The Portland daily press., 1892-02-05
BOARD OF TRADE MEETING
Discuss the Proposed Sale Of the
Market Lot.

Mr.. C. r. MiIIiken Presents the Report of
the Committee on Manufactures-Mr
Fobes Thinks Mileage Tickets ON the
Maine Central Can Be Reduced-Mr,
Woodbury. Offeres Resolution the
Market Lot Which Passes.
At the February meeting of the man
ayers of the Board of Trade held yester-
day morning President Winslow presid-
ed, and there was good attendance.
Reports Presented.
The reports of the committees were
called for.
The report of the committee on rail
roads and steamboats, was first in order
A communication from Hon. George T.
Weseott, the chairman, stated that the
committee had not been called together
during the year, as no complaint had
come to them which required action.
This would indicate that the train and
steamboat service had given satisfaction.
MI c. R. Milliken presented the re-
port of the committee on manufactures,
as follows:
To the Managers Of the Board Of Trade:
In accordance with an expressed de-
sire at the annual meeting for report OF
the doings of the board of manufactures
for the past year, the board submit the
following:
Some two years ago the board gave
several weeks of patient and laborious
work in formulating plans for the i'm
provement and development OF large
and unproductive lot of the city's real
estate by placing thereona large and sub
stantial building for the exhibition OF
machinery and the products of Come
manufactures, believing that such an ex-
hibition and massing of our industries
would attract capital and stimulate man.
ufacturing interests in Portland and
throughout the state more than could be
accomplished in any other way. These
plans were OF public nature and required
the cooperation and endorsement OF the
gentlemen who then represented our cit
liens in the city council
Three different plans were in turn sub
mitted for the development of this pub
lie enterprise to the city council, and all
were unfavorably received. Your board
were obliged to abandon any plan of this
character for the general public benefit
and advantage of Portland's manufac-
lures because of lack of cooperation on
the part of the gentlemen who, it seemed
to the board, should have lent great en-
couragement.
Since meeting with such discourage
ment your board have not attempted or
undertaken any further public enter
prises OF projects for the development of
Portland's manufactures. They have,
however, meantime given their atten-
ton to many propositions for starting
manufactures here and assisting, as far
as possible, in giving information in re-
lation to the organization and suitable
locations for such enterprises, and in
securing favorable water rates, low taxa
ton, etc. They have Investigated exist
ing corporations with view to recon-
mending investments, and have secured
investments in manufacturing concerns
here 5y tee effort of individual recon-
mendations of the board. They have
carefully avoided any public endorse
ment OF guaranty of any proposed lndl-
vidual manufacturing enterprise in any
such way as would place the response
bility upon the board of manufactures
or upon the Board of Trade. They have
been constantly employed in the legiti-
mate work which they understand they
have been appointed to perform. Few
new manufacturing enterprises have
been established during the year, or old
ones resuscitated, that the members of
the board of manufactures have not been
instrumental in encouraging and sup
porting. In many instances they have
personally encouraged manufacturing
Industries to the full extent of their per-
sonal financial ability.
An erroneous idea seems to prevail
with many of our citizens as to the du-
ties and offices of the board of manufac-
lures. Some have an idea that the
board can establish, equip and furnish
capital to run great plants, exempt prop
erty from taxation, etc.. and others that
poor, languishing concerns ought to be
stocked and placed in fourishing condi-
ton by the board, and sometimes they
find fault and complain because the
board does not do these things.
The board is well satisfied and glad to
give much time, whenever called upon,
to assist in formulating plans, in answer
ING voluminous correspondence, in Sc
curing sites, and obtaining investments,
and establishing new plants, and to help
existing manufactures, without pay and
without price, if the public and members
of the general board of trade will only
understand and appreciate the service,
sufficiently at least to secure the cooper
alton of all the members of the board.
Respectfully submitted,
G. r. MILLIKEN,
CHARLES S. FoBEs,