The Portland daily press., 1874-06-10

an lncredlDle short space of time. The blow
was wa indeed severe one, but we were equal to
ehe emergency. The great labor OF rebuilding
brought among US large number of valuable
citzens that were very anxious to make TINS
their permanent home. This sentiment nat
urally increased the very general desire to make
Portland manufacturing as well as a CON-
mercial cty,-all knowing we had every 1aclil-
ty to build up large manufacturing interest
here, and by so doing employ our own unem
ployed population and bring thousands more
among US. The Board of Trade, ever watch
full of the interests of the city, took the matter
under consideration, and, as result OF their
delberatlon, created new board called Port
land Board of Manufactures, before whom all
general matters per aiming to our manufactur-
ing interests should come. The gentlemen
selected for that board all accepted
vigorously to work. They asked the city
council to pass resolutions promising to exempt
all rev manufacturing capital investments
here from taxation for the term of ten years,
and to place at the disposal of the board
small amount of money. to be used by them as
they thought the best interests of the city re
quired. Both of these requests were promptly
and generously granted A very large num-
Der of meetings have been held by the board,
and great deal of time has been spent
by the members and some very satisfactory
results obtained that are quite advantageous to
our city, that for sufficient reasons we do not
think wise to enumerate. We have deemed it
our special duty to place the superior advan-
tages of Portland, as manufacturing city, be-
fore all that were ready to listen to us, and to
assist all new corners to procure suitable
places for their business etc., and we believe
have done our whole duty in this respect.
But for the good of the city and the
people of Portland, we determined to
do something more plainly to be seen than
this silent work, that has kept us so
busy the past few years, and with that view we
inaugurated this Industrial Exhibition, feeling
confident it would bring out the fact, so well
known to us that the extent and variety, as
well as the excellence of the goods manufact-
ured here, were not only not known to the peo-
pie of Maine, but were really not half known
to our own citizens. The exhibition was con-
ceved in the interests of all, but more especial
ly the producing classes.
The public mind has manifested its sympa-
thy with the move in varions ways. The press
of this city especially, have given it their great
influence and hearty support, and done for US
grand work in awakening the deep interest
now so plainly to be seen, while our merchants,
business men and city government have re-
sponded promptly and generously to every call
made upon them.
The board that inaugurates this exhibition,
and under whose management it is to be car
ried on, have given to it their best energies and
constant labor. We have in the past and do
now have, great hopes of its entire success in
every respect and thanking all who have thus
far favored the movement we most earnestly
call upon the people to assist US in making it
such success that it will be repeated each
year.
We do not claim that holding a fair or
Industrial Exhibition is an original idea with
us, for in fact the origin of fairs and exhibit
tiOns is too re mote for the ablest historian to
fix the exact date; they have no doubt been
held for various purposes under different
names in all times and in all countries. The
objects and results have varied with the times.
According to Prescotts history of the Con-
quest of Mexico fairs were held there before
shops or stores were known; they were thronged
by numerous concourse Of people, and the
traffic in all the various productions OF the
country was immense. The same was true of
Peru and other countries. These fairs Were
the popular resort of the people-the great ex-
change of the country. They were holden in
some places every fifth day, and great amount
OF traffic done under the superintendent of
magistrates, appointed for that purpose. They
had no circulating medium, and this was the
most feasible way to carry on their crude COM
merce in exchanging the products of various
kinds.
Fairs and exhibitions of various kinds were
established in Flanders in the 10th century; in
England early in the 18th. They were popular
in most parts of the old world for hundreds
of years, but finally came into disrepute, as
their objects were perverted, and instead OF
being the grand centres of industry and COM
merce, they were mere rotous gatherings of
the lowest classes, and giants, dwarfs, monkeys,
live serpentS, rope dancers, ETC., were their
chief attractions. During the present century
this has mostly passed away in all countries,
and fairs and exhibitions are now instituted
and patronized as places where the artisan can
display specimens of his handiwork, the in
ventor exhibit his models and drawings
places, in fact, where the produce of every
class, kind and style of goods, including
pose them to public view and inspection.
