YEAR TO COME and the YEAR GONE BY Containing the Inaugural Address oj President Henry W. Morgan and the Annual Report of Secretary Roland B. Woodward, given at the Annual Meeting of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, January 22nd, 1912 1911-1912 We ROCHESTER CHAMBER of COMMERCE -V3S Y WHY I SHOULD BE A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER Membership Widens Acquaintance The Summer Illumination A NY man engaged in any commercial activity in our community cannot afford to stay out of the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is taking active part in all live subjects that tend to the success of business enterprises, and also those subjects that are vital to the interests and welfare of the community. To mingle with the members, and discuss these topics alone is worth many times the annual dues. Success in com- mercial life to-day depends in a measure on the good impression we make, and our standing in the community. Where can one make better and a greater number of business friends than by his acquaintance with the eight hundred members of this Chamber? Enjoying with others the benefits that come to all through the Chamber is a privilege. Ct. During the summer months, when the business sec- tion of our city was illuminated with the gorgeous elec- tric canopies, who in Rochester did not enjoy this dis- play? When you with your out-of-town friend walked through the business section, and heard the unbounded praise for Rochester, and heard the out-of-town visitor marvel at the gorgeous illumination, and ask how it all happened, wasn’t it worth something when you replied, “Just one of the many features made possible through the Chamber of Commerce.” Of course you added to this remark, “Yes, I belong to the Chamber.” This is but a single incident of the many things that are going on in the Chamber of Commerce, not only for a more prosperous commercial life among us, but for our general welfare. When the bachelor went to pay his school tax he grumbled, and said, “Why should I pay a school tax?” The reply was, “You are merely helping your- self to live in a more intelligent community. ’ ’ Look at the little booklet issued by the Chamber, “The City of Varied Industries,” it gives concise and complete information about almost everything you wish to know about commercial Rochester, made possible only by the co-operation of the eight hundred members of your Association. CL It would seem to your President that the Chamber should continue the policy and scope of its work so ably carried on last year under President Albert B. Eastwood. 12 F <3 , THE CHAMBER’S POLICY W ORK in this line, as started last year in this Cham- ber, should be pushed vigorously. Great atten- tion was attracted by the Apple Show and Fruit Dinner given by the Chamber with only a few days’ preparation. Facts brought out at that time made it seem that we, the consumers, were not awake to the natural resources and advantages of our fruit industry. We as citizens, at least, are not eating the best that can be raised in this section. Scientific treat- ment and education on the part of the citizens to expect the best that is grown in this section will develop the fruit industry wonderfully. It will be a source of greater profit to the growers and dealers, and a satisfaction to the consumer. Cl We have heard much of the apple section of the Hood River in Oregon. President Brown of the New York Central, recently stated that five stations on the ,• New York Central Line, near Rochester, shipped more apples in one year than the entire States of Oregon and Washington combined. Michigan and Kansas are putting forth great effort to develop their fruit sections. We hope to show the world that we grow not only the ^ greatest quantity but the best quality fruits, in this section, and that we have learned how to eat them. T HE work of Fire Prevention carried on by the Chamber should be continued until every citizen of our good city learns that it is within his power to protect his own property from being destroyed by fire. Then at such time we will be comparatively free from the conflagrations that lay waste thousands of dollars in values. Citizens will then be in a position to ask rates and conditions of insurance in keeping with their own efforts to protect their own property. The result of this work must of necessity come slowly. Be- ginning with the children in our houses and schools we must persistently teach them to baffle our friendly enemy the fire. C. Just one word about Smoke Prevention, not Smoke Consumption. We trust that you will all read carefully the little pamphlet that is about to be issued by the Chamber on this subject. Agricultural and Horticultural Fire Prevention Page three TWO “PREVENTIONS” Smoke Prevention G, Four years ago, I was a guest of one of the officers of the Pillsbury Milling Company of Minneapolis, Minn. In riding about the city, we saw a cloud of smoke that nearly covered one portion of the city. It was a more dense smoke and covered a greater area than any I have ever seen in Rochester. I asked my friend where all that smoke came from. He seemed a little irritated at the question, and replied, “That smoke comes from our mills. Our company is making thirty-five thousand barrels of flour every day. If the people expect to eat bread they must put up with the smoke, as it cannot be stopped.” He said it in such a way that I turned my attention to the beautiful gorge of the Mississippi River. Last summer, I was again a guest of the President of the Pillsbury