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Extension of Trade The Task That is Set Before a Competent Trade Organization --Various Forces Working in Harmony F a commercial organization effectively to accomplish the purposes for which it is created it must be representative of the best elements composing the manufactur- ing and mercantile community of a city, and it should have the hearty support and co-operation of these ele- nents. Such an association must aim to make its members realize that the organization is theirs; it must be so equipped as to be ready, not only to serve the business community in fur- thering policies dealing with funda- mental questions, but must also be prepared to give specific data. upon lesser problems which constantly arise in the course of business af- fairs. It must clearly demonstrate that it represents the effort of the in- dividual combined with the efforts of the many, and make the organization an effective force for protecting and bettering the commerce of the city and for advancing the prosperity of its people. Strengthening Commercial Organi- gations Much study of late has been given as to the best method for strength- ening commercial organizations in cities. In Philadelphia we have given particular attention to the subject during the last two or three years, and a mass of data has been collected from cities that have either passed through the process of amalgamating their different forces into a single ef- fort for municipal progress, or are now passing through such a stage of development.. The underlying fact contained in the data points to the creation of separate bureaus, all work- ing in harmony, but each having a specific and well defined line to carry on, as being the best plan, which a really effective organization may be created and maintained. These bureaus may be designated as follows, their names indicating the character of work which they would undertake: 1.--Traffic. 2.--Conventions, Publicity and Trade Expansion. 3--Industrial Development. 4--Foreign Trade. *Paper read before the Convention of the National Association of Port Authorities, Baltimore, Md., Sept. 8 1914. under | - with delicacy. By Charles J. Cohen, President Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce 5.--Charities. 6.--Legislation, Municipal, State and National. The Traffic Bureau is first because transportation strikes at the very heart of industrial or commercial progress. In dealing with problems which arise before every business community relating to rate structures, problems which are fundamental and often' incomprehensible to the mer- chant or manufacturer, a bureau head- ed by an expert familiar with the the- ory and practice of railroad transpor- tation is essential if a city is to de- rive all the benefits to which it is entitled by reason of geographic loca- tion, or conditions which its people have developed, that may warrant its receiving concessions, in the handling of certain lines of trafic. Particu- larly at present when the freight rates of the country are going through re- The great industrial centers of this country are now in lively com- petition, and the forces that direct trade through various channels are balanced with delicacy. Especially is this so with our seaboard cities where constant and intelligent su- pervision of ocean and inland freight rates is essential if the business of the port is to be main- tained upon a scale justified by the facilities it may possess. adjustment is such a bureau needed, and it is essential that it have united backing in' putting forth its demands. li the demands of the business com- munity come to the railroads divided or lacking in unanimity of expression, nothing results from the efforts made ta secure redress from actual hard- ships. The great industrial centers of this country are now in lively compe- tition, and the forces that direct trade: through various channels are balanced Especially is this so with our seaboard cities where con- stant and intelligent supervision of ocean and inland freight rates is es- sential if the business of the port is to be maintained upon a scale justi- fied by the facilities it may 'possess. Such a bureau must also have fa- cilities for serving members with in- formation relating to rates, routings, etc., assist them in collecting claims for loss or damage, or in adjusting overcharges. Such service not only renders valuable assistance to the merchant, but also strengthens the organization with many business men who do not appreciate the importance of the more fundamental questions with which it deals, and therefore brings to the association the support of many firms which would not other- wise be interested in its work. Work of Publicity Possibly next in importance is the work of the publicity bureau. Every city needs advertising. Its industries, its commerce and its civic advantages must be told if it is to advance in proportion to its possibilities. The organzation which represents the city's commercial activity must be ad- vertised in order that its influence inay be broadened, its membership increased and kept interested and its efforts for municipal progress strengthened. The bringing to a city of conven- tions of various trade associations means more business for retail mer- chants, hotels, places of amusement. By the expenditure of a few thou- sand dollars each year hundreds of thousands of dollars may be brought to the community in this way. Every city should put forth a sys-- tematic effort to expand its industrial activity by attracting manufacturers and inducing them to establish plants within its borders. In this work an industrial bureau working in har- mony with the traffic and _ publicity bureaus is essential. The traffic bu- reau. must see to it that the new in- dustry gets equal transportation fa- cilities, for the distribution of its finished product, as are possessed by those already in such a community. The' industrial bureau itself should study the conditions under which cer- tain classes of goods may be manu- factured, and determine what class may be produced and distributed to the best advantage in the particular community under discussion. Avail- able factory sites should be noted, their values ascertained. A statement should be prepared showing the cost of 'manufacturing, such as taxes, fuel, "power, water rents, etc. All such