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Urges City To Keep Pace With Progress

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Parent Issue
Day
28
Month
April
Year
1939
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Copyright Protected
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Donated by the Ann Arbor News. © The Ann Arbor News.
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Urges City To Keep Pace With Progress

Ann Arbor has failed to keep pace with progress and will move ahead when all forces in the city join in solving its recognized problems, Charles J. Boyd of the Detroit Board of Commerce, told Ann Arbor Chamber of Commerce members at a dinner meeting last night at the Michigan Union. 

Constructively criticising Ann Arbor for its apathetic attitude toward such issues as housing for the lower income group, retailing and hotel accommodations, the speaker deplored the slowed down momentum which he declared is based on the philosophy of "What do I get for what I give?” rather than on “What can I do to help Ann Arbor progress?”

Says City Behind Parade

"There has been a marvelous growth of the University but Ann Arbor is far behind the parade,” Mr. Boyd asserted. “I don’t believe you will find any community that suffers the real need of housing that you find here. Action is going to come from sitting down and being practical about these things.

Instead of talking and not doing anything about it, find some definite avenues in which this program can move ahead."

Ann Arbor has not taken cognizance of the tourist and convention potentialities in providing adequate accommodations for the many visitors, he said.

“Your Chamber of Commerce has a very definite responsibility to the community in the traffic problem from two standpoints, safety and the flow of traffic,” he continued. “You should find out how to handle traffic in this city so that it will not be a mental hazard to any one coming into the city."

Any future industries for the city must be considered from the aspects of market and profit for the industry and of suitability to the community’s character, Mr. Boyd said, cautioning the Chamber against offering any "bonus" to get an industry.

Must Give Service

Of Ann Arbor’s retail problem, Mr. Boyd declared, "you business men, you professional men, you lawyers have got to realize that you have a contribution to make to this town more than any other group, not only in membership and in support of community projects but in time and service and in going up and down the street and serving your community with anything you may be called upon to give.”

"This town is going to n ahead just as you want it to move ahead—by belonging rather than just joining,” he told the membership, in appealing to the group to build from within the community with its many attractions and resources to place Ann Arbor in the front ranks of progressive cities.

Dr. Alexander G. Ruthven, president of the University, pledged the support of the University to the reorganized Chamber and voiced the hope that the “reorganized Chamber will produce an organization such as we never have had before."

New Secretary Speaks

Don Williams, new executive secretary of the Chamber, discussed current activities of the Chamber, among them the hotel situation and the housing condition, particularly the need of reasonably priced apartments for married graduate students in the University and for Ann Arbor families in the lower-income brackets.

Mayor Walter C. Sadler, who expressed the interest of the city government in a live, civic minded organization, and Frank B. DeVine, toastmaster, were other speakers. Mr. DeVine in his brief remarks included a tribute to the late Hackly Butler, volunteer Chamber secretary. Charles J. Hutzel, Chamber president, presided.

CHAMBER LAUNCHES PROGRAM: Centering the speakers’ table at last night’s Chamber of Commerce dinner at the Michigan Union were left to right: Cone W. Lightlhall, Dr. Alexeander G. Ruthven, president of the University, Charles J. Boyd of Detroit, the speaker; Frank B. DeVine, toastmaster, Charles J. Hutzel, Chamber president, and Mayor Walter C. Sadler.