The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-13
PoRTLAND's CENTENNIAL.
Conference OF citizens With the Pre-
!Inrlnary Committee.

CCnrefcNCG OF SittzSUo WIFI tttS F'S
IInninary Committee.
Strong Feeling in favor Of the
Celebration.
The preliminary committee of the city
government appointed to ascertain the adj
visibility of celebrating the centennial an
niversary of Portland, which occurs upon
the 4th of July next, met in the aldermen's
room at the city building last evening to
listen to the expression OF opinion IN regard
to the matter from a number OF cltlzens VINO
had been invited to be present. Inc lull
committee, consisting of Mayor chapman,
Aldermen Beale, Wilson and Marks, Presi-
dent Hobbs and Messrs. Trefethen, McCann,
Adams. Cox and Abbott of the Council, were
in attendance. Among the citizens present
were Rev. DR.. Fl. H. Burrage, T. c. Wood
bury. John T. Hull, City Solicitor Symonds,
Judge Goddard, VIM. NJ. Sargent, Lewis B.
Smith, W. S. Dana, W. Fl. Smith, W. Fl.
Looney and S. B. Kelsey.
In calling the meeting to order the Mayor
said that as chairman of the committee he
ldu lUFItcu d nullU6I VI clplZ6uS ~ ultCt
with them in order to ascertain their views
on the question of the celebration and the
programme for the day.
Alderman Wilson was chosen secretary of
the committee, and Mr.. John T. Hull secre-
tary of the meeting.
The Mayor then said that the matter of the
celebration required the cooperation of the
citizens and city government, and he was
glad to see so many present Notwithstanding
the inclemency of the weather. He referred
to the part which those especially interested
in the history of the city should take in the
work of the celebration, and was gratified to
see so many of these gentlemen present.
Alderman Beale was called upon as mem
Der of the committee appointed by the last
city government and said that he had
thought of no programme, but that the work
of preparation would be great one. He
thought it would be necessary to do little
talking first and great deal of work after
wards.
Alderman Marks thought that an executive
committee and subcommittee should be APP
pointed, and recommended that the neces-
sarycheap uniforms be furnished to the fire
department and the companies invited to join
in the parade.
The Mayor thought the first thing to do
was to ascertain the views of the citizens in
regard to the ACCESSIBILITY of holding the eel
ebration so that the committee might report
to the city government with an understand
ing of the wishes of the people.
Mr.. VIM. M. Sargent spoke of the number
of centennial celebrations which have oc-
Cured in the last few years and Thought that
the observance here would be agreeable to
the best citizens. He recommended the ex-
tension of an invitation to the four historical
and genealogical societies to unite N the
presenting historical matter in specified
branches.
Rev. Dr.. Burrage thought that a single
address would be better than a number of
short ones, and the papers referred to in the the
lished only at large expense. DR..
Burrage recommended an historical address
with other exercises in the City Hall in the
afternoon, and popular out OF door celebra-
ton and procession in the forenoon, arranged
to bring to the minds of spectators events in
the history of the city.
The Mayor called upon Mr.. Lewis B.
Smith as one who had been active in the
preparation of similar celebrations in the
past; Mr.. Smith said that at this time he
would only say he believed the general
opinion in favor of the celebration.
Mr.. John T. Hull called attention to the
large number of people in other places,
either natives of Portland or intimately con-
nected with it, and thought that they should
from many of these persons would furnish
valuable contribution to memorial volume
besides increasing the interest in the celebra-
ton. Mr.. Hull read list of distinguished
people connected with Portland.
Judge Symonds hoped that we shall have
celebration and good one. He liked the
suggestions which had been made in regard
to the historical portions of the celebration,
and believed that to make success there
must be good time out of doors, the fore
noon to be given up to procession, as
recommended by DR.. Burrage.
Mr.. w. I'll. Smith was decidedly in favor OF
the celebration, and thought that the city
should make the best of it by increasing the
knowledge of the citizens in regard to local
history. Besides an Grafton he recommended
short addresses upon the business enterprises
of the place. Mr.. Smith did dot think that
the celebration could be completed in one
day, and as the sons and daughters of Port
laud are to be present from all over the
be set apart.
Mr.. T. c. Woodbury. said he had been APP
pointed on the committee of the last city
government to bring this matter to the at
tention of the present City Council but
found that action unnecessary. He regarded
the celebration as great educator. and en-
dorsed DR.. Burrage's suggestion OF repre-,
sentation i'll the procession OF historical
events. Ii Will lake LlI1o anu iHOuty "
work up the celebration but the result will
be gratifying. Mr.. Woodburysrecommend
a committee to have charge of the cores
pondence with Portlanders in other places.
Judge Goddard thought there was little or
no dissent to the celebration and hoped
that it would not be gotten up in stinted
manner. He believed the people wanted a
liberal appropriation for this purpose.
Mr.. w. S. Dana said that he was chock
full on this subject and heartily in favor of
the celebration. He referred favorably to
number of the suggestions made.
Mr.. Sargent said that he did not mean
that the papers presented by the historical
societies were to be bound necessarily, but
thought that in manuscript they would
make valuable addition to the city
archives.
The Mayor then put the question whether
the citizens present recommended the cele-
bration and a sufficient appropriation there
for, and there was unanimous rising vote
The committee then went into executive
session, and on motion of Mr.. Abbott voted
to report in favor of holding the celebra-
ton. The matter of preparing the report
was left with the Mayor and Alderman
Wilson and the committee adjourned The
renort will be presented at a special meeting