Chamber Report Sh o w s Service of Great Value Commercial Body Makes Gain in Financial Condition and Good Will Created. By I’OKO K. HOYKV, (lliilrnmn Kircutlre Cemnilttee. iju■— It .is gratifying to me to l>e able to report on some of the outstanding accomplishments of the Chamber of Commerce in 1924. In mentioning them we must not forget that they are the result ot the generous co operation of every member of the chamber. The Improvement which the cham ber has made financially Is of great importance, because freedom, from financial difficulties gives this organ ization ft better opportunity to serve the community as It should, livery membership in I lie chamber helps to gite this financial freedom, and while • sonic members of necessUy maj be more active than others in I he work that has gone abend, nevertheless we ottn all share alike in a feeling ol pride. This does no mean, however, that the chamber has done all that can be done. While it lias made a good showing in the last year, It can, and will, make ft better showing in 1925. Commends Membership. Tn issuing this report I wish to commend the membership as a whole, the committees which have taken an active part in the work done, and ihe staff of the chamber whose task it is to attend to the infinite detail that is a .part of Chamber of Com merce activity. The chamber could not have had a more capable and inspiring leader than John L. Kennedy, who lias al ways given his energy and time to upbuilding this community. The progress of (ho chamber during tin last year is very, largely attributable to Kennedy. The Onntha chamber Is fortunate in having as its commissioner Clarke een outstanding and the results ob . rained In conventions and the puhii • city for Omaha has shown thq pub itclty bureau, under his management to be one of the most valuable depart inents in the organization. C. K. Childe, manager of the traffic ■ bureau, has conducted his bureau In a way that has brought national rec (ignition to him and has saved thou sands of dollars to Omaha shippers and consumers. The woman's division, by taking charge of the Chamber of Commerce dining room, has rendered an invalu • able service in a most efficient man tier. Relieved of this burden, tin Chamber has been able to direct its • attention more efficiently in othei fields. The woman's division alsr brought credit to the Chamber bj underwriting and successfully spon spring the Omaha Symphony orches tra' and by putting on, at populai prices, five conceits at the Municlpa auditorium. Hureaii of Publicity. The bureau of publicity during tin * year conducted a display advertising o - \ piUnpaign hi the New York Times, the • ' Chicago Tribune. Sales Manager am outer publications, as the resplt ol which, more than C.OOO inquiries were received concerning Omaha from al ,.1" parts of tlie world. The bureau also conducted an ad , vfrtliing campaign in 133 newspaper.' In Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota - Missouri and Wyoming. More than 300 editors of Nebraska and western Iowa were entertained lr Omaha as guests of the bureau ol - publicity. This bureau also conducted a direr A"~ by mail campaign advertising Omaha This campaign was recommended bj nfl advertising expert, speaking before ■ the Associated Advertising flubs Oi the World, ns “the best used by anj city in the United States.” The bureau Is one of the few in thi I nlted States that keeps it» manu lacturlng and wholesale statistics ill io date. The figures for 1924 havi inst been compiled. They will b* published in book form and 100,001 will be circulated throughout the nn tiOll. The publicity news bureau has senl a Story a week to 700 newspapers lr Omaha trade territory, to 700 metro politan dailies and to the natlona press service. Two hundred and sixty five Nebraska papers have publishet regularly each week the publicitf bureau service called “Notes fron Hie Metropolis.” Several stories r week have been sent to 400 Nebraska paper*. Special articles, photograph! and miscellaneous data have beer sent to nearly 100 magazines, en "" cyclopaedias, feature writers am others. Speakers' Bureau. The bureau has maintained « speakers' bureau and speakers foi uniaha have attended various func lions in the trade territory as repre sentatlves from this city. An average of one speaker n week lias been pro vided In this way. This activity lias done a great deal towards creating: friendships between Omaha and the surrounding