The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-25
TIE OUTLOOK.
Portland Buainess Men Think Good Times
are Coming.

w ARu Ao c@@
for Portland?"
This question was asked Saturday by
the PRESS of number Of prominent
15o~+land men, Here is the substance of
wha5 some of these gentlemen said.
COL. Il. E. BOOTHBY,
of the Board of Trade. replied.
"Ip my opinion Portland will begin to
feal the return to better times, with the
sdvent of the new national aaministra-
tion.- The rone Of business is even now
much healthier. People, for instance,
have more confidence that something la
canning to their advantage. In Boston
Last week met citizens from different
navss of the state interested in various
Industries which for time had remained
idle. looking for capital with which to
resume operations, and meeting with az
narent suoesss, prompted SO undoubtedly
bg notifications in the tariff likely to
take Mace. The revival of any industry
IN our state, no matter where situated
.r from what source their capital comes,
.must surely benefit Portland, as the
employment Of additional labor means
a damaud for an increase of materials
and supplies, for which Portland as the
metropolis of the state, must come in for
a large share. y
G. W. I. COOLING,
the hustling general manager of the
Casoo Bay Steamboat company, thought
the long heralded and much hoped for
business revival which it was hoped
would be the beginning of an "era of
nrosperity" had really begun. "Most
everywhere hear a word or two dropped
nv business men that would seem to
Indicate better trade in their lines. 1
think see Indications of it in the mail
which our company is constantly getting
now which is particularly early in COM
ing and of unusual size. I mean, re-
quests for descriptive literature and in
ouiries of all sorts in regard to the at
fractions and resorts Of Casco Bay. do
not see how this can indicate anything
eIss but an increased summer business
the coming season. This is ordinarily a
sure sign of returning prosperity and
confidently look to see Portland and Cas-
co Bay have o great season in 49,"
EDWARD B. WINSLOW,
the recently retiring president of the
board of trade and manager of the Port
land suone Ware company, said: "From
all I can learn from my observations and
have had very fair opportunity to judge
the commercial revival has already COM
menced and I behave there is to be
STEADY Improvement throughout 1897.
The indications now are certainly good
in New England and believe the con-
ditiops have improved all over the coun-
try. Our own business is looking up.
We are already way ahead in orders OF
the corresponding time last year and the
year before. Our business Is q good one
to base predictions on for orders gfor
our goods imply constructive operations
being carried on, and these. too, to quite
large extent by towns and cities. This
kind of work is rarely undertaken save
in fairly good times or at least wheE
there are bright prospects ahead. We
have been fortunate in Portland and
Mans in fseli3g the "hard times" just
past as lightly probably as any locality.
1t is my deliberate business Judgment
that bright times are ut hand for Port
land and I think we are going to enjoy
an usuzuslly happy year commercially,
while cur "summer resort industry l
feel confident Is going to get great
boom this season."
CHARLES d. ALEXANDRA,
Of Emery, Waterhouse & Co., said that
business In their line had already RS
sumed much brighter aspect. Orders
were getting more generous aud bust
mass had steadily improved since the
national election was over. Collections
were batter than they had been for a
year and half.
JOHN J. LAPPIN
Ia the head Of large grain and feed
house and this is good straw to show
the way the trade winds are blowing
When people are busy, horses are busy
and feed liz necessary. Mr.. Lappin is
pleased at the outlook. Trade he says is
way ahead of last year and Ia apparently
On steadily upward grade as 10 Voiuin6'
G. G. TUKESBURY.
manager Of Portland theatre. is feeling
much happier than a few months ago.
Amusement business is perfect lnd1ca-
tion Of thu public business pulse. Ii is
now Infinitely better says Manager
Tukesbury. A season which had pros
peos of being most disastrous now DIGS
fair TO end on profitable basis.
KLMER g. GERRISH,
Junior member OF j. J. Gerrish q Co.,
oil dealers and machine and mill SNIP
plies. sees but little Improvements Jet,
although the collections are better ne
says. While Portland and Maine feels
hard times late, yet when once closed
It's miiis and factories are by no means
first TO start again. The reopenlng oil
manufaotofiss which ara now constantly
reported however, cannot fail, Mr..
Gsrrish thinks, to give things in his line
O decided boom before long.