The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-12-09
BOARD OF TRADE.
The Committee on Manufactures
Joined to That OF the City.

An adjourned meeting Of the Board Of
Trade was held at o'clock yesterday after
noon, Vice President Walker in the chair.
Charles F. Dunlap and Elliott @. Mitchell
were elected members. Secretary hlch then
read the communication from the city gov
ernment committee on manufactures, asking
for conference. He stated that he had ac-
cordingly invited them to be present, and
also had invited the chairman of the COM
mittee on fire department to also be present
and to discuss the question Of the adequacy
of the fire department.
Alderman Smart was the first speaker.
He thanked the Board Of Trade for the inVi-
tation given to the city committee, and
spoke briefly to the point.
Alderman McClutchy thought 1t was
more the province of the citizens than the
government to encourage manufactures.
Mr.. S. w. Thaxter agreed with Alderman
Smart that when the city could reduce the
rate Of taxation manufacturing might be en-
couraged. He thought also that the water
rates should be reduced for large manufac-
turing establishments. lie thought that the
gas company should declare another special
dividend In the near future, part Of which
would come to the city, and would increase
revenue and thus reduce taxation.
Councilman Rounds was the next speaker,
He advocated building on the Market lot
to be used for small manufacturing. BE al
so spoke Of tae new steel car company,
which is seeking a location, and thought
that some inducements should be made to
them.
1t was voted to cooperate with the city
government by adding the board Of manu-
facturers Of the Board of Trade to the cliy's
committee.
Mr.. Larrabee asked whether the scope Of
the committee included more than a simple
inquiry into the possibilities.
Mr.. Smart replied that so far as he knew
it was simply a matter Of Inquiry.
Mr.. Rounds, who originated the order In
the City Council. said that he was trying to
devise some means to keep what business
we have now. and to get any more that we
can.
Mr.. Larrabee said that three things-tax-
es, water and gas-had a strong bearing In
the matter of establishing manufactures,
and that the city could control them, more
or less, In different ways.
Mr.. Rich closed the discussion on this SUBJ
ject, and then turned to the fire department
question.
Mr.. Eben Corey opened the discussion, ad-
vocating the establishment Of fire apparatus
on Commercial street, and then passed to a
general discussion of the subject. He said
that the Manchester engines had proved
themselves good. and yet the city govern
ments, at different times. had experimental
with other types that could not always be re-
lied upon.
General discussion then followed, and Al
derman Thompson, chairman Of the fire
committee, being called upon. said that there
we're two conflicting interests. one side try
ing to reduce the taxation to bring In manu-
features and the other trying to increase the
strength Of the fire department as well as
many other matters of expense. and that to
swing nicely between these two was yex-
ing question that always assailed them.
There was general discussion Of the
whole system, participated In by all present,
and bringing out great many points which
were fully discussed.
The matter Of fire alarm boxes was then
brought up by Mr.. William Allen, Jr., and
more discussion followed. Mr.. Allen re-
peated his plea for keys to be attached to
the boxes, made at recent city council
meeting. No definite action was taken.