The Portland daily press., 1871-01-10
Annual Meeting Of the Board Of Trade

Line report OF the Treasurer, CnarieS II. mas
kell, Esq, was submitted in detail. The prin
clpal items are as follows:-
| TREAsURER's REPORT.
Dr.-To balance from last year; S2ls7.2 q
l Exchange and Board OF Trade. ....... 1884 3:
| Interest on investments. ............... 1929
| ~ sass. q
Cr-By expenditures. Observation-Disclosures. 26l9. 81
Balance in hands of Treasurer .S2234, 8:
Excess OF receipts over expenditures. 47.0a
M. N. Rich, Esq, Secretary of the Board
offered his annual report
sEcRETARY's ANNUAL REPORT.
10 the officers and members Of the Board o,
trade:
Your Secretary would respectfully report
That there have been held twenty-four meet
lngs during the year,-twelve stated and four
special meetings OF the managers, and eight
meetings of the Board. Six adjournments
without transacting business for want of QUO.
rum. NV
FIFTY -one new members have been admitted
during the year. Three have deceased viz
Luther Dana. Charles H. Breed and Clement
fninney.--FouI have removed and two have
declined their membership.
The Board now numbers 81 members
against zoo at our last annual meeting
All except fifteen members have paid their
annual assessment for 1870
nave received for annual assessments and
omission fees the past year $4O9 90. and have
paid the sam cover to the Treasurer. The source
ofthe receipts is herewith submitted. together
with the records and books of accounts belong
ing to the Board for the inspection of its mem
bers. - '' 'Ae 49,
The Merchants Exchange has at this time
2SS subscribers against 299 members last year
Inc receipts from the subscribers has been
since the Both of March, the commencement of
Its fiscal year $3.50. This institution being
managed chiefly by an efficient Board of Dr.
rectors, l would respectfully refer to such
further detail of its affairs as the directors may
deem expedient to present at this or some
future meeting.
In briefly abiding to the topics which have
more particularly engaged the attention of this
Board the past year, it may, however be prop
er for me to state at this time that at the first
meeting of the managers after the annual
meeting last year, effective measures were
taken to revive an interest in the Merchants
Exchange room, and to this end a committee
was appointed, consisting of Hon. W. w
Thomas, A. K. Shurtlef and John w. Per
kins, to which the President and Secretary
were subsequently added. for the purpose Of
soliciting subscribers to the Exchange as we'll
as to this Board, SO as to enable such further
Improvements and attractions as the rooms
seemed to require.
The results of this action were eminently
successful, and the large increase in our mem
berShlp Is in a manner due to the policy Thus
pursued, and it is to be hoped that similar and
even more vigorous efforts in this direction
will be continued the present year, that our
Exchange Room may be improved and in
creased in attractions until no public spirited
business man can afford to withhold his mem
bership.
The subject of "Harobr Improvements"
"Embarrassments to the trade of this port i'm.
posed ny the custom authorities at Island
Pond, W.T., The abolition of compulsory nj
lotage, Mr.. Lynch's bill "for the Relief of
American Commerce" 1.-THE restoration of an
efficient Revenue Cutter to this station, have
been earnestly and persistently dealt with this
erted an influence which has insured entire
success in nearly all the great questions and
improvements in which this Board has Coop
Grafton. @..r.
The influence of this board as power is due
in great measure to our. reluctance and eau.
ton in engaging or dabbling in minor or unim.
portant personal interests, and l hope the same
caution and care will guide our actions in the
future. - - .
As constituent body of the National Board
OF Irade, TINS board has continued to cooper
ate with that Commercial Congress-" which
has now become SO important an auxiliary to
the Congress of the United States in the prac-
tical suggestions and solutions of such cues
tIons as are agitated in developing the COM
MERGE and industries OF our great and growing
country. At the last annual meeting of the
National Board, held at Buffalo on the Sch of
December lass. this Board was ably represent-
ed by Messrs j. B. Brown, 81. j. Libby and A.