territory. A new convention record has been established yVJj yfj -vinvmWr* 1924. The previous record wag made last year when there were i63 con ventions. Up to the year 1920 Oma ha’s conventions record whs 117 meetings in one year. Conventions secured during the past year to be held in 1925 promise the greatest con vention year yet. In 1925, in addition to the American Region, there will he the'Disabled Veterans of the World War, six other national conventions, a large number of regional conven tions and more than 100 state con ventions. During the last year the publicity bureau staff registered 44,000 people, provided meeting places and badges for all conventions held and gave the closest co-operation in making the meetings successful. In addition to conventions the publicity bureau met and entertained a score of delegations passing through Omaha, and arrang ed tours through Omaha plants for 10 groups of school children from various parts of the trade territory. Traffic Hureau. The traffic hureau, whose task it is to protect Omaha’s transportation in terests, was illici tly responsible for saving Omaha shippers $185,000. The bureau filed a case before the I Interstate Commerce commission which if successful will put Omaha in as favorable a position to secure industries and trade as Chicago and St. A,ouis enjoy at present. The traffic hureau Is responsible for the organization of the Central Western Regional Advisory board. With headquarters in Omaha, this* organization represents shippers qf Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho, in seeking transportation service. Due to the traffic bureau’s activity in legislative matters C. E. Childe, manager of the hureau, was elected vice president of the National Indus trial Traffic league. During the year the traffic bureau quoted 7.000 rates, issued 78 circulars and received and tiled 35,135 tariffs. The traffic hureau preserved to Omaha shippers relative rate equality with Nebraska competitors and ob tained a 15 i>er cent Veduction in ex press rates throughout the west, sav ing Omaha express shippers $250,000 annually. Rate Reductions. It obtained reductions on rates of bicarbonate of soda from the east to Omaha. it prevented large in creases in transportation charges on furniture between points east of Chi cago nnd Omaha. It prevented in creased rates on linoleum and floor covers nnd stopped Increases of cost on sand and stone from Nebraska to Iowa. 1 It obtained suspension In increased rates on hay from Omaha to New Orleans and southern lower Missis sippi valley points. It aided In ob I taining passage of congressional acts permitting shippers to file claims for overcharges after the lapse of the Statutory period. It obtained a re r '~ ~. t duction of fi rente a ton on south Kansas and Missouri slack coal to Omaha, .saving Omaha consumers $60,000 a year. It secured suspension of increased class rates between Omaha and points in Missouri and secured withdrawal ')$ 'vnreased rates averaging $10 to $15 a car on rough granite and marble from eastern quarries to Omaha, and obtained suspension of proposed increased rates ranging from 21* to 11 cents per 100 pounds on cattle from tho southwest to Omaha. Tho bureau also prosecuted formal complaint before the Interstate com merce commission in behalf of 30 Omaha companies. Agricultural llureaii. Some of tho more Important ac tivities of the agricultural committee during the last year include the fol lowing: Kndorsed and strongly urged the work of eradicating tuberculosis among the cattle of Nebraska. Requested the executive committee to appropriate $250 In prizes to the boys' and girls’ clubs. In January and February the com mittee organized the Nebraska Dairy Development society fo'r the purpose of encouraging the dairy Industry throughout the state. The committee raised in subscrip tions for a five-year dairy campaign $47,500 from among ttic business men of Omaha. This Dairy Development society has produced widespread in tt rest among the farmers and dairy men of the state and the results of the first year’s work have been satis factory. A farmers’ dairy special train was sponsored by the Dairy Development society in September, and carried nearly 100 farmers from Omaha to the important dairy districts of Wis consin and to the national dairy show at Milwaukee. Joining with the Chicago, Burling ton & Quincy Railroad company, the College of Agriculture at Lincoln and the breeders of dairy cows in