USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > The story of Dayton > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
It was in such a spirit that the citizens of Dayton organ- ized The Greater Dayton Association. The first annual re- port issued in 1914 was a document so new in purpose and so different in design from those issued by other commu- nities that it has been patterned after by scores of other cities. It is tabulated in this book for the benefit of those who are asking "What does the G. D. A. do?" In this brief form is a graphic presentation of the wide range of its activities, its public spirit, and its democracy. It must be remembered, too, that this report is of the first year's work only. Since that experimental period, the record of splen- did activities has multiplied that of the first year. In trade extension, traffic control, public service, city publicity, edu-
244
The Story of Dayton
cational features, promotion of charities, and welfare work, The Greater Dayton Association is serving the city better than it did four years ago. To tell the story complete, up to the present date, would require another book as large as the present one. It is working towards what James Scher- merhorn calls "The Soul of a City."
"To make city life secure and comfortable for all average folk, the reduction of the rate of infant mortality, ample pro- vision of schools, parks, playgrounds, the protection of life and limb, the safeguarding of homes and streets at night, the sup- plying of water, light, and transportation at cost, good hos- pitals, protection of the young from organized vice, the prompt depression of lawlessness; it is these fine and self-forgetful things, done in the spirit of brotherhood and civic zeal, that belong to the SOUL OF A CITY."
In all of these public duties, the boys and girls of Day- ton, when they have arrived at a suitable age, will bear a share. To perform them well will bring many returns, both in the gratification that comes of work conscientiously done, and in a personal pride at promoting the welfare of our city.
There will never be a dearth of things to do. With every decade of our community life, new conditions and problems will arise which must be faithfully and bravely met. Twenty years from now there may be principles to instill, laws to enforce, precautions to be taken, of which we, at the present time, know nothing.
That the citizens of the coming generation will take up their duties whenever the city calls, promote its interests, share in the community spirit, be never satisfied with present standards, but keep an eye to the future, and that in so doing they may earn their love for Dayton and their pride in her, is the most earnest wish of
THE AUTHOR.
246
First Annual Report
Forty-one (41) per cent of the work of The Greater Of this the full one hundred (100)
Civ
For the Benefit of ALL
Community
Physical
Life & Property
Accomplished in
I Fought injurious tax amendment
1 Conducted Arbor Day celebration
I Stopped ing"
2 Conducted
"safety- first"' campaign through schools
3 Recelves and handies complaints
3 Endorsed "safe and sane Fourth"
4 Is encyclopedia information
of
5 Co-operates with city administration
6 Is medium between city and public
5 Secured enforcement of hand-bill 01 - dinance
6 Reports bad fire risks
7 Helped revise pium- bers' ordinance
8 Acts as official host to visitors
6 Brought about new hand-bili ordi - nance
7 Secured appoint- ment of city plan board
9 Stopped wholesale purchase of fire equipment at exor- bitant prices
8 Placed ban on ban- ners across streets
9 Conducted window flower-box cam-
paign
10 Secured removal of river obstructions il Helped defeat elec- tric light bonds
Activities
i Supporting flood pre- vention measures
i Working for smoke abatement
2 Protects trees and birds
2 Suggesting new fire limits 3 Working for salvage corps
4 Comparing telephone rates and service
4 Urging snow removal from walks
5 Organizing movement for more parks
6 Wants street signs
6 Advocating citizen traffic officers
7 After greater protec- tlon at grade cross- ings
8 Working for grade
crossing elimina- tion
9 Urged removal of
multiple trolley wires
"jay-walk -
2 Influenced reduction In the price of ice
2 Co-operates with improvement as- sociations
3 Started revision of building code
4 Stopped bill-posting on fences and buildings
4 Reports accidents and canses
5 Helped on new traf- fic ordinance
7 Investigates and re- ports fires and causes
i Conducting fire pre- vention campaign
2 Investigating public utilities 3 Working for exten- sions of gas mains
3 After bill-board nui- sance
4 Advocating autom- atic sprinklers, etc. 5 Campaigning for greater public safc- ty
5 Investigating electric light rates and service
Of seventy-nine (79) CIVIC ACTIVITIES fifty-one
247
The Greater Dayton Association
Dayton Association covers "CIVIC ACTIVITIES." per cent is for ALL the people.
