cir (Eommerrial Httttg (feafra ana iiattttama Amu0raarg Srtbwt? dljtragn to 1905 f I ^HE Chicago Commercial Association aims to promote the greater develop- ment of Chicago's commerce at home abroad ; a supreme respect for law and order, leading to a higher standard of municipal character through the organization of all concerned into an aggressive force. THE FIXED PURPOSE OF THE Chicago Commercial Association TO create and prepetuate a business organization commensurate with the necessities of a great city ; To maintain the spirit and the activity which in two generations made Chicago the fourth largest city in the world ; Which centralized within its limits the com- merce of the richest territory on the globe ; Which made it, beyond dispute, the Great Central Market of the American Continent ; Which made known the fact that a commercial metropolis can be built upon honor and sustained through a strict observance of the principle of a square deal. CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT THE ONLY MEANS IN order to accomplish the purpose outlined, it becomes imperative that Chicago's varied inter- ests should be cemented in a forceful, conservative body, with ample resources for practical, effective work. The City's magnificent destinies make such a movement absolutely necessary, and the Chicago Commercial Association is organized and equipped for potential effort in that direction. Its sole aim is the greater development of the City's commerce and the attainment of the highest standard of municipal character through aggressive concerted action. GOVERNMENT AND SYSTEM The government of the Chicago Commercial Association is vested in a full complement of officers, directors and committees, all of whom are chosen with an eye single to their peculiar fitness for the work in hand. The system employed embraces a comprehensive grouping of the forces in three Grand Divisions, viz : the Inter State Divisions, the Foreign Division and the Local Division. These divisisions are co-or- dinately arranged in 33 trade subdivisions, each of which is under the direction of a Chairman and two Committeemen, owing their appointment and control to the Ways and Means Committee, the active working force of the Association. Their duties are to keep their respective forces constantly at work for the betterment of trade conditions and the extension of the Association's influence through increased membership. ONE YEAR'S RECORD Membership increased from 93 to 800. Most important business dinner in the history of the city at the Auditorium in November, 1904. Opening of new headquarters, with ample space and accomodations for committee and Association work and for the reception of visiting merchants. Distribution of 750,000 circulars giving rates and dates of excursion for merchants, producing an attendance of visiting merchants so large as to in- crease the trade of Chicago houses by a large per cent over any previous year. Distribution of over 100,000 copies of the Great Central Market Magazine, at a cost of $40,000. Ten thousand copies of the Gripsack Business Directory distributed among Chicago traveling men. Trade extension committee of eleven sent through the Northwest to the Pacific Coast. Reciprocity luncheon at the Auditorium attended by 250 business men and addressed by men of national distinction. The famous Reciprocity Conference in August, 1905, was the outgrowth of this function. The movement has become national in scope and character. The organization and installation of a Conven- 6 tion Bureau Division, which has in less than two months secured twenty-six important gatherings for the city. This Division is thoroughly equipped for extensive work, and will bring several hundred thousand strangers to the city within the coming year. IF YOU JOIN THIS ASSOCIATION You lend moral and material strength to the work of increasing and maintaining the trade of the city, a share of which you will surely secure. You aid in the ethical improvement and the general welfare of the city which is your home. You asssists in attracting the investment of cap- ital, making possible a fuller development of the arts and sciences, an herald abroad Chicago's man- ifold advantages as an educational center and a city of opportunity. You place yourself in closer touch with the business interests of the city, thus giving you the full benefit of every new idea that is developed, as well as every helpful consideration that many arise within the Association. TRADE SUBDIVISIONS The work of the Association is further divided into thirty-two Trade Sections or Subdivisions, as follows : 1. Dry Goods and kindred lines. 2. Boots and shoes. 3. Iron, steel and kindred lines. 4. Drugs and kindred lines. 5. Jewelry, stationary and kindred lines. 6. Hats, caps, gloves, etc. 7. Office supplies and kindred lines. 8. Banks, brokerage houses, etc. 9. Clothing, cloaks, suits, etc. 10. Groceries and kindred lines. 11. Railroads. J2. Theaters and hotels. 13. Machinery and foundry products. 14. Pianos, organs and musical merchandise. 15. Paper and Printing. 16. Millinery. 17. Live Stock. 18. Packing Industries. 19. Board of Trade. 20. Lumber 21. Furniture and kindred lines. 22. Trade Journals. 23. Miscellaneous. 24. Electrical supplies and kindred lines. 25. Produce, commission and kindred lines. 26. Real Estate 27. Building Trades. 28. Hide and leather industries. 29. Paints, oils, glass and wall paper. 30. Fire and life insurance. 31. Physicians and surgeons. 32. Lawyers. 33. Teaming interests. CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES - BOAKD OP DIRECTORS JOHN G. SHEDD, President, Marshall Field & Co. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RICHARD C. HALL, The Duck Brand Co. WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ALFRED M. COMPTON, John V. Farwell Cc : AUDITING COMMITTEE FRANK HIBBARD, Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE DAVID R. FORGAN, Vice-President, First National Bank TRADE EXTENSION COMMITTEE WILLIAM F. HYPES, Marshall Field & Co. TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE JOHN W. SCOTT, Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. CONVENTION BUREAU COMMITTEE CHARLES A. STEVENS, Charles A. Stevens & Co. PUBLICITY COMMITTEE T. EDWARD WILDER, Wilder & Co. HOUSE COMMITTEE NAHUM M. TRIBON, Longley, Low & Alxander. ONE YEAR'S GROWTH OCTOBER 9, 1904 Members, - 93 OCTOBER 7, 1905 Members, ... ... goo 10 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OFFICERS JohnG. Shedd, President Marshall Field & Co. Edward M. Skinner. 1st Vice-President Wilson Bros. Richard C. Hall, 2d Vice-President Duck Brand Co. Albert A. Sprague, 2d, 3d Vice-President Sprague, Warner & Co. Edwin Sherman, General Treasurer Gmhmann, Carpenter & Telling John H. Hardin. General Secretary F. A. Hardy & Co. Clarence A. Cotton, Executive Secretary BOARD OF DIRECTORS Adolphus C. Bartlett Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. Benjamin Carpenter Geo. B. Carpenter & Co. Alfred M. Compton John V. Farwell Co. Edwin S. Conway W. W. Kimball Co. Richard L. Crampton National Bank of Republic John V. Farwell, Jr John V. Farwell Co. Frank R Fuller Fuller & Fuller Co. Richard C. Hall Duck Brand Co. JohnH. Hardin F. A. Hardy & Co. L. Bernard Kilbourne C. H. Weaver & Co. Eugene U. Kimbark The Paper Mills Co. Arthur G. Leonard Union Stock Yards & Transit Co. John W. Scott Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. J. Harry Selz Selz, Schwab & Co. JohnG. Shedd Marshall Field & Co. Edwin Sherman Guthmann, Carpenter