J'ae state, the Dairy Development society assisted in the distribution of 31 purebred sires in 30 counties of the state. These purebred sires were given in even exchange for scrub sires, and the interest was so great all along the line the attendance run mng from 1,500 to 5,000—that this one effort alone will doubtless be worth more than the entire cost of the dairy development work thus far. More than 70.000 people, mostly farm ers, viewed this train and were very enthusiastic over the donations of purebred sires. The committee, with the assistance of Karl (1. Maxwell, county agent, put on the usual farm tour of Doug las county in October. Requested the executive committee to urcre upon President Coolldge the appointment of some middle western jinan on the farm Investigation com mittee: also urged the appointment of a capable man from the central west as a successor to the late Henry C. Wallace, secretary of agriculture. Took up the proposed 20th afnend ment to the constitution, known as the "child labor" amendment, from an agricultural standpoint and invited speaker* to discuss the question from both aides. Completed the raising of $6,000 among the business men of Omaha as a cash donation to the Central Ne braska Supplemental Water associa tion. MunkisM* Affakn ' cniau'-itaa The municipal affairs committee has kept in dose touch with Omaha’s municipal needs, urging efficient operation of the suburban police patrol system Inaugurated last year, and studying the city'e financial prob lems. Thie committee was largely instru mental in passing the city charter lamendment, providing for proper set tlement of municipal obligations at maturity, assuring fair competitive methods in city paving and in other ways rendering more efficient the ex pendituro of public moneys. The com mittee also was active in putting over the bond issue for the proposed river drive and for I he modernizing of Omaha schools. Civic Improvement Committee. This committee investigated the cities’ methods of assessments for paving and other municipal improve ments and played an important part in the passage of the city charter amendment, permitting the paving of boulevards under the same system that applies to street paving. Tt lias investigated the possibility of con demning property for street widening and has been active throughout the year in assuring OmaKk's adaptability for future growth. Representatives of this committee and municipal affairs committee appeared before the city >'OU«VtU ta jji-n'tmf rs.lec.tloq of low hids for paving a large number of im provement districts. As a result of this protest about 60 per cent of the work has been awarded at a low price, all other bids being rejected. RETAIL SALES GAIN 5 PER CENT Omaha, the leading retail center be tween Chicago and Denver, exper ienced a substantial growth ns a re tail city in 1924. Sales in 1924, ac cording to the Associated Retail bu reau, will aggregate more than $157,500,000, or 5 per cent more than 1923. The aggregate sales in 1923 amounted to $150,000,000. Rum Runner Slain. Los Angeles, Cal., Dec. 31.—Ono rum runner was killed In a battle to day with prohibition officers at New port beach, near here, a prominent yachtsman arrested and $35,000 worth of bonded liquor* two automobiles and the schooner "Nigger Hoy," seized. 1924 Wholesale Total in Omaha Is S479.689.434 Volume for Year is $3,391, 441 Below 192? Figure; Many Products Not Included. The volume of Omaha wholesalo business was $3,391,441 loss In 1924 than in 1923, according to figures compiled by iht* bureau of publicity of the Chamber of Commerce. The figures follow: Agricultural implement* . % R94R.790 Autos and truck* .37.7i6.9SMI Auto tire* and accessories .... 26.950,5X6 Bakery product* . 2.729.199 Bakery supplies . l,7|t>,00u Beverage* . 704.009 Roots and shoe* ... 3.265.000 Boxes and hag* . 3.930,000 Building material . 14,Off,it© Butter and creamery product*. 91X.000 dandy . 2.161,000 Cereals . 4, a 3 6,000 Chemical* and drug* . „ 629 723 China and glassware . 1 o_'6.000 Cigars and tobacco . V*°4 [-'50 I'lothing an»l furnlshjngfl . T..»2l.5Rx Coni and coke . 2 ■ 176.73.* Comyil-alon and produce . 9.930.665 Concrete and cement . 4,74)*.26* Cooperage . 704,900 Cordage and twine . . 1.405.220 t'rackers ... 6 146.000 Surgical and dental supplies.. 1,116,600 1 »ry goods and notions . 17,606.000 Flee tries 1 goods .* 6,626.700 Kish and oysters .. 1.576.000 1 lour and mill products 17.930.136 Fruit and vegetables ......... 