Milling Company in Minneapolis. Again we drove about the city. We stopped at the great power plant of this concern, the new one less than a year old. He pointed with pride to the huge stack, and said, “There has never been an atom of smoke issuing from that stack.” I replied, “How about the thirty-five thousand barrels of flour, and the people eating bread?” He replied, “We concluded that we could not afford to smoke, and also that we did not want to, and the DID NOT WANT TO stopped it.” This concern burns an enormous quantity of Illinois Soft Coal, which is more smoky than the soft coal burned in this section. Gentlemen — If you were reading by the light of a kerosene lamp, and it smoked, you would stop it because it would bother you. You have shown by your enter- prise in many undertakings that you can accomplish what you set out to do. The Smoke Problem is a very simple one. If you wish to abate the Smoke Nuisance you will do it. T HE Genesee River, from its source to its mouth, is one of the most beautiful, and could be made one of the most useful in the country. It is to-day one of the mod neglected. Every foot of that river is beau- tiful, every foot of it has wonderful commercial possibili- ties. We scarcely see it, and we do not realize its com- mercial value. C. On January 6th, this year, the Chamber wrote Mr. John D. Moore, Conservation Commissioner of the State of New York at Albany, explaining the position Page four THE GENESEE RIVER of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce on the utiliza- tion of Genesee River as regards the storage dam at Portage. Every member of this Chamber, and every citizen of Rochester should read that statement by the Chamber of Commerce. The building of the dam as outlined, and under the conditions as expressed, would first relieve Rochester and the Genesee Valley of the annual flood which covers the valley and threatens Rochester every year. It would furnish an even supply of water which would keep the river bed clean and wholesome, creating a beautiful picture at each water- fall. The improved Genesee would be second only to Niagara. It would give an even depth of water both at the southern part of the city and through the lower gorge, one of the handsomest gorges in existence. CL. It would redeem thirty thousand acres of the most fertile soil to be found in the world in the upper Genesee Valley, which is now flooded every year. On this alone millions of dollars of products of the soil would be added to our wealth and prosperity, as there is nothing in this climate that cannot be raised abundantly in the Genesee Valley. It would double the population and prosperity of this valley more quickly than any other force can do. CL, It would furnish a power equal to forty thousand horse power, to be used in the enterprises of Rochester and the Genesee Valley. In other words, the construction of such a dam would make Rochester and its surround- ings more beautiful, more healthful, more prosperous, give us better pleasure resorts, run the wheels of our factories, light our streets and houses, and carry us home in street cars and electric vehicles. CL. At the last Annual Dinner of the Chamber Hon. Joseph M. Carey, Governor of Wyoming, in his remarks stated that in their community in Wyoming they wished to increase their production of potatoes and wheat, and incidentally mentioned, as though it were a trifling thing, the fact that they had built a dam two hundred and ten feet high in one of the streams of that State, in order to raise a few more potatoes and a little heavier crop of wheat. It seems that they did not talk about it for years and years, but simply built the dam. It is a sparsely settled State with scarcely more inhabitants in the entire State than there are in the Genesee Valley. The Portage Dam Page five A REGULATED WATER FLOW To Double the Population and Prosperity of the Genesee Valley Conventions Industrial Development c I wonder what they would do if they had a river that offered the advantages of the Genesee? CL. When are we going to avail ourselves of the wonder- ful advantages that we are wasting? T HE Genesee River does not stop even at the mar- velous advantages stated above, but furnishes the means of a great harbor at our northern boundary as it enters Lake Ontario. CL The reason for this harbor being improved, the amount of commerce coming into and going out of this harbor, and the enormous tonnage that would be added if the harbor were improved is ably expressed in the report of the Lower River and Harbor Committee of the Chamber of Commerce submitted by Chairman Barnard of that committee at a recent meeting of the trustees. Every member should read that report. There are a great many advantages for Rochester both for pleasure and commerce in the Lower Harbor. We hope that the Chamber will push this project so vigor- ously that we may see a REAL ROCHESTER HARBOR at the mouth of the Genesee in the near future. CL. The Barge Canal Harbor in the Genesee will also be of benefit to Rochester. N OTHING advertises a city or helps the commercial life more than desirable conventions. We should invite such conventions to come to Rochester as will be mutually beneficial to those attending the conventions, and to our own business men and citizens generally. T HERE are many conditions and natural advantages that induce new industries to locate here. Roch- ester, with its varied industries and high class craftsmen, is known as the “City of Homes.” In bringing new industries to Rochester it should be our aim to