Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-11-28
Correspondence.
PORTLAND, Nov. q, 1917.

PORTLAND, Nov. ., 1917.
To the Editors Of the American:
The loss Of Portland In the Latch f3oston
fire Is not so great as was feared at first.
but large enough to he felt considerably
among. some of her merchants. Many Of
our jobbers. and dealers In dry goods,
woods, leather &c. had large quantities of
goods stored in Boston ware houses; OF
which a comparatively small part were
uninsured aud will be a total loss: and
some OF them were insured in companies
that have been ruined by the fire, and will
be a partial loss. The recoil which will
come from the Boston fire must be felt By
all the business men of the country.
One of the great creditor cities Of tho
nation has lost the greater part Of her
store-houses filled to the roofs: millions Of
capital have been taken out of existence;
and sooner or later. as surely as there Is
any truth In the rules Of business and Of
political economy. we must all feel the
loss. The loss to CLERKS and shop-girls
thrown out of employ can soon be made
up: but the crippled interests Of business
In all its wide relations cannot be fully
appreciated for months, and cannot be
healed for years. The great comfort is
that the loss will finally be diffused among
so many that hardly anybody will be
ruined by 1t.
What men in Boston want now Is. not
charity. but credit: credit pure aud simple
not upon their property but upon their
characters "a business men; aud the
justice of other cities Is according this
credit TO them. Boston men who are not
worth a dollar to-day. are receiving goods
10 the value OF thousands from parties in
New York. 81. Louis. Chicago. Portland.
and other cities; they will be saved from
ruin by this confidence. and become rich
men again. The Mercantile agencies are
rating the burned-out merchants not upon
their property but upon their former
characters. Last week | heard a Boston
merchant say. a. he stood upon the ruins
of his warehouse, Il have lost s3oO. 900.
| have nothing left but my credit: but I
have the offer of all the goods wan, on
my own time. and this loss will probably
put me back only three or four years"
heard similar statements from many.
aud saw the spirit of pluck and resolution
on al sides.
Ia the rebuilding Of Boston thoughtful
men predict that substantial brick buildings
will take the place OF snowy granite
structures with their tinc-inviting mansard-
roofs thus greater security will be attained
and the interests OF economy will be con-
suited. The wisdom of this plan |.
demonstrated by one look a, the New
Post Office In Boston In its present condl-
ton; its magnificent granite copings were
eaten of by the flames: and it, massive
pillars on the eastern side were splntered
10 their bases and attest the frailty OF
granite IN a great fire. The subject Of
security against CONGREGATIONS is being
fully discussed in the journals Of the land.
and promises 10 be reduced well nigh 10
an exact science.
You will be pleased 10 see the enterprise
OF your nei;hbor the Prsss: In addition to
its large amount OF reading matter II has
q two PACED Supplement this morning.
This, think, is the first supplement, tina,
has ever appeared In daily paper. In
Maine. The Press is a good and growing
journal; and everybody is glad TO see its
prosperity. v.R.