The Portland daily press., 1885-04-16
THE BUSINESS MEETING.
Discussion of PortIands Railroad
Facilities.
PORTLAND AS A SUMMER RESORT
-OTHER MATTkRs.

The meeting of the business men at the
Merchants Exchange yesterday morning was
largely attended By many OF the representative
business men of the city. Among those pre-
sent swere noticed Charles mclaughlin.
j. e. Blabon, S. w. Thaxter, Thomas Shaw,
J. s. Kicker, Mayor Deering, G. R. Miliken,
Woodbury. s. Dana, Theodore Woodbury.. @.
j. Walker, f. o. Bailey, John e. De Witt and
others.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.. j
K. Blabon, president of the Board OF Trade.
Mr.. Biabon statsd that at the last regular
meeting of the Board arrangements had been
made for calling nesting of the business
men and expressed wish that the meeting
would result in fnll and free discussion of The
business outlook.
There being quorum OF the Board present
It was voted to ballot for the election of mem
bsrs and Capt Jas. Keazer, L. A. Cloudy and
W. @. Soale were unanimously elected to msm-
bership.
President Blabon called the attention Of the
Portland merchants to the necessity of giving
the Board OF Trade heartier support. Many
Of our most profitable business interests have
originated in the organization. II there is any
lack of support it arises from neglect rather
than an unwillingness to aid the Board.
Mr.. M. N Rich, secretary OF the Board in
troduced the following resolutions on the death
OF Mr.. Chas. 81. Haskell, for many years an
active member OF this association:
Whereas in view of the loss we have sustained by
the decease OF our friend and associate Hon. Chas.
II Haskell which occurred on the Sd inst, 1t is
just and fitting recognition of his long and Valuable
services in various offices. and president of this
board, and upright and honorable merchant
in this city, that we should testify our respect to
his memory, therefore
Resoleed, That in the death of Mr.. Haskell tho
city of Portland loses an honorable merchant q
public spirited ctizen--for many years identified
with its progress and property, and this board
valuable officer and pleasant companion whose
earnest endeavors were exerted for its welfare in
the early dass OF the organization.
RESOLVED, That this testimonial of our sympathy
and our sorrow be spread upon the records and a
copy thereof transmitted to the family of our de-
ceased associate.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
Mayor Deering was called upon and said
that he was present to listen, but would pledge
the hearty cooperation Of the City Govern
ment in any measures for the betterment OF
the business outlook which might be proposed
by the Board. If the Board demanded reduc-
tion OF taxes, the Mayor thought that the re-
ducsion could be effected.
Hon. Ohas. Mclaughlin said that he under
stood the object Of the meeting to be discuss
to the Portland & Ogdensburg. We are now
at the mercy OF the Boston q Lowell road. We
own the Portland C Ogdensburg and should be
posted in regard TO it's condition. No persons
are SO well able to post Us as its managers. If
an arrangement be made with the Boston &
Lowell. We will have Western outlet. II
not, our road becomes merely local.
s. w. Thaxter thought the relations of the
Portland s. Ogdensburg with the Boston &
Lowell were to be discussed, and that General
Anderson would nave been present to explain
the situation. The recent purchase by the
Boston ~ Lowell of the st. Johnsbury & Lake
Cbamplain, road extending from Luuenburg
TO Lake Champlain, distance of 100 miles,
presents the relations OF the Boston & Lowell
and Portland & Ogdensburg in new light
Ii the Boston IL Lowell expect to make any
thing ont OF this purchase, they must secure
the business of Maine and establish friendly
relations with the Portland & Ogdensbnrg. 1t
is therefore desirable for the Portland & 0g-
with the Boston & Lowell. The speaker
understood that at an interview between
officers of the Boston & Lowell and General
Anderson, receiver of the Portland & Ogdens.
burg, the gentlemen representing the Boston
road mad expressed themselves as willing to
help the Ogdensburg, and If that road wished
to use the st. Johnsbury & Lake Ohsmplain,
it was entirely at their service. In closing,
Mr. Thaxter emphasized the necessity Of
action looking to some understanding with The
Boston d Lowell road, so that the Western
outlet OF the Portland ~ Ogdensburg could
be secured.
Mr.. Woodbury. s. Dana made some valuable
remarks as showing the growth of the business
or Portland during the last half century.
When the speaker entered store in this, his
native city, nearly fifty years sgo, the winter
trade with Vermont was one of the greatest
features of Portland's business, but compar-
ison of the business done then with the busI.
ness OF today shows that the merchandise
brought to the city during winter was just
about equsl to the amount brought by the rail-
roads now in two days, notwithstanding the
present depression 10 trade. Speaking Of the
railroad question, Mr.. Dana said that Port
lands expectations have not been realizsd.
From one of the directors the speaker UNDER
stood that the disposition Of the Boston and
Lowell towards the Portland and Ogdensbnrg
was friendly.
President Blabcn said that it was not the in
tentioB to confne the discussion to the queg-
ton of railroads. Anything looking to the
Improvement OF the business of the city would
be of interest.
Mr.. Prentiss Loring presumed that nobody
under-estimated the importance Of securing
friendly relations with roads connecting with
Z the Portland and Ogdensburg. But there is
an important possession which has been over
looked. Portland as summer resort offers
great advantages. These advantages have been
overlooked. Our citizens have availed them
selves of these facilities somewhat but tho thing
for Portland and the surrounding towns to do
is to take such steps as will make Portland
one OF the summer resorts OF the country.
Maine is becoming the pleasure ground of the
country, and no part of the State offers greater
Inducements than Portland and vicinity Can
we not do some judicious advertising, making
Portland similar to Newport? The suggestion
was made that this body of citizens make
some arrangements for the appointment of a
committee in connection with the city govern
ment and neighboring towns to take action in
this regard.
Mr.. Geo. P. Wescott looked at The situation
from railroad point of view, and pointed ont
the position of the Ogdensburg by Compare
son with the Rochester. The Portland
~ Ogdensburg is at the mercy of the roads be-
yond it, and will get their business 40 long as
those roads deem it to their interests to give 1t
to the Portland road.
MIR. G. r. Milliken thought the Grand
Trunk road and its benefit to Portland should
be Remembered before adjournment.
MIR. M. n. Rich stated that Gen. Anderson,
In speaking of the meeting had said that he
might have something OF interest to say in re.
gard to the Portland & 0gdensburg, introduc.
ing that as one topic; but it had not been in
tended to restrict the discussion to any one
subject, and Gen. Anderson had been called
away.
The speaker was glad that the Grand
Trunk had been mentioned. The Grand
Trunk has always been friendly to Portland.
It has paid off its Indebtedness to the city
What should We be today without this road?
Thomas Shaw said that although the Grand
Trunk had been friendly to Portland, Portland
had done much for the Grand Trunk. We
have given TO the road the best portion of the
water front OF the city. and they possess it to-
day. SO that a competing line would be at a
great disadvantage IN this respect.
Mr., john e. Dewitt thought that II any one
would give careful study to the facilities OF
transportation offered by the consolidated
roads between here and Boston, he would
find that the roads were not doing what they
should for the city Mr.. Dewitt Thought this
was shown by comparison with the transporta-
tion facilities for similar distances on other
roads.
At few minutes after tweive the meeting