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
<J. Powell, under whose leadership it
has greatly progressed In public
favor and financial stability.
The work of Montagu A. Tancook
manager of the publicity bureau, has
l>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* ati<l
fore are omitted from the items ,
under ‘'wholesaling."
If You Are Seeking
HEALTH
Inveatigate Chiropractic
No matter what your disease
may be, you can investigate ,
with safety, as no qualified
practitioner will accept a case
he cannot help. Hours, 9 A.
he cannot help.
Hour*, 9 A. M. to 8 P. M.
Member* ‘‘Omaha Atla* Club”
First Church of Christ, Scientist
Omaha, Neb. (
ANNOUNCES A
Free Lecture on Christian Science
By
Min Lucia C. Coulson, C. S.
of l^ondon, England
Member of the Board of Lectureship of the Mother Church.
The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts
IN THE CHURCH EDIFICE !
TWENTY-FOURTH STREET AND ST. MARY’S AVENUE
Thursday and Friday Eves., January 1 and 2
at 8 o'clock
THE PUBLIC IS CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND
mmmmammmmmtmmmmmm——————a—■—■—
1
I
f
I
i
THE FAVORITE SCENIC ROUTE TO THE SOUTH
i'/e CINCINNATI AND L. A N. R, R.
' oin* Kfiumlrag
■ 8.39 pm Lv.Chicago fC.T.).Ar 7.5V am
j 8.49 pm Lv..Englewood. “ Ar 7.31 am
7.10 am Lv.Cincinnati “ Ar 9.20 pin
8.55 pm Ar.Atlanta . u .Lv 7.25 am
; 9.50 am Ar .Jacksonville E.T..Lv 8.30 pm
9.30 pm A.r .St. Petersburg “ .L.v 11.15 am
12.10 pm | Ar .St. Augustine 44 .Lv 8.40 pm
' 9.10 pm Ar.West Palm Beach 44 .Lv 9.35 am
11.50pm Ar. Miami 44 . . .Lv 7.00 am
! Drawing-room, compartment sleeping cars l>etwe.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 ^