ic
the People of Dayton
Educational
Health
Welfare
Whole or in Part
I Conducts discussions of local affairs
I Went after cleaner streets first thing
I Federated ten lead- Ing charities
2 Brings national
2 Instigated legal ald bureau
3 Furnishes places for meetings
3 Raised fund for so- cial survey
4 Worked up flood history and ex- hibit
4 Co-operates with
Civic Workers' Association
5 Financed audit of charitable bodles
5 Conducting educa- tional campalgn on city affairs
5 Conducted fly-swat- ting campaign
funds
6 Helped place city boys on farms
7 Promoted "Good Will Week" for charities
7 Investigated Improve- ment In publlc markets
8 Furnished municl- pai Christmas tree in 1913
9 Conducted clearing house for Christ- mas baskets
10 Promoted and han- dled 1914 "Com- munity Christ- mas"
li Backing Clvic Music League 12 Helping the Boy
Scouts
Under Way
I Co-operates with school authorities
I Planning Improve-
ment In service
hospital
i Organizing remedial loan agency
2 Watching disposal
garbage
2 Endorses worthy charities
3 Making survey of charitable work
3 Favors public com- fort stations
4 Considering "more dayilght" move- ment
(65%) have been accomplished in whole or in part.
speakers
2 Stopped sweeping street cars en- route
3 Participated in clean- up day
4 Financed delinq- uency survey
6 Solicited charity
248
First Annual Report
Seventeen (17) per cent of the work of The Greater Dayton Association is "COMMERCIAL." Of this 4812% is for ALL the people and 5112% for the business man.
Commercial
For ALL the People
For the Business Man
Accomplished in Whole or in Part
1 Secured improvements in mail service
2 Prosecutes unworthy soliciting schemes
3 Protects public against fraudulent ad- vertising
4 Prosecutes transient merchants
5 Canvassed mid-week half-holiday
6 Conducted early Christmas buying cam- paigns
7 Secured Improvement in messenger serv- Ice
8 Maintains exchange of courtesles with other cities
I Organized retail merchants' bureau
2 Censors advertising mediums
3 Complies business statistics
4 Conducted spring and fall "openings"
5 Works for manufacturers through a manufacturers' committee
6 Co-operates with Montgomery County farmers' organization
7 Worked for County experimental farm
8 Analyses and reports on new law
9 Maintains library of Information
10 Opposed resale price legislation Through referenda conducted by the Chamber of Commerce of the U. S. Influenced drafting of:
Il Federal Trade Commission Law
12 Anti-trust bilis
13 Currency legislation
Activities Under Way
I Seeking extension of state loan to building associations
2 Trying to bring In outside money
3 Working for exemption of municipal bonds from taxation
4 Rewriting translent merchant ordinance
5 Considering penny letter postage
6 Supporting good road movement
7 Opposing greater armaments
8 Working for world peace
I Developing greater Interurban trade
2 Supporting bulk sales law
3 Wants all imports "cleared" at Dayton
4 Helping form state organization of commercial bodies
Of thirty-three (33) COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES twenty-one (64%) have been accomplished in whole or in part.
The Greater Dayton Association
249
Eleven (11) per cent of the work of The Greater Dayton Association is "INDUSTRIAL." Of this 6612% is for ALL the people and 3312% for the business man.