This makes the exhibition of the present day
vastly superior to those of olden times, and all
must have noticed, who have carefully watched
the constantly growing interest manifested by
the people of almost every civilized nation in
agricultural and horticultural fairs, lin mechan
les and industrial exhibitions, that the people
regard them as important events, calculated
not only to improve the manufacturer, the ar
tlsan and the agriculturist, but to open vast
fields for Improvements in all branches of in
dustry, besides giving the people generally,
grander and higher appreciation of the impor-
lance of mechanical skill and labor to the wei
are of mankind.
The genius Of the past ages was of an entire
ly different type from that of the present
Painting and sculpture perhaps reached their
climax, the very zenith of their great glory,
centuries ago. From these and other facts the
learned Phillips talks to of the lost arts, and
we are almost led to believe by his charming
eloquence we are on the downward scale of
civilization; but we must not in our admira-
ton for the great masters, forget that as late
as the 18th century, while Michael Angelo
was painting the holy family or chiseling his
colossal statute of David, that the tilers of the
soil were plOughing their ground with the
crotch of tree, carrying their produce to mar
ket on the backs of their beasts of burden; that
they had but few travelled roads, and no steam
boats, railroads, gas lights, telegraph, or phot-
ograph, and could not pull tooth without
making patient scream; that new Inventions
and new devices were often treated as works
of the devil and the inventors imprisoned.
That the present is far superior to the past,
it seems to me no careful reader of history can
doubt. Can there be any truer or greater test
of civilization tn IN useful productions, produc-
tonS that are the most beneficial to mankind,
that lessons the toll and increases the pay? In
this respect the present is greatly in advance of
all past ages. Raphael thanked God he lived
in the days of Michael Angelo. Can any of us
contrast the present with the past, aud as we
look with subdued reverence upon the genius.
the skill and wonderful science of the present
age, and not thank God from the depths of our
heart that we live in this enlightened 10Th CEN
tury-the century that has given the world more
great inventions and startling improvements
and freedom than any thousand years that pre-
coded it, and can any one doubt that the Decara-
ton of independence and the great American
Republic that followed, gave to the human mind
and heart new hope and new life, hope of final
freedom of mankind from slavery and serfdom,
therefore helping to revolutlOnze the realm of
thought, causing inventive genius, science and
skill to boldly step forth to peform the great
work of the 10Th century. In this age inven-
tive genius finds no impeachment in its way, but
receives the fostering care OF a paternal govern
ment In no way does our peculiar American
qualities more fully exhibit themselves than in
our inventions, which turn almost exclusively
to the application of mechanical powers to the
common of mankind, to furnish the ne
cessties rather than the luxuries of life. Hence
the superiority of our mowers, reapers, plows,
cultivators and shovels, that are sold in all
parts of the world, as well as our sewing ma
chimes that lessen the TOLL and increase the earn
sngS Of the poorest paid Of all free human labor
ers This popularity manifests itself very
plainly whenever our productions are brought
into contrast with the productions of other ma
tons. Mr.. Beckwith, the Commissioner of the
United States to the Paris Expositi on. in his
report, says:
''The high position conceded by the verdict of the
times to American industrial products is not due in
general to the graceful designs fertile combinations
of pleasing colors, elegant forms elaborate finish
any OF the artistic qualities which cultivate the taste
and refine the feelings by awakening in the mind a
higher sense of beauty, but it is owing to their skill
full, direct and admirable adaptation to the great
waits they are intended to supply and to the great
originality and fertility ofnvention which converts
the elements and natural forces to the commonest
uses. multiplying results and diminishing toll"
All true Americans will naturally take pride
in these facts so plainly stated by our Commits
soner; but pride alone will neither make 8
great, prosperous or happy Our duty is plain
we must seize upon these encouraging results
and continue to push forward our peculiar kind