An original solicitation letter for solicitation of members for the Lykens Valley Board of Trade, which was organized on 4 July 1910, at Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It included a card which the enrollee completed indicating “sympathy” for the purposes of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade and one dollar for dues for the current year [1910].
The original letter was mailed in the above envelope from Berrysburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, on 30 August 1910, to Mr. Harvey F. Kissinger, Gratz, Pennsylvania. In addition to the solicitation letter and return card, a 32-page brochure was included which contained the “Declaration of Principles and Constitution and By-Laws of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade.” On the cover of the brochure was a map of the route of the Midland Pennsylvania Railroad.
The text of the letter stated the following:
Esteemed Friend:
At last, after many years of patient and persistent work, we have succeeded in having a Railroad Company formed for giving to you and the entire valley the transportation facilities you have so long needed.
We all know that the operation of your railroad will not only enable you to ship and to receive many more goods than at present, but it wall also gradually and surely increase the wealth of the entire valley. It will almost immediately result in the starting of new enterprises which will require the purchase of land. As these new enterprises are formed it will mean the purchase of more land for the construction of the houses which will be needed for employes [sic]. In addition many new forms of industries will start up, some of which are bound to benefit you personally.
In order to ensure the greatest benefit to the entire Valley, and also to benefit you directly, the Lykens Valley Board of Trade was organized July 4th last.
We enclose a copy of their Constitution and also a copy of the admirable address which Mr. Finley Acker, of Philadelphia, made on that occasion. read them both carefully. After doing this you will be prouder of Lykens Valley than ever before and see many new ways in which it can be developed and enriched; and we want you to show your approval of what we are doing by immediately becoming and Associate Member of the Lykens Valley Board of Trade. The dues are only one dollar a year, but the many ways in which this Board can directly help you will be worth many times that amount.
Will you fill out the enclosed blank to-day? Upon its receipt we will send you a handsomely engraved Certificate of Membership which yo may wish to frame in honor of this important event in the history of the Lykens Valley. We would also be glad to receive from you at any time your own suggestions for improving the Lykens Valley and for making your railroad more helpful to you.
Fraternally yours,
Lykens Valley Board of Trade
Joseph F. Romberger, President
T. S. Klinger, Secretary
_____________________________________
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