Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-01-23
BOARD OF TRADE.
OLD BOARD OF OFFICERS RE-
ELECTED.
INTERESTING COMMUNICATION FROM
DR.. W. NJ. HAINES-ELLSWORT
SHOULD ADVERTISE IT'S MANY
ATTRACTIONS.

board OF trade was held Friday evening.
President King presided, and in the alb
sence Of the secretary, E. F. Redmah re-
corded.
James T. Cushman, John B. Redman
bership.
Letters from J. c. Head, of Lawrence,
Mass, making proposition for the foun-
dation of stock company, for the manu-
facture of wood working machines, were
read. The substance of these letters was
fully reported in THE AMERICAN last
week. The letters were referred to the
committee on manufactures.
The president then read the following
communication from DR.. w. NJ. Haines:
Mr.. President and Members of the Board:
With the commencement of the new
year, and as Il sort OF all annual celebra-
ton at the first mile9ost of the forma-
ton of the Ellsworth board of trade, 1t
has occurred to me that perhaps it would
not be out of place for the members to
offer suggestions as to some of the things
that might be protitably inaugurated by
the board during the coming year, for the
further advancement and Improvement
of our city and its surrounding territory,
and by request OF your president l Will
offer a few rambling thoughts on the
subject.
II is not my purpose to belittle the
work Of this board during the past year
of its existence, or to detract in the slight
est degree from the successful efforts OF
those gentlemen who have worked hard
for the prosperity OF Ellsworth. We
have much to be thankful for, as the re-
suits of their labors, and undou btedly an
entering wedge has been started that
must be OF permanent aid and advantage
to US i'll the future.
But it has occurred to me, that we are
working too much i'll the dark, that we
are becoming rather too much of a
mutual admiration society, and that the
efforts made are not unlike the ripples
caused by the stirring up OF the waters Of
small pool, getting no further than its
narrow and confined banks, instead of
spreading out with ever-lncreaslng cir
Giles over the larger surface OF lake or
pond. In other words, we do not let the
outside public know what we have to
offer them.
W hat do we think of that merchant
" no sits each day and tells himself or his
clerk, if he happens to have one, what a
fine array of goods he has got, and makes
no effort to make known to the public
the contents Of his store or the bargains
he has upon his counters? Such men
rarely prosper, and, rs ii is the shreWd
active, advertising bushes, men who get
the trade and make the greatest success
in business matters, so should it be with
US as city.
If we continue to hide our light under
a hushel, II We continue to meet and con-
graduate ourselves ON the many natural
advantages we have, II we continue the
practice of working within ourselves and
not showing our advantages to the out
side world, We shall, i'll my opinion, fall
far short OF dong What should be the eff
tort and duty of every local board of
trade to do.
As the Irish gentleman once said, zone
man is ust good rs another and H
mighty sight better" 1t is struggle
between the towns and cities of this
State, as it is between nations or lndlvid-
uaIs, for increased prosperity and sd-
Vancement, and III order to be SUGGEST III
and keep in the front line of progress we
must become more aggressive, and en-
deavor in every way possible to bring to
the notice of the people of other states
/ the many advantages we possess, and the
opportunities afforded in this region for
| business purposes and personal pleasure.
| While tCe know what we have about us,
while we realize that fine water powers
are lying idle at our very doors, while ,re
know that salubrity OF summer eli
mate, and our unrivaled hunting and
fishing facilities axe not excelled in any
other place in this whole State, the great
| public outside does not know OF these
| things, and it seems to me that it should
| he our duty to endeavor to inform them
This may be called blooming" but are
| not what you call it. l hold that tow ns
and cities must advertise as we'll as in
dividuals i'll order to be successful. Le-
Ultimate and proper advertising will hurt
! no one and may be the means Of calling
| q " p n
/ that would otherwise be unknown.
| With your forbearance, and at the risk
OF appearing presumptuous, will briefly
outline plan that would, in measure, i'll
my opinion, help us get the attention OF
the outside public.
My idea is this: Contract with some
capable descriptive writer, and allow and
assist him or her to collect all the avail
able information i'll regard to our water
powers, rail and water communication
hardwood, farming lands now occupied
! or deserted, climate i'll the summer and
fall showing freedom from fogs, our vast
fish and game resources, our facilities foI
steam or electric power, and, in fact
everything that would be of advantage tt
include, and nave him carefully edit
articles for free distribution Such arti
Giles could be published in pamphlet OF
newspaper form by our local papers, that
i have already done so much to advance
! our prosperity. Such articles could bt
well yet cheaply illustrated, and wouo
catch the eyes OF thousands, as i'll mt
other way. Then let the city form itsel
into committee of the whole, and eact
one endeavor to assist in disseminating
the Information thus collected, anC
I distribute he same over as large a terri
| tory as possible.
Just think of it! Ifevery person in the
city would but distribute ten copies
taking care 10 place them where they
would do the most good, over 50,00
copies could be distributed in this wa,
atone. Much seed thus sown would doubt
less fall in waste places, yet enough woulC
touch fruitful soil that would in the enc
result in rich return for all the ex
penditure of time and money involved.
Popular subscription could, no doubt
be easily secured to help on the work
the city authorities would doubtless aiC
| III substantial manner such a worth,
| cause: our railroad and steam boat line