Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-09
PORTLAND CHAT.
"A Most Successful Year for
POrtland'S Business.
The Usual Fate Of the New England
Polo League.
Live Stock Shipments Unique Reception by
a Portland Pastor.

Portland, Dec. S.-(SpeciaD. -Secre-
tary Marshall n. Rich of the Portland
board Of trade, who is also the secre-
tary Of the State board, says that the
year drawing to a close, has been GEN
orally a successful one to the business
interests of Portland. Secretary Rich
is in a very good position to know as
he is in close touch with all of the
many business interests of the city.
Indeed he is probably better acquaint-
ed with the business men of the city
than any other person in Portland, and
makes it more special point to keep
constantly in touch with all that tends
to the Improvement of the city than
any other man. He has been the sec
rotary of the Portland board ever since
it was organized, some 80 years ago.
every year he having been unanimous
~ elected to fill this responsible posi-
ton. In the early part Of his life Mr.
Rich was one of the clerks in the
Portland custom house
The board of trade rooms are one of
the most interesting places in the city,
and it will We'll repay any visitor to
Portland to go to these rooms and ex-
anime the headquarters of the place
which is so much frequented by the
business, and also by the professional
men of the city. These rooms are To-
Gated on the ground floor of the three
h,,;1 ~ 10 IF
Exchange and Milk streets. and are
splendidly suited for their particular
purpose. When the board was first or
ganiZed the headquarters We're in Il,
small room in the Western Union Tele-
graph building on the opposite side of
the street The board continued to in
crease every year until finally these
accommodation We're far out-grown;
and about ten years ago the present
rooms were engaged for the sole use of
the board. Originally there were three
rooms on this floor. but when the board
took charge Of the place all of these
three were merged into one large one
in order TO give ample accommoda-
tions.
Members of the board can always be
found at the rooms during all hours of
the day, and it seldom happens that
there is not somebody present peruSing
the newspapers or reading the market
quotations, which are received every
few minutes from Boston and New
York and also in some cases from Chi
ago All of the leading newspapers
of the city, state New England. New
York and other points. are received at
the rooms and placed on file. For
many years the kennebec Journal has
had its place on the files, and this
newspaper is one of the most eagerly
read of any in the lot. 1t occupies
prominent position on the file. and all
of the members turn to it for authority
whenever they desire to get posted on
any matter of news regarding the diff
ferent State departments.
Associated with Secretary Rich in
charge of the rooms is his son, Mr..
Maurice C. Rich. who has been the as
sistant during the last five years, and
who has proven to be a most capable
official in attending to the many de-
tails of the office.
At the present time there are 456
members of the Portland board. Reg
ular meetings are held every month,
and at these meetings at least two or
three news members are elected to the
board.