The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-03-31

The members of the. Portland Merchants
Exchange held its annual meeting at its rooms
yesterday morning. to consider measures look
ing to an increase of membership and to con-
suit upon the business and industrial interests
| of the city, and to make choice of officers
| The following officers were chosen: Direc-
tors, A. X Shurtle w. w. Thomas, NJ. n
Rich, Charles r. Mlliken, VIM. Allen, jr.
The report of the Superintendent Mr. E. L.
Ring, was submitted. 1t reads as follows:
The Merchants Exchange numbers at the
present time 219 members, a slight decrease in
membership since the last report. The total
amount collected from members for annual as
sessments the past year was 81 SOAPS, which
has been paid to the Treasurer. For expendi-
lures the past year l refer you to the Treasul-
er's report, rendered at the last annual meeting
of the Board of Trade. We have on file at our
Exchange room II daily and 15 weekly par ers,
representing the larger cities and towns of New
England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, ILL
nois, Missouri. Louisiana, the Dominion of
Canada, and the Provinces of New Brunswick
and Nova Scotia
Telsgraphic reports. embracing gold and stock
quotations, London, Liverpool, Chicago and
New York markets. ship news, etc., are receiv-
ed daily as also are all local news of interest.
would here add that we are furnishing to our
members, at a subscription of six and ten dol
lars year. the same reports which the Boston
beers at a much higher rate of subscription. The
Exchange room is at times visited by those who
contribute nothing to its support. The only
remedy for this in my mind is a strict tick
ct system, as employed by the New York and
other Exchanges This, however, cannot be
worked successfully with the limited number of
| clerks which room affords. We have en-
| deav0red to make the Exchange room as at
tractive as possible to our subscribers, and have
tried hard to please all, in which trust we
have succeeded
The routine business before the meeting hav
ing been transacted, Hon. q. w. Woodman adj
dressed the members upon some matters of in
terest to the business public. He spoke of the
standing of the Board of Trade, and of the in
fuence for good which it exerted upon bust
ness, and indirectly, upon legislation. The
Board of Manufactures have projected an in
dustrial exhibition which will be a matter of
pride to the city. Portland has great manu-
featuring future before her if she will only take
| advantage of her.surroundings and natural ad-
| vantages. He then spoke few words for the
Merchants Exchange, of the facilities which it
| offers to the business. men of the city, and of
its present wants. Really, the city does not
sustain this institution quite it ought, though
the efforts of the canvassing committee have
within a few weeks resulted in a large accession
to the membership. The Merchants Exchange
| is valuable because of its union of the mer-
chants because of its capacity for united eff
fort. 1t is the business brain of the city, and
upon its best efforts depend the future business
prosperity of the city.
Mr.. w. S. Dana next addressed the meeting
deploring the want of confidence and union
among our business men. We want breath of
thought and breadth of purpose. We need CO.
operative power, and that power is only to be
attained by some close and well directed union.
change is coming over the country. The ne
cessity OF reduction of expenditures, of
more economical mode of living is seen. Bust
ness is settling itself upon new basis. We of
Portland must conform ourselves to the change,
unitedly. Unitedly we can do much. The
Merchants Exchange should be supported as a
means of Union. Its expenses are very much
less than those of any similar organization, and
its benefits are as great. In closing, Mr. Dana
| mentioned the Board of Manufactures, and
| said it had been doing much since its forma.
| ton. There has been marked increase in the
| interest evinced in manufactures during the
| last six months.
Mr.. G. E. Jose being called upon made some
| encouraging statements in regard to the indus
| trial exhibition, and said marked success was
| already assured. Something needs to be done
to call the attention of capital to Portland, and
the exhibition will serve that purpose, show I'M
as it does the enterprise, skill, energy and nat
ural advantages of thescity. We have suffered
less from the panic than any other city in the
country, and if trade seems dull now we must
remember that it is very much depressed all
about us. Yet many of the special industries
of Maine are reviving, and we have really a
bright outlook before us. For the last few
years everyone has beer seeking short roads to
fortune. and the great industries of the coun-
try have been terribly demoralized. A change
is now coming. We are taking a new depart
ure, and are row turning our attention to the
productive industries of the country. Maine is
)ast learning to use its advantages, is just be-
| ginning to get rich.
Other remarks were made and the meetinp
then adjourned.