The Portland daily press., 1900-01-09

10 may be continued IN the future.
The ENTERTAINMENT OF visung railroad
American Labor Com missionsrs, coming
into our state early In the season, Were
acoeptably received and entertained by
assistance Of our committees. q
Many "Guids Books" OF the city and
vicinity, aid Information Of ether sec
lions OF the state have been freely oireu-
lated to Visiting tourists, and money has