K Shurtlefi who will doubtless make such re-
port OF said meeting as they deem expedient
The commerce Of this city is being steadily
developed by reaching out its iron arms toward
the great interior waters of the north and west
and threading the numerous rivers and inlets
OF our sea coast with steamboats, and regular
packet lines.
The Portland & Ogdensburgh railroad has
already nearly reached the borders of our
state IN the interior, and is diverting much val.
liable trade and wealth to our city-its progress
Is being pushed to rapid completion.
TIE Portland & Rochester railroad is also
making rapid progress i'll pushing onward to
make its connections with network of "feed.
ers, Dy which the investment of millions are
to be utilized in turning traffic to our shores,
and making market for our "wares." -
Other lines between this city and the West
are projected and we doubt not will be required
to meet the growing wants Of this eastern me-
railway has broushs ts MSstba sAsmffeap
tier of our State one day nearer to this COM
munity.
The Grand Trunk railway has been doing
large business, and with much promptness and
satisfaction, and is gradually extending its ia
cilities.
The domestic commerce of our port presents
very satisfactory aspect at this time. Our
coasting vessels have been doing fair share of
the vast carrying trade of the State, and the
various steamboat lines have been as prosper
GUS as could be expected under the general de.
preston that has prevailed through all parts of
the country, while our foreign commerce has
continued to increase, especially with South
America, which is fast becoming an important
branch of the business of this port. Notwith-
standing the continued interruption Of our
Cuba trade, in consequence of the political
troubles of that island the past year, we are
able to show large increase in our imports
and exports.
The business by the International line of
steamers with the lower Provinces has contin-
ued to increase under the excellent manage
ment of that line of communication, and very
large and growing business has been inaugu-
rated by the running of a line Of steamers be-
tween this port and Halifax, N. s., supplying
necessity long felt, and drawing to our port
large and valuable trade from the extreme
eastern Provinces
In view of the general prosperity and steady
advancement of our city during the past year
while the business of the country has languish-
ed and trade has been so depressed elsewhere,
we have indeed much for congratulation at this
time. M. N. RICH, Secretary.
Capt. E. D. Choate, in behalf of the Port
Wardens, read their annual report; irom]which
it appears that they have, during the past year,
visited 200 vessels go American, 70 foreign,
and % coasters-including "a British and
American steamships. The cargoes of the
above vessels were generally in good order, the
exceptions being on account of the bad wealth
er of the winter months. They have attended
to the discharge of the European and Halifax
steamers, which they found we'll slowed and
dunnaged, and generally delivered in good Or
der.
Mr.. Shurtleff, enc Of the managers of the
Merchants Exchange, made an informal report
Of the business for the past year. The reading
room has been conducted in a satisfactory man
ner. The addition of several leading newspa-
pers from different sections of the country is
desirable, but the cramped condition of the
treasury will not permit the expenditure at
present. The daily receipt of the Chicago
market reports by telegraph, though attended
with considerable expense, had proved a great
advantage to the merchants of Portland, and
will be continued the coming year.
Mess.s. Chas. E. Jose, Henry P. Wood and
A. @. Leach were appointed committee to
nominate officers for the ensuing year. They
reported the following ticket, and the gentle
men named were unanimously chosen by bal
lot:
President-Woodbury S. Dana.
Vice Presidents-A. x. Shurtlef, III. j. Lib.
| by and Israel Washburn, Jr.
Directors-Samuel j. Anderson. Thomas E.
| Twitchell, j. w. Perkins, William DeeriDg,
| Francis K. Swan, j. s. Winslow, j. s. Bedlow.
Treasurer-Cbas. n. Haskell.
Secretary-M. N. Rich.
Port Wardens-E. D. Choate, John Hasty.
! The subject of resuming the publication of
| the annual reports of the Board of Trade was
brought up by 7. G. Hersey, Esq, and after
| brief consultation the whole matter was re-