The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-05-14
From the Daily kennebec Journal. May 5th.
Meeting OF the Centennial Board.

From the Daily kenntbec Journal May 5th
Meeting OF the Centennial Board.
The board of commissioners appointed
under act of the last legislature met the
two State commissioners previously APP
pointed, at the Augusta House, Yesterday
afternoon, at half-past four o'clock The
entire board were present as follows
Joshua Nye of Augusta. and Charles P
kmball Of Portland, James II McNIullen
of Biddetord. T. L. Shaw of Paris, Edwin
Sprague of Rockland, Charles w Roberts
Of Bangor, and w II. Simpson of Belfast
The object of the meeting was to organ
ize and consider plans for carrying out the
objects Of the commission, in making ar
engagements for the fitting representation
OF Maine in the great exhibition
Hon Joshua Nyc called to order, and
on his motion Hon. c. p. kimball was
called temporarily to the chair Col F.
4. Shaw was made Secretary
Mr.. Nye said that he thought the organ
ization should be made to-day A Secre-
tary is needed whose business it shall be
| to answer communications and work up
an interest. One thousand dollars have
been appropriated by the State, to be used
as The board may think best, and 4 portion
of This may be devoted to paying the ex-
! pensee 81 Il Secretary for several months
! No great interest in this matter had thus
! far been developed in the State; this is
not 10 be wondered at, rs the public Jour
nails do not agree, and two members of
| Congress from this State are opposed to
| the Congressional appropriation
Mr.. kimball looked upon this matter as
oneot no little Importance. He had given
t. it Z good deal Of thought and was sure
that when the people became aware of its
| magnitude there would be no lack of inter
est. The board should have a Secretary,
| who should send out blanks, personally
visit the large manufacturers and pro-
ducers, attend to correspondence, and
work up a general interest, that the peo-
pie may take hold in earnest, and he had
no doubt that the result woald be a good
shoW--onc that the board and the State of
Maine would not be ashamed Of He had
no doubt the work would be light this wear
in comparison to what must be done be-
fore the holding of the exhibition.
Mr.. McMullen thought that the work of
the Secretary this year Wonld be simply
preparatory.
Mr.. >prague thought it too early to map
out the work. especially while the matter
in Congress is in such state. The action
there would undoubtedly guide our future
action. The matter thus far has dragged
heavily here. and he had noticed that this
was the case also n Massachusetts,.
Remarks We're then made upon several
OF the branches of the material wealth of
the State, proper to exhibit at the exhibit
ton. Mr.. McAIullen spoke of the improve
ments made i'll the manufacture of steel.
The katahdin Iron Works. through their
agent, had already proposed to exhibit
specimens. Mr.. Simpson said that the bog
ore had been found in several localities Of
the State. that is beginning to be extern
siyely used in the manufacture of iron.
Nh. Simpson suggested that the people
could be etfectually reached by an address
from this board. published in all the news
papers. Messrs. Shaw and Roberts, and
indeed the entire board, heartily concur
red in this.
On motion Of Mr.. Nye, the board pro-
ceeded to the election of permanent Pres
ident, and the Hon. Charles p Ki1nball of
Portland, was unanimously elected. Mr..
kimball thanked the board for the honor,
which he considered a high one, and
promised to do all in his power to make
the exhibition a success.
After discussing the qualifications of a
Secretary, thefboard adjourned to even
ing.
The board reassembled in the evening
at half-past seven. Enoch Knight of Port
land was elected Secretary of the board.
The following gentlemen were chosen Ex-
ecutive Committee, to fix the compensa-
ton and arrange the duties of Secretary,
audit bills, etc. The President, er-ohcio,
Edwin Sprague, j. II. McNIullen.
MI. Simpson presented the following
resolutions, which were adopted:
RESOLVED, That to our sister States of the
Union that propose to unite in the proper OBJ
scrvance Of the Centennial Anniversary of the
Independence of the United States we send
our cordial and fratcrnal greetings, accompa-
MED by a pledge that no effort shall be lacking
on our part to secure for Maine a proper rep
resentatlon on that great occasion; that, not
forgetting the records of other States, we re-
cOgnze the propricty of locating this celebra-
ton at Philadelphia, so imperishably connected
with the glorious memories OF the Revolution;
and we extend our thanks to her people for
their patriotic aid so largely and freely tender
ed to the Centennial Exposition.
RESOLVED, That while not discouraging aid
from other sources, we respectfully urge the
friends of the Centennial to Immediately organ
ize in each State and territory the most perfect
system to reach the hearts of the entire people
OF the country, and to interest them in the sue
cess of the Centennial Exposition: and to re-
ceive from true patriotic American citizens
such sums for the stock as each shall see tit to
contribute.
RESOLVED, That we fully believe that such
Il course Will be the means of bringing the
Whole subject directly before the people, and
OF Interesting them in the grandest enterprise
our nation has ever witnessed The people
OF TINS nation have never failed to promptly
respond to any great call on their patriotism
They did not fail in 177G. We shall have the
utmost faith in them, and believe that when
fairly informed of the objects of the Centen-
NAL, and properly appealed to, they will as
promptly and cordially respond now as here
tofore.
Messrs. Shaw, Simpson and Sprague,
the three newspaper men of the board,
were appointed to the duty of preparing
an address to the people
| After 4 conversational discussion of sew
eral topics the board adjourned The
next meeting will probably be held in
Portland, in June, during the Industrial
Exhibition there, at which time the plans
| OF the board will be more fully matured.
The State is fortunate in the composition
OF the board. They are gentlemen who
have the ability, enthusiasm and deter
mination to do their duty in this import
ant matter, and should Names assigned
position in the exposition not be properly
| filled, it will not be the fault of the board,
Friday night the ice in front OF Quebec moved
in body, inficting great damage to vessels,
wharves and booms. 1t is nearly forty years
since the bridge remained tosso late date. A
despatch states that the damage done will reach
81 900 900.
Among the appropriations in the river and
hirbor bill passed by the House are the follow
ing: st. Croix and Machias rivers. Maine. each
Slo'ooO; Penobscot river, 500, 900: Camden har-
bor, $1,000; Kennebec river, $4,000; Port