Industrial
For ALL the People
For the Business Man
Accomplished in Whole or in Part
I Helps local Industrles In trouble or need
2 Working for new Industries
3 Fights to retain old Industries
4 Induces Dayton capital to Invest at home
5 Assists business concerns to find lo- cations
6 Champions home patronage
7 Compiled directory of Dayton made goods
8 Encouraged Dayton exhibits at Pana- ma-Pacific Exposition
9 Tabulated unemployment statistics
10 Advertises Dayton labor as asset for new Industries
I Lists Industrial property
2 Advertises Dayton's "world leaders"
3 G. D. A. staff visits Industrial plants
4 Furnishes reliable statistics
5 Helped adjust insurance disagreements
Activities Under Way
I Considering Industrial fund for bring- Ing new Industries
2 Working for extension of foreign trade
3 Fathering permanent local exhibit of Dayton made goods
4 Encouraging vocational education
I Working up Dayton trade-mark
2 Helping on Federal census of manu- factures
Of twenty-one (21) INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES fifteen (71%) have been accomplished in whole or in part.
250
First Annual Report
Thirteen (13) per cent of the work of The Greater Dayton Association is "PUBLICITY WORK." Of this 44% is tor ALL the people and 56% for the business man.
Publicity
For ALL the People
For the Business Man
Accomplished in Whole or in Part
1 Assists local conventions
2 Advertises "Dayton pian" of govern- ment
3 Getting Dayton called in eastern sta- tions
4 Through weekly bulletin disseminates good advertising
5 Answers thousands of inquiries
6 Put up "Dayton" signs in station
1 Secures and handles conventions
2 Issued Dayton poster-stamps
3 Induces publicity through factory signs
4 Publishes booklets and folders
5 Scatters Dayton directories broadcast
6 Prepares magazine articles
7 Secures favorable press Items
8 Issues comprehensive annual statistics
9 Entertains visitors
10 Directs slogans on correspondence
II Reports business conditions
12 Removed flood marks in station
Activities Under Way
I Conducting "Know Dayton" campaign
2 Planning sign-boards along railroad tracks
3 Preparing information cards for public places
4 Planning Panama-Pacific Exposition excursion
5 Showing moving pictures of Dayton at Panama-Pacific Exposition
I Getting "Dayton" Into railroad Iltera- ture
2 Arranging "seeing Dayton" trips
Of twenty-five (25) items of PUBLICITY WORK eighteen (72%) have been accomplished in whole or in part.
The Greater Dayton Association
251
Eighteen (18) per cent of the work of The Greater Dayton Association is "TRAFFIC WORK." Of this 3312% is for ALL the people and 6612% for the business man.
Traffic
For ALL the People
For the Business Man
Accomplished in Whole or in Part
I Secured information bureau at station
2 Got bulletin board in station re-located
3 Defeated effort to raise milk freight rates
4 Helped secure traction station at Ft. Mckinley
5 Secured promise of extension of White Line
Has brought about improvements in traction accommodations
7 Gives traffic information to anybody
I Quotes rates
2 Checks expense bills
3 Prosecutes claims
4 Collects overcharges for shippers ($11,500 recovered in 1914)
5 Watches and reports tariff changes
6 Secures rate changes
7 Routes shipments
8 Watches and secures
classification
changes
9 Interprets laws, rules, etc.
10 Reports court decisions
II Improves freight service
12 Handles switching arrangements
13 Arbitrates demurrage disputes
14 Prevents rate and service discrimina- tion
15 Seeking improvement In freight ter- minals
16 Organized Traffic Club
17 Represents Dayton in traffic confer- ences
18 is authority on import duties
19 Maintains library on transportation matters
Activities Under Way
i Working for better railroad passenger service
2 Keeping tab on traction service
3 Agitating better street car service
4 Working for adequate traction terminal
5 Working on rerouting of street car lines
I Working for D. L. & C. track connec- tion
2 Wlelds Influence in National affairs
3 Influences state traffic matters
4 Assisting in revision of state transpor- tation laws
5 Working for better Puliman service
Of thirty-six items of TRAFFIC WORK twenty-six (72%) have been accomplished in whole or in part.
2599
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.