The Portland daily press., 1891-04-11
BOARD OF TRADE.
Meeting of the Committee on Mer-
chants Week.

A meeting of the consolidated committee
on Merchants Week was held at the Board
OF Trade rooms at 10 o'clock yesterday FORE
noon, Mr.. w. G. Ware presiding. MIR. Geo.
b. bagley was chosen temporary secretary.
The reports of those members Of the exec
utive committee who had been delegated to
confer with railroad managers on the subject
Of reduced fares were first called for. Mr.:
George M. Moore spoke first, for the Maine
Central. he said that COL Boothby Lad as
sured him the company was willing to do all
in its power to further the interest of the &C.
casion. He could state positively that half
fare would be granted on the mountain d.
vision as far as the state line, and for 100
miles on the. Maine Central proper. If the
committee thought 1t desirable to secure bet
ter terms he had no doubt that an agreement
could be reached.
Mr.. E. d. Eastman read letter from the
superintendent of the Portland & Rochester,
agreeing to give excursion rates, one fare for
the round trip, during the last two days of
the week on their line within the state. Mr..
Peters wrote that he doubted whether re-
duced fares for the whole week would best
further the ends of those interested. but that
If the other roads made that arrangement
the Rochester would do the same.
Mr.. Bagley, for the Boston & Maine, Grand
Trunk and Rumford Falls roads, reported
similar agreement. He also said that Mr..
Cooling, of the Casco Bay steamboat line,
would arrange free trip down the bay for
all persons holding the special hslf-rate rail.
road tickets. Mr. Bagley also stated that he
had on his own responsibility made an ar
rangement with the proprietors of the OBJ
servatory, by which its use would be free to
iicket holders from 0 a. m. to p. m. during
| the week.
Considerable discussion followed on the
| point of the limitation of the distance to bt
| covered by the special fare tickets. 1t was
stated that the interstate commerce law in
terfered with an arrangement for points out
side the state. but that as the Maine Contra
| seemed willing to do whatever was asked in
reason, it might be well to ask that company
to reduce fares on its entire line for the whole
week.
On motion Of Mr.. Moore it was so voted.
The point of the entertainment to be pro
vided for visitors was then taken up and dis
cussed at length Mr.. Josselyn of the city
council said that the council rooms would be
opened for the use Of visitors and the City
Hall tower would also be kept open.
Mr.. M. n. Rich suggested that as Mr.. God
ing was SO we'll disposed toward the idea Of
Merchants Week, it would be we'll to ar
range sail down the bay for every day, with
band on the steamer.
The majority of the committee, having in
mind the uncertainties of April weather, did
not adopt either of these suggestions.
Mr.. E. d. Eastman voiced the sentiments
of the majority in a brief speech, in which
he recounted the experience of Boston mer-
chants with merchants week, showing
that they had failed to receive any benefit
from the occasion because they went toe
much into entertainments. He said that
| considering the fact that there would be a
season of opera at the theatre and four con.
certs at the City Hall during the week, he
| thought the visitors could find their OWL
amusement. He advised every merchant tt
attend to his own business, to advertise ju
diciously, and to arrs nge his store and win
dows as attractiyely as possible, in ordel
that the merchants week might be most sue
| cessful.
| Mr.. w. w. Mansfield suggested that large
| number of circulars be printed and distrib
| uted by the merchants, in addition to Their
| advertising.
On motion of Mr.. Moore, Mr.. j. c. Short
and Mr.. T. A. Josselyn were added to the
celebration committee. Mr.. William N.
Prince was also added on the part of the city
government and the meeting adjourned.
At meeting of the executive committee 1t
was voted to prepare circular to be printed
| In the daily papers and for distribution, set
ting forth the object and plans for the occa.
Il I'll