[Newspaper]
Publication: The Muncie Morning Star
Muncie, IN, United States
vol. 25, no. 338, p. 10, col. 1-2
"BOOST" NOW
THE SLOGAN
Commercial Club Inaugurates
Movement for Development
of City
PLAN OF JAMES BOYCE
WINS MUCH APPROVAL
Leading Citizens Give Their
Opinion as to the Best Plan
to Boom Muncie
The interest that is being taken by the business and professional men, manufacturers and capitalists in the proposition to boost Muncie, indicates that the spirit which prompted the efforts of the old Citizens' Enterprise company is still alive. While Muncie has grown and kept apace with the times another effort is to be made to further stimulate its growth and prosperity, The factories which were located here through the aid of the Enterprise company are still here and most of them in operation. Most of the factories secured at that time were large manufacturing concerns. The plan now proposed to boost the city is to gain a number of smaller mills and factories. Another feature of the plan is to stimulate local investment in home companies.
Boom Was Launched.
The proposition has been smouldering [sic] smoldering for many months but was brought to a blaze Tuesday night at the meeting of the Commercial club when James Boyce, in his address asked why a stock company could not be formed, to erect a power plant and building to be rented to the smaller concerns which could not well afford to construct buildings of their own.
The plan regarding the power plant, is being generally discussed, and is meeting with popular approval. It is proposed that a company be formed with a capitalization of about [dolar:$100,000] to be used in the erection of an electric power station. Near this will be a large building, in which will be compartments to be rented to small manufactories. Light and power will be furnished by the station, and the exhaust steam will be used to heat the buildings. The building will be so arranged that additions can readily be made to suit the needs of any firm wishing floor space.
What Muncieites Say.
Expressions in regard to the movement to boost Muncie were made Wednesday by many citizens.
James Boyce — The power plant, as proposed, would be an inducement for the location of many minor concerns, which in themselves would not amount to much, but taken as a whole would do the city more material good than some large manufacturing concern. Home capital will be invested by Muncie people in the stock company; mostly home capital would be placed in the manufacturing concerns and the majority of Muncie people would be employed. Nearly all of the proceeds would remain in Muncie. There is no doubt but that a large floor space could be rented, and there is no reason why the success of the venture should not be assured.
Ralph G. Hemingray — What we need to boost Muncie is a number of factories, be they either large or small, in which the question of fuel is of consequence. Get a lot of woodworking factories, novelty and specialty shops, small mills and foundrys [sic] foundries. That is what Muncie needs. The power plant system will afford an excellent chance to secure some of them.
One Already Asking.
Robert Scott — The enthusiasm which is being shown in the proposed power plant is evidence that the people are interested in getting some new business in the city, There is no doubt that some of these small factories can be located if the proper inducement is given. I understand there is already one concern that is wanting just such a chance to locate here.
F. C. Ball — The power plant has been tried in many of the large cities and in still in vogue in New York, Brooklyn, Philadelphia and Cincinnati. People and firms which would not be able to set up in business otherwise are helped. They are given a chance to establish a business. As their business grows, they quit renting floor space and power and erect a small building of their own. Some other firm is always ready to occupy the vacant room. The smaller concerns are compelled to quit operations for a few days or weeks, the effects are hardly felt. It is not like some big factory throwing out of employment 500 or a 1,000 men.
Now Is the Time.
J. Milton Gray — Now is an opportune time for Muncie to take up the small factory idea. The fight between Muncie, Anderson and Marion will be one in which the fittest will survive and obtain supremacy. There is plenty of land here and numerous sites which could be offered as inducements to those smaller concerns to come to Muncie. They are usually reliable, operate the year around, and are more closely bound to the interests of the city than the larger concerns which have more in common with the outside world.
Councilman L. W. Cater — I think the best plan to boost Muncie is by the power house for small concerns. These small industries which can't afford factory buildings or sites could be easily secured on such a proposition. They will grow and develop and invest their money here. The larger concerns in the hands of the trusts are apt to be closed or moved away at any time. These little concerns are too small for the trusts to pick up and all their interests are in the city. The days of subsidizing are over. Experience has proven that the big subsidized factories are ready to move after another subsidy at any time.
Opposed to a Boom.
Henry Keller — Eventually some plan must be adopted and carried out of the kind proposed by Mr. Boyce at the Commercial club meeting, and it strikes me that the plan is feasible. Smaller industries are just as desirable for Muncie as larger ones, and I am absolutely opposed to paying bonus money for a concern for the city.
Dr. G. W. H Kemper — I don't think the plan of the Anderson business men for aiding the prosperity of their city an altogether good one, and I don't notice any reports that the button idea is taking well. Some plan, such as was suggested in the Commercial club meeting Tuesday evening, seems to me a better one. The smaller industries are the more easily obtained and a number of these are of quite as much advantage to a city as a large concern. Railroads are another enterprise which will help make Muncie.
Prof. G. L. Roberts — I have never formulated any plan for the "boosting" of the prosperity of the city, but would think that a plan for bringing industries such as Mr. Boyce mentioned in the Commercial club meeting would be a good one and successful.
C. W. Sherritt — I think that the idea is one of the best ever advanced. The city can afford to pay small bonuses as an inducement to get a smaller manufacturing concern into the city where it could not pay a large bonus for a large concern. The idea has proved successful in other cities. I was talking to a man from Cleveland today and he told me of a concern they have in his city. It is a seven story building with a central power plant. There are about fifty manufacturing firms in the building employing in all over 1,400 people.
Edward Tuhey — I have thought for many years past that the idea was a good one. A small concern could be brought into the city at a small expense and then by degrees it would develop until it would be a mammoth concern. A number of such concerns would soon become of great value to the city. I think that it is the best idea advanced in years.
T. F Rose — I haven’t given the idea much thought, but it looks as if it ought to be a good one. The idea has proven of great benefit to other cities and it surely ought to help Muncie.