maintain the high standard, and quality should be considered rather than quantity. CL. Our first duty, however, is to render constructive assistance to industries now established in Rochester. Not in financing them as a Chamber, but in encouraging the establishing in Rochester of such other industries as will assist and not hinder those already here. Page six STREET CAR SURVEY T here is need of a comprehensive survey of our street car system by competent experts for future development, in order that proper transportation facilities may be furnished our industrial workers in the large factory districts. An example of such a need in the past is furnished in the western portion of our city at present where large industrial plants have grown up rapidly, and the transportation facilities are inadequate. Such mistakes are serious hindrances to our industrial development. A street car survey should have been made prior to the building of this great industrial dis- trict, and the street car system mapped out for future growth. We should avoid such mistakes in the future, and start now for the development of Greater Rochester. a Another reason for such a survey exists in the fact that our city is growing rapidly. We desire the best class of citizens and the best living conditions. It is not desirable to build up crowded tenements. In every direction around our city there is fertile land, fresh air, and conditions exactly suited for individual homes. It is sometimes stated that it costs less to heat a tene- ment, sandwiched in between two brick walls, than a single house. On the other hand, a fifty foot square, well cultivated garden will not only pay for all the coal necessary to heat the house the entire year, but furnish exhilarating occupation for leisure moments, and whole- some vegetables and fruits for the household. To develop a city of this character, where every man becomes a representative citizen, and many of them property owners, requires adequate transportation facilities. c. These conditions can only be brought about by proper, adequate, and systematic transportation service extending outward in all directions. The great railroad president, James G. Hill, once said, “Railways build in advance of population.’’ Could this not be applied practically and profitably to Rochester for its street railway service? CL. Mr. Edward G. Miner, during his term as President of this Chamber, advocated a survey of our street car system, and needs for future growth. This should be taken up at once. Greater Rochester Developing The Suburbs Page seven A MORE BEAUTIFUL CITY The City Plan for Rochester R OCHESTER is growing rapidly. In a few years it will be a much larger city. It is more econ- omical to plan for the future now than it will be hereafter. We should have the best city that we know how to build, and should start at once for its greater future development. cl In two years San Francisco spent four hundred million dollars to rebuild that city. It was a big under- taking, but they did it. There is only one way to do a thing, that is, TO DO IT. It would cost possibly two per cent of this amount to build the entire Civic Im- provement Plan as suggested for Rochester through the Civic Improvement Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. This is worthy of careful consideration. CL All good citizens should unite in urging and en- couraging our municipal authorities to give this matter their most serious attention, and to act as expeditiously as possible. Then we should stand by them. Note the change from ‘ ‘ Prison Walls * * to ‘ ‘ Exposition Park. ’ ’ There is an example of what can be done. CL Every citizen in his individual capacity should do what he can to make the city attractive and prosperous. Every citizen is a city planner if he produces an attract- ive lawn, factory, or home. W E are all very much interested in looking well, not only personally, but in business surround- ings. It pays to look well. It is a business asset. Your factory, grocery, or bakery shop is your standing advertisement of your product within. A salesman would not start out with soiled linen, a dirty face and muddy shoes, because his appearance would act against him, not in an aesthetic way, but in a business way, “hard cash.” So it is with our place of business. CL The factory building in the early days stood out to the sidewalk line. The corner grocery in the residen- tial district, standing out fifty feet in front of the ad- joining residences, depreciates in value the surrounding property. These are not essential to business pros- perity and commercialism. If the corner grocery in the residential section were set back on a line with the houses, with grass, trees and shrubbery, conforming to Page eight THE VALUE OF APPEARANCE the surrounding neighborhood, ‘ ‘ it would not be a com- mercial necessity that depreciates all property in its immediate vicinity.’ * In building the future business establishments it would be well if we could learn that it is not necessary to crush out the symmetrical, beau- tiful, and artistic in order to be commercially success- ful. Suppose every factory built in the early days, and those to be built in the future, should be set back from the street, a few feet only, the building covered with vines, a little lawn, and a tree or two in front, not only would our parks, boulevards, and residential streets be the talk of the country, as they are to-day, but the factory and business district would be equally beautiful. This in itself would be a money making proposition.