The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-08
THE BOARD OF TRADE.
Some Reasons Why 1t Should pe Con-
tinued.

The Secretary of the Board of Trade gives
the following as some of the important matters
brought about to the advantage of Portland by
the Board:
Meeting on change, May g. 1853, from 1890
TILL l O'Clock p. M. in front of the post office,
memorialized Congress for harbor light on
the break water-granted in January, 1854.
| 1854 Asked for United States survey of
the harbor and establishment of water line for
wharves and deepening of water-granted.
1854. Petitioned the United States to re-
build the custom house and post ofice-grant-
1906. Prepared suitable dockage and wharf
age TO accommodate the "Great Eastern y !,
monument to the enterprise of our city.
1901. Petltioned Congress to open ne gotta
lions for an International code to snnnrass
rivateering-granted.
1891. Petitioned Congress for a fort on Hog
granted. ee'
The International Steamship Company open
YORK and Philadelphia and the Bangor and
Macnlas Steamboat Company originated with
this board. "AsA
The establishment of the Merchants Ex-
change in 1864 with 355 subscribers thoush 40
shamefully neglected of late yesrs-is a credit
to the board oA01'
In March, 1868, the Boston Board of Trade
attempted to divert the trade of the West with
Portland by tapping the Grand Trunk at Pres
cott with branch to the st. Lawrence, thence
ny steamers TO Ogdensburg, &C., SO as to avoid
portland. This board requested MANAGER
Brydges Of the Grand Trunk to meet the board.
which he did and promised that such arrange.
ment should not be made At the same time
discriminating rate of freight then existing in
FAVOR OF Boston, was abolished.
In August, 1868, the boards of trade of De-
troit, Chicago and Milwaukee visited the CITY
W invitation OF this board. Their entertain
ment cost over 1000 but the investment has
ed up.
A standard flour inspection was established
in 1864, and it was no fault of the board that
1t was not perpetnated after the great fire
The steam cutter Mahoning was sent tn this
port through the efforts of this board during
the war
In 1868 the want of dry dock was discussed
In the board. which appointed committee to
ontaln subscriptions to the stock, which was
all taken in one week and the dry dock built
the following season.
Better mail facilities ami increased postal
advantages of the city were brought about
through the efforts of this board during the
war and since.
Woods marble hotel was erected through
the efforts of this board, and after it's destruc-
ton, through its further efforts, Mr.. Brown.
its first president, built the Falmouth.
The supply of water from Sebago Lake was
sASoAOuoAy notOCdt0u III tuc DOarQ III 1903, and
persistent efforts were made thereafter till the
object was accomplished.
Buoys and steam whistles for Cape Elita-
beth, Matinicus Rock and Quoddy Head were
asked for by the board, and now give notice of
the dangers lying about the approaches to
these points in thick weather.
a compulsory pilotage tax upon the COM
merce OF this port was killed by the board Of
trade in 1868.
The proposed tariff on molasses in 1854 was
80 excessive as IN nr0pliea min ~.
business of Portland and special committee
from this board went to Washington and sue
ceeded in getting modified rate of duties
The board raised $7,621.16 in 1864 for the
nessee, and $500 to relieve tho distresses of
the emigrants landed here from the wrecked
steamer Bohemian" Nearly $4,000 were
raised for kindred purposes through the instru.
mentality of this board during the wears of the
rebellion.
The Portland company, rolling mills, glass
works, shovel mandatory, sugar refineries
and other manufacturing industries have in
turn received support and encouragement and
were about all originated by the board. and if
they were not all successful it was from no
fault OF this organization.
In June, 1865, committee was chosen to
bring about the manufacturing of shoes in this
city by a joint stock company with capital of
not less than $50, 900, which resulted in several
firms and individuals entering into the buiness
which has been SO successful here.
The Portland and Ogdensburg railroad was
originated by the board early in 1867, and the
first meeting in its behalf was called by the
secretary of the board.
The national board of trade was organized
chiefly through the efforts of tho Portland del
egation to the great commercial convention at
Detroit in 1867
The detention of merchandise at Island
Pond for entry and payment of duties there for
goods coming over the Grand Trunk to Port
land was corrected by the efforts Of the board
in 1868.
Negotiations for reciprocal trade with the
Canada have been persistentiy urged from
time to time.
The relief of commerce and navigation by
remission of taxation of shipbuilding materi-
ais, &c, has frequently been advocated in Con-
gress through this BOARD.
board OF manufactures was established in
1871, by this board to encourage and promote
in every possible way, the investment of capi-
tai from abroad 10 manufacturing interests in
this city An industrial fair in 1875, was one
result.
Deepening the harbor by removing the mid
die ground to admit the largest steamships to
the wharves at any time was the result of the
appropriation asked of Congress by this board
in 1872.
Breaking the ice in the upper harbor and
about the wharves in extreme cold seasons has
been done and paid for by his board.
The rebuilding of the grain elevator after
the fire of 1874 received the earnest co-opera-
The protection of the city from the storage
of oils, spirits and other combustibles and in
fammable materials in hazardous localities,
and the providing of fire boats for the water
front and wharf property, have been frequent
ly urged by the board.
That the city should be always creditably
represented in all of the great commercial
centres of the world, has been the special care
OF the board where and whenever its influence
could be brought to bear.
A 06DartmaOt of trade and in the
national Cabinet, now SO generally urged
throughout the country, was suggested in this
board in 1878.
The adulteraton of food and drugs has been
condemned by strong protest from this board.
The board has protested against any and all
injurious discrimination in rates of freight or
monopolies, and has interested itself for the
regulation OF Interstate commerce.
1t has aided in securing mileage tickets for
our commercial travellers at the lowest possible
rates.
For an equitable distribution of the Geneva
award, the board took early and effective
action.
The meetings of the American Association
Tor the Advancement of Science and of the
National Board of Trade in this city, were
suggested by this board.
The perfection of the United States signal
service in this city and the greater efficiency of
the lfe-saving stations due largely to efforts
of this board.
The change Of system and removal of some
of the lighthouses on this coast, still pressed
with an indecent obstinacy bordering on a
spirit of revenge by the lighthouse board, be-
cause the people dare demonstrate against such
dangerous measure-will continue to engage
the unceasing efforts of the board till the
peoples will prevails.
Sad Accident.
Saturday Mr.. S. F. Merrill of Auburn, men,
Der OF the shoe manufacturing firm of Ara