The Portland daily press., 1874-06-23
The Exposition.

extent and variety of articles, in excellence
of workmanship and'in the public interest |
aroused at home and abroad it has been |
surprise even to the most sanguine OF Its pro- |
jectors. 1t is creditable to the managers,
creditable to the exhibitors and creditable to
the city. The interest has been maintained
for two weeks and it closes at the full tide
of prosperity. l . 5.f,
To say that the exhibition is great sue
nal success as not only to crafty, but
astonsh gentlemen who have, for
years, fattered themselves with the
idea that they knew all about Port
land and what it was doing or could
do. They little expected to see City
Hall and all the adjoining rooms crowded with
samples of the handiwork of Portland's arti-
sans and the products OF manufactures built
u and sustained by Portland capital and en-
ergy. So quiet has been the development of
the various industries of the city, that not on
ly have the people of the state looked upon
Portland as entirely commercial city, but
our own citizens have failed to note its silent
progress in the varied departments of skilled
production and manufacture, until the dis
play of the past two weeks revealed the fact
that hereafter the chief commercial city of
Maine must take rank as one of the first in
the variety, extent and value of its manufac-
lures. And yet it must be remembered that
not nearly all of the manufacturing interests
of Portland were represented in the exhibit
ton. Many were unable to prepare goods
for exhibition, while others for the want of
motive power and space could not exhibit
their products. The Portland Company,
whose five hundred skilled mechanics turn
out as fine locomotives and cars as are made
in the country, the Rolling Mills whose Vul-
cans are forging iron rails, the Kerosene
Works whose products are the best in the
market, cannot be represented in City Hall as
they might be in some departments if the ex-
hbtion were given in building having
more space and furnished with motive power.
1t is enough, however, to demonstrate that
for hundreds of the products of skilled labor
of the best quality, the people of Maine need
not go beyond the state boundary to pur-
chase. -.t.5i,t4..sf L, ......-,5 s.fr-fo
The bulk of Portland capital has hitherto
been invested in commercial transactions
which sustain a small population in compari
son with similar amount invested in manu-
featuring. But our city is sympathizing very
much with the awakened interest in manu-
features throughout the state, and this sym
pathy has been directed into practical chan
nels through the instrumentaity of our
Board of Manufactures who have faithfully
performed the duties assigned them, literally
seconded in their efforts by the City Govern
ment. Hence this experiment of an Indus
trial Exposition and the demonstration of
Portland's high rank as manufacturing
town.
So The exposition has been of great practical
utility in many ways. ''-
/. 1t has brought together, face to face, the
active representatives of all interests and
men of ali pursuits directly in the presence
ofthe real products of industry and skill.
This will naturally create an esprit du corps
and spirit of mutual helpfulness and reli-
ance, which will be of great service to crafts
men. 1t makes of all the artisans a sort of
universal guild, shows them that their
general interests are identical and encourages
each by the example of the enterprise of
others. api i rfa,i .usg .i
II. 1t has attracted the attention of capital
to the Importance and value of small man
ufactures as well as to the larger and more
conspicuous. II will lead to new invest
ments in this direction and will call the at
tention of our money lending establishments
to the desirability Of encouraging small man
ufactures by enlarged credits. The Journal
of Commerce quotes a bank officer who had
visited the show as saying that ''the exhibit
ton had caused him to change his mind in
regard to mechanics and manufacturers
credits and he should in future extend every
possible aid to them to conduct their bust
ness. He then saw that manufactures meant
population and business and wealth." is III
I'LL 1t is a tonic to the spirit and enter
prise of all our people. Nobody from out.
side has been SO much astonished at the re-
suits of the exposition as the average Port
lander. We possess, in common no doubt
e with most towns, a set of chronic and invet-.
crate croakers, whose persistent depreciation
of their own vicinage is likely to create sad
hued impression about everything. In spite
of the fact, shown by the census and the as
SCISSORS books, that Portland has had for
years healthy and steady growth in popula-
ton and wealth these jeremiahs do not abate
their lamentations, but insist in mournful
strain that the city is going to the bad with
great rapidity and directness. The events of
the last two weeks must make the avocation
of these dismal philosophers somewhat diff
cult and we may hope for temporary cessa-
ton. Our citizens will be strengthened in
faith and hope by these testimonies of the en-
terprise and progress among us. i3r
Nv. The attention of other communities
within our own state and elsewhere has been
attracted to Portland and its advantages for
all classes OF business more potently than it
could possibly have been by any other agency.
Our situation is favorable to the establish
ment and development of many kinds of
manufacturing, and a..disposition among our
people to welcome and encourage new enter
prises is shown by the cordial support given
the Exposition and by the operations of the
bOaru OF MdnuldcJufeS as representatives OF
the city. Our banks and other money lend
ers eyince readiness to assist al promising
undertakings, and all men who come among
us to do useful work will be greeted with
cordially and furnished with all practicable
facilities for their business.
In these and many other ways, direct and
indirect, the exhibition has been wholesome
and useful. To the Board of Manufactures,
especially its chairman and executive com
mittee, and to the gentlemen who have re-
sponded so effectively to their call for HELM.
does the city owe gratitude, and no one will
begrudge them a liberal need of nraise
They have done their duty well and have es-
tablished an abundant claim to puh,;c CON
fdence and respect. Upon them devo,ves
the special task of deducing practical results
from their magnificent exhibition, of foster
ing new industries and encouraging the de-
velopment of those already established. The
industrial interests of the city are in good
hands' and we Lave reason for great hopeful
n nGJ nffI x