analogous to those sustained in the aver- age up-to-date American industrial cor- poration, the city government has devel- oped an efficiency new in American mu- nicipal government. In the development of this The Greater Dayton Association has taken no small part.
The membership of the association is 7700. Ferdinand J. Ach is the president, with E. L. Shuey and S. S. King, vice- presidents. Other members of the direc- torate are George B. McCann, treasurer; E. C. Harley. F. R. Henry, Mrs. Marie Kumler, John P. Breen, Adam Schantz, C. A. Kurz. Jr .. and George B. Smith. John M. Guild is the executive secretary.
THE AKRON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The Akron Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1908 with about seven hun- dred members. This has been increased each year until 1917 it has a membership of about 2.700.
The activities of the Chamber embrace all matters pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of the city. The Chamber es- tablished a Bureau of Municipal Research in 1914 as an auxiliary, and an enlarge- ment of its work in cooperation with the city government.
Among the most important matters the Chamber has assisted in securing for the development of the city and county have been: the municipal water system, cost- ing about five million dollars; plans for the elimination of railroad grade crossings throughout the city; the drafting of a cily building code; the preparation of a City Plan; development of the park systeni; the paving of the main roads throughout the County, and the securing of an Agri- cultural Agent for Summit County.
Akron's population in 1917 is
about 125,000. The United States census popu- lation in 1910 gave the city 69,067. Akron is the largest rubber manufacturing cen- ter in the world, and has extensive cereal mills and clay product plants. The capi- talization of its 168 industries is $199,578, - 000; the value of their manufactured prod- ducts in 1916 was $226.668.000. and the pay- roll of these industries for 1916 was over forty million dollars. The bank clearings for 1916 aggregated
$207,484,000. The value of the building permits issued by the City Building Inspector's office for 1916 totaled $12,727,000.
The officers of the Akron Chamber of Commerce for 1917 are: Crannell Morgan, President: E. E. Workman, First Vice President; F. C. Howland, Second Vice President; Harry Williams, Treasurer; Vincent S. Stevens, Secretary.
THE HAMILTON CHAMBER OF COM- MERCE. The Hamilton Chamber of Com- merce was organized on May 20, 1910, witlı an original membership of 250, which has since grown to 712. The first president of the organization was George Theodore Reiss. Vice President of the Niles Tool Works Company and chief engineer of the Niles-Bement-Pond Company. Mr. Reiss served the organization two. years and was a. director until his death in May. 1915. Other presidents of the organization were: S. D. Fitton. president First Na-
tional Bank. of Hamilton, 1912; Christian Benninghofen, of Shuler and Benning- hofen, 1913; Charles E. Mason, Vice-Pres- ident First National Bank, 1914-1915-1916; Charles D. Mathes, Vice-President and Secretary The Mathes Schngen Company, 1917.
Carl R. Greer has been secretary of the Chamber from the time of its organ- ization, coming to this post from the editorship of The Daily Republican-News, of Hamilton.
The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce has accomplished a great amount of con- structive work for Hamilton and Butler County. The scope of the organization is broad and permits it to engage in any enterprise for the promotion of the busi- ness, the civic life and the moral and physical betterment of its community and throws open the privileges of membership to "all well-meaning citizens."
The industrial promotion work of the Chamber has been especially notable, and through the efforts of the organization ten new industries, distributing more than $300,000.00 per year in pay-rolls have been secured. An industrial fund of $50,000.00 was subscribed by members of the Chamber, and has been expended in promotion work.
One of the most comprehensive good roads programs existing in any county in Ohio was developed and carried out by the Chamber, which induced the county authorities to levy a special road tax yielding. in connection with state funds, about $175,000 per year for the construc- tion of permanent paved roads. This work will be continued until all main highways of Butler county are paved. The paving of the Dixie Highway, which was secured by the Chamber for Hamilton, is being completed in 1917.
A great deal of important legislation has been secured for Hamilton through the Chamber, including a modern build- ing code. The Hamilton Chamber orig- inated and secured the passage of the Ohio law giving cities the right to use county fair grounds as public parks.
The Chamber secured a high-class park commission for Hamilton, and conducted the most comprehensive campaign for the city beautiful ever carried out in an Ohio city. During the summer of 1916 it con- ducted "The Fort Hamilton Exposition" in celebration of the city's 125th anniver- sary. attracting 50,000 people to the most notable pageant and exposition in the county's history.
Hamilton was among the first cities of Ohio to install boulevard lighting on a plan originated and executed by the Chamber. The list of the organization's promotive activities is too extensive for review.
Hamilton is the county seat of Butler county, and is situated on the Great Miami River. 25 miles north of Cincinnati, and 31 miles south of Dayton. The popu- lation in 1917 is 41.000. The city was founded by General Arthur St. Clair in 1791. as a. fort and was occupied by Gen- eral Anthony Wayne in 1794. It was laid out by Israel Ludlow.
As a manufacturing center few cities of America are more widely known. It contains 110 manufacturing institutions, of which a number are among the largest of their kind in the world. The total capital invested in manufacturing enter- prise is in excess of $27,000.000.00 and the weekly pay-rolls are upwards of $160 .- 000.00. The city's manufacturing inter- est is diversified, but there are large paper mills, machine tool industries, engine fac- tories. safe and bank vault plants. iron foundries, blast furnaces, coke plants,
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woolen mills, woodenware and marble plants, can and container factories, tractor plants, paper mill machinery plants. rail- road supply mills and a variety of other industries.
The city has thirty churches. twenty- one schools, including a new $400,000 high school, a country club, four fine social clubs, a $200,000 Young Men's Christian Association and many other notable in- stitutions. Hamilton was the first city of America to own and operate all its public utilities, including water, electric and gas plants. Hamilton is the only city of America in which both natural and arti- ficial gas are sold as low as 30 cents per thousand cubic feet. Miami University. The Western College and other educational institutions are located at Oxford, 12 miles from Hamilton.
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