The Portland daily press., 1883-02-02
M. G. M. A.
TIE PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL EXIT
BITION.
The Sphere of the Schools to be En-
larged.

The regular routine business was gone
through with. The pleasant announcement
was made that their venerable Bro. Ira Berry.
who recently sustained such severe accident
was getting on wonderfully for a man of his
years-that he was already able to be moved
from his couch and in a few days would be
able to sit up.
Messrs. Frank P. Foley and Addison Libby
were elected members,
Mr.. Stephen Berry, chairman of the COM
mittee to consider the sabiect of an industrial
exhibition, read the following report:
Your committee on an Industrial Exhibition
| would repsrt that they have considered the
subjects referred to them an find
l. That the total number of square feet oc-
| cupied by the last exhibition in City Hall and
| Fluent Hall was about q 800. They consider
cd that the proposed exhibition would require
| not less than twice that amount, and would
| therefore recommend a building 100 BY 400
i feet or its equivalent which would give 4O, 600
square feet on the ground floor and an addi-
| tional space In side galleries. Nessrs. Fassett
and Rogers estimate that such building would
cost $4,000. The committee have looked at
| many building sites and find the most favora-
BILE to be that at the foot of Myrtle street where
| the York and Cumberland railroad station
formerly stood. That can probably DO obtain
| ed for the necessary time for $1,000, or for five
| years for 5000, but they cannot find any
method of disposing of the building after
wards, to advantage on leased land Another
| good situation can be had near behring's
| bridge outside of the track, and the owners OF
| the land would endeaVer to use the building
| afterwards, but are unwilling TO engage to take
it off your hands unless some favorable en-
plol ment offers for it.
The best suggestion which is offered for the
future usefulness of the building, is that the
city should use it for drill purposes for the
military companies, and letting it for large as
semblies such as conventions mass meetings,
military balls, etc. Your association could
not wisely undertake such project, and it
| could only be done safely by making arrange
ments with the city government to erect such
building on its own land, and allowing the
association to use it by paying an equitable
sum for its erection. The market lot between
Silver and Fore streets might be used for this
purpose, utilizing the present market build
ing. Ii this suggestion is adopted 1t will be
necessary to wait until the new city govern
ment is insngurated, the present term being SO
near its close.
II. An engine and boiler large enough to
drive he machinery will cost several thousand
dollars, but Mr.. Beal, on behalf of the Portland
Company has made the exceedingly liberal
offer of furnishing them for $1,000 There will
be considerable expenditure for shafting,
countershatts, etc. and expensive machinery
unless every convenience is afforded for run
ming 1t without extra expense to the owners.
We estimate that not less than 1900 in
subscription should be obtained before starting
in such an enterprise, $40 600 to be given out
right and $4,000 subscribed guaranty
against loss, to be drawn upon IL necessary
Such exhibition, 10 deserve success, must
be undertaken npon sufficiently liberal scale
as to compare favorably with similar exhibi-
tions elsewhere, but the limited field which we
have to draw upon for support, will render it
impossible for US TO expect it 10 pay its own ak
penSes. All We have right TO expect 10 to
come out square with the addition of the first
$4,000 contributed. An immense amount of
work must be given by the Association, besides
the salaries of competent superintendent,
secretary aud assistants 1t is unreasonable to
expect the Association to contribute the labor
and also thu money when the profit Can only
be anticipated in the general advantage to the
public. 1t would also be unwise; for while q
prestige, and the happy reflections consequent
upon we'll doing, heavy accrued debt would
cripple il for very many years.
We recommend that if action is voted, the
time be set for 1884, and not for the present
year, and that the work be Immediately en-
tered upon, as soou as the building project can
be satisfactorily arranged, in order that ample
time may be given for thorough work, extern
Sive advertising, and securing full exhibitions
of machinery. Much correspondence and sew
eral months notice will be required to secnrs
the most decided novelties in machinery and
inventions. Respectfully submitted,
STEPHEN BERRY,
T. H. FAssRTT,
Gao. W. BEALE,
e. A. JORDAN,
DANIEL HAMBLEN.
The report was accepted.
The chair suggested that in order to bring
the matter before the Association for discuss
ion motion to adopt would be in order.s
Mr.. Thorndike thought that the subject Of
an exhibition could not we'll be acted upon d.
recty or intelligently without consultation
with the city government for the present year
or the year to follow.
Mr.. Bailey moved that the report be
ADOPTED.
Mr.. Berry stated that the report was made
with an "if'' so that the Association through
discussion might thoroughly understand it,
The committee thought it desirable to have
something more than a mere local fair to ac-
compish the results desired. There could not
be counted upon SO much personal effort as in
other institutions and it must be conducted
upon strictly business principles
Mr.. Jordan had entertained the idea thai
the Association could get up successful exhi-
biton, but after learning the views of the COM
mittee he was inclined to take gloomy view
of the matter. II they were to operate with
the city government they should put some of
their members there. He was now inclined to
think that an indefinite postponement of the
whole matter would be for the best. but would
not make motion to that effect
Mr.. Bailey thought the outlook gloomy,
especially about raising the $4,000 guaranty
There were already two canvassing boards in
the field for worthy objects and he was not
aware that they were meeting proper success
After some further discussion the matter of
an exhibition was tabled for the present.
Mr.. Berry spoke of the good that Lad re-
| suited from the free-hand drawing school
established by the association and the great
interest manifested in it. To enlarge the in
! fuence of the association he thought that adj
| ditionsl inducements in educational matters
might be held out There were many who
would like some knowledge of the higher
branches of language he thought and he there
| fore moved that o school be established the
coming winter open to the members and their
families and apprentices for instruction in the
French and Spanish languages. He was in
| clined TO think there were many who had an
| Interest and desire to obtain some knowledge
of those languages.
After some inquiry concerning the cost OF
such instruction Mr.. Berry's motion was
| adopted and the meeting adjourned.
Ocean Traffic.
It'd N Af he