The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-11

made very interesting Anu 4hsVl uootfe
report. He said that the railroads aand
steamboats, in this vicinity have had
fairly prosperous year. Hour steam rail
roads now center here while two electric
roads are in operation in the city with a
third road in PROCESS Of construction.
The progress made in the past year by the
Grand Trunk railroad under the very able
management of G. NJ. Hays has been
marked and has done much towards in
creasing the prestige Of Portland as a rail-
road and steamboat center.
Mr. Wesoott dwelt upon the marked i'm
provements shown in the development of
the Grands Trunk system in Portland and
all along its line. 1t has better bridges,
heavier tracks and is better equipped for
doing business than every before. He
spoke also of the improvements which
have been made in the last few years on
all the railroads in this state. They now
have better rolling stock, stronger bridges
and heavier tracks. This improvement
in equipment has been marked on the
Boston and Maine and Maine Central sys-
tenn. Formerly freight cars which could
carry 300 bushels of grain were considered
very large. but today oars with a capacity
of one thousand bushels have become
more numerous than ever and are begin
ming to be generally used. Thirty years
ago locomotive of fifty tons was con-
sidered very large. but today all OF the
roads are using locomotives OF one hum
dred tons and they are doing much
heavier work than ever before. All of
these changes have been going on gradual
" but they have added much to the de-
velopment of the state and the city of
Portland Mr. Wescott also spoke of the
large amount of business being done by
and increased facilities of the New Yerk
Steamship line and the increased business
in ocean steamships, due to the progress
sive and wideawake management of the
no uncommon thing to have at the docks
in this city six ocean going steamships
and he believed that in the near future
and all the year round line of ocean
steamships sailing out of Portland would
be brought about. The facilities offered
the merchants Of Portland by the steamer
Frank Jones, sailing to eastern points
along the coast, was also commented up
on and Mr.. Wescott said that the city of
Portland was much indebted to the man.
agement Of this steamboat lins for the ;n-
creased amount of business it was bring
ing here. The report also mentioned the
large numb of harbor and bay steam
L Ii -,
on the fact that every year much improve
ment along this line is brought about.
@. H. Farley, chairman of the metero-
logical committee offered his annual re.
port.
METEOROLOGICAL REPORT.
To the Officers and Members of the Port
land Board of Trade:
Your committee are pleased to report
that the work of the weather bureau at
this port Ia carried on with the same
regularity as in former years. 1t is doing
the best it can and perhaps nearly as well
as it will ever be able to do. 1t will
probably never be able to reach point in
foreoasting the weather that will satisfy
the pubic; and in fact If the weather
could be known with certainty for three
days in advance, it is doubtful If it
would be on the whole beneficial to bust
ness. Many things would beiput of for a
change that might contain further dis
appointment, and SO valuable time would
be lost. For vessels making short runs
along the coast and for those bound off
shore it furnishes valuable information.
For attention to duty and for prompt
ness and accuracy Of work we have only
words Of praise for Mr.. Jones and his as
1Signed) G. H. Farley, William Senter,
Winthrop Jordan, Meteoro-
logical Committee.
January 10, 1898.
Port Warden James Kezar reported that
the warden had visited 70 vessels during
the past year
Secretary Rich then made his annual
report as follows:
This was the secretary's report.
I would respectfully report that dur
ing the past year, seventeen meetings of
tine managers were called and two of the
general board Cincluding one joint meet
ing with the Managers), none of which
had to adjourn for want of quorum.
There have been also eleven special COM
mittee meetings to consider and provide
for aiding in carrying out the following
projects, viz: the sending OLA commit
tee to Boston to aid in bringing the New
England Fair to Portland; to consider
the project. of an Industrial and Cereal
Exhibition here in May; to consider and
provide for having British war ship
here in June, and the North American
Squadron in July; to provide for re-
oention and entertainment of NewsHamp-
shire State Board of Trade; to provide
quarters and entertainment for chorus
mem bers attending musical festival at a
time when hotels were crowded; to take
action to secure modification of SO much
of Sec. 80 of the tariff act, as discrini-
mated against northern railroads; to urge
the Importance Of light ship off the en-
trance to Portland harhor, and also the
need of y. S. Naval Dry Dock at this
Ninety seven new mem ers have been
admitted, and the Board has lost by death
six. Including Jerome B. Fickett, Charles
81. Chase, Augustus Champlin, John M.
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