14,462.060 Furnaces and supplies ........ 3,017,215 Furniture and beading ....... 6,130,000 Furs, hides and wool ........ 2,165.000 General merchandise ......... 16.732.220 Groceries, ... *5.^ h Hardware .. *• t*"* • f Harness and aaddlea ......... lists, caps and gloves ........ *67.000 Hay and feed . 2.710.000 Ic» cream . 917.670 J.welry . HSf'i'nS dunk nnd paper . 1.47J.4oa Leather and shoe findings ... 926,000 Light and power . 4,525.000 Lumber and mill work ....... 26,652,700 Machinery nnd supplies ...... 13,441,165 Metal products .. 3.160.O0O Millinery ..... 930.000 Miscellaneous .. Motion picture films . 4,006.000 office fixtures and supplies ... 3.429,593 Oil and grease . 80,341.61* Optical goods . 6*0.000 Paint nnd glass . f.931.000 Paper, books and stationery . vl!,6*$,00t Phonographs and talking machines ...*• *1.*»90.OOO Plumbing and beating ....... «. 3 4:». >« 4 0 Rubber goods . Seeds . . 1.530.0«0 Spoiling goods . ),?$5,nAA Stock food nnd serum . 2.219.000 Stock and bank fixtures . Structural steel . 2.969.466 Tea. coffe* and spices . 3.234.000 Tractors ... 1.464.1 *0 Will pap.r .. »*M2* Wooden and stono ttars . 949. .09 Total, 1924 .•....$479,669,434 Total. 1923 . $4*3.669.434 Tear’s decrease .$ 3,191,441 The wholesalers employer] 10,752 persons and had an aggregate pay roll amounting to $21,990,000. The above figures do not include products manufactured in Omaha and sold hy the factories. Packing i products amounting to $19* 3 creamery pioduet* amounting $34,331,3*5; structural steel an, lng to $2,082,534 and nm amounting to $1,540,000 are r Item* ot tills kind which arc [under “manufacturing* atietwe.vn Chicago and Miami. Fla. 'Aenn tion-club car. ciining car and coaches. fasieagers daetmsd te Hands Waal Csast rsaaita may traapfer on mri 'rain a! Jaekssarille iato St. Petenkarg car. | ror reservations and complete informntion aak any Ticket Agent or addraas E. F Cowpsrthwaite. Diet. Pass. Representative. 405-10City National Bank Bldg . Omaha. Nab. (Pennsylvania W Railroad System V The Standard Re itread of tho World 'yfw M . . __ ! A A STYLE WITHOUT §J IK® 1519 1521 1 EXTRAVAGANCE U | __ DCXJCUAS ST J ' 'alf-Price Clearance i continues into the new year with increasing enthusiasm 1 The New Years Greatest Values in FOOTWEAR Smart Pump*, Oxford*, Strap affoct* and Bow pattern* in a ■ tribing clo**-out. Values to $10 Every aew heel, every new pattern. At $8 you ahould buy two or throe pair*, becauce • ucb offering* are indeed rare. Final Close-Out of All BOUDOIR SLIPPERS Soft aolo Satin Boudoir Slip- ^ ^ ^ per*, quilted and plain, every K I ^ new color, all aixe*, while they *T | V laat *=== MP//ANINE f l.OOR ; . Save in This Sweeping Clearaway of All Girls’ Apparel Wonderful aaaertment ef Fall and Winter wearable* for tba girl of 4 to 16 year*. Coats, Dresses, Hats, Middies, Sweaters, Skirts, Hose, Price . ! ; __ ' , __ | Girlia Nook la crowded with virtually thousand* of beautiful, (mart atyled Garment* for Omaha Girl*. Every garment in the department mutt be diapoted of quickly, and Half Prica it the kaaia of our clearance plan*. | ' ! No tchool Friday) or Saturday)—Bring the Cirls in. Clearance of Little Girls’ Coats Sizes 2,i years About 200 Coat*, in the very *marto*t of •tylaa, plain trimmed M and fur collarod. Every doclrod color. The jauntiaat ttyle* imaginable. Price* cut exactly in half. —_ MKZZANINF. FLOOR Our 28th Semi-Annual Half Price Clearance has surpassed in every way, every such sale previously launched by Herz bergs. With greater stocks, and with the one-half reductions based on the lowest price schedule ever inaugurated by this store, there is every reason why Omaha women should con sider this as the one Dominant Apparel Event of the year. You buy bore with the utmost con fidence. Your every purchase must prove entirely satisfactory or we invite its return for ex change, credit or refund. ^ v \ i ■ Unrestricted Choice of I Herzberg Fall and Winter Stocks of a Coats I C *i Price I emits I Dresses 1 Furs I at exactly .... fl 7 /ic magnitude of our slocks today makes it almost flj certainty that you will find a garment exacting flj to your ideal and at a price far less than Vou had fl expected to pay. H Many week. of cold waatkar ara akaad of ua. It la tka part of (nod judgment to kuy now, and arken you anjoy yeur unraatrictad ckoica at Half Prica auraly you cannot H raaiat kuying B Coats—Suits—Furs—Fourth Flottr , Dresses Sixth Floor ^