The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-15

METEOROLOGICAL COMMITTEE REPORT.
Messrs. Cyrus Farley and M. N Rich made
this report: r-
We forego any comments on the Signal
Service this year that we may allude to our
late associate on this committee, William
Senter. Those who stood near Mr.. Senter
and knew him best respected him most.
But 1t Is only in relation to the part he bore
to navigation that we speak Of him here.
He fitted himself for, and entered, the nauti-
cal instrument business, Just as chr0n0me-
ters were coming into use in the merchant
service. Longitude by chronometer, had an
important sound in 1886. large proportion
Of the ships that Maine furnished to the com
merce OF the world were supplied with in
struments by him. No part of a ships
equipment Is more important than this and
no man was ever better qualified to furnish
1t than Mr.. Senter. He furnished that
Of which the purchaser could not judge
the value, where the opportunity to over
reach was easy, and where errors could not
be discovered until too late to correct them.
Much property and hundreds of lives were
constantly in his care, and so well did he do
his duty that his customers looked upon
him as a friend and became his friend in
turn. 1t is no injustice to say that no port
on the Atlantic coast contained his equal in
this line. He might have taken more from
his customers and bestowed 1t on others and
been called philanthropist, but he was a
philanthropist in his business. 1t would
surprise many to know how much reading
matter he gathered and gave away to those
who follow the sea and how much in other
ways he assisted the same class. In the
days OF wooden ships and of Names great
activity In that line, 1t Is doubtful II any
one man contributed more skilful, useful and
honorable service than William Senter.
We wish to acknowledge the many favors
this Board has received the past year from
the Signal Service and to commend the
prompt, accurate and faithful manner in
which the duties have been performed at the
Portland station.
PORT wARDENs' REPORT.
The port wardens, Capts. Jones and
Howes, reported that they had visited 80 YES
sells the past year; II steamships. IL barques,
10 brigs, p schOoners, and 2 others, 80 of
which were American, and % foreign, and
found their contents In good order. The ar
rivals were much smaller last year owing to
the departure of the steamers and the clos
ing Of the Forest City sugar refinery.
These officers were then elected:
President-J. E. Blabson,
Vice Presdents-J. s. Winslow, W. G. Davis,
Treasurer-Charles 8. Fobes,
Secretary-M. N. Rich,
Directors-G. w. WOodman, /. j. Anderson,
Geo. Walker. w. S. Davis, t. @. Woodbury.,
Thomas shaw, VIM. Leavitt..
Port WardeDs-Benj. w. Jones and James l..
Howe
An invitation was received from the Gin
cinnati Cham Der of Commerce to attend the
dedication of their new building on January
30th and requesting that two members be
elected to represenG this board. On motion
OF Mr.. Fobes the board was thanked for
their courtesy and the directors ordered to
to choose two members.
A communication from the Shipping In
dustrial League was received inviting them
| to send representatives to a meeting to be
held in Washington at Wizards Hotel. jan
uary 31st and February 1st, when measures
| will be taken to try and benefit our CON-
merce. On motion of Mr.. Rich, Vice-Presi-
| dent Winslow, Capt. VIM. Leavitt and Capt.
| W. E. Dennison were chosen delegates.
Mr.. Fobes then said the Board should feel
encouraged at the good attendance at the
| meeting. He thought it was full time that
| something was done outside the routine OF
| these annual meetings. He believed that
Portland was as public spirited as any city
| Of its size and wealth in the country. He
thought that the board Of trade when it put
10 motion the opera house scheme did good
thing and he hoped to soon see the fruit Of
the committees efforts. But, said he, there
| Is one thing more Important than anything
that has yet been done or attempted by the
Board the moving of the state house from
Augusta to Portland. The papers have agi
tated the question good deal and now, il
reports are true that come from Augusta,
Portland is the second choice of a majority
for the location of the Capital. and the frs
choice Of a number. Something must be
done about this matter soon, and let's see Il
we can't do something to bring the capita
here. Don't let 1t be said that we failed t
do 1t because of sluggishness, or inaction
Mr.. Fobes said he used to be rather back
ward In this matter but he had changed. Al
one time he thought the people of the STATE
were not loyal to Portland. They went fur
ther to buy goods that Portland was the
proper market for. He believed If the CAPT
tai was located here that there would be a
great impetus TO trade. A mem
Der or the House had told hin
that II Portland would make an effort nou
something could be accomplished. Bangor
and Lewiston have said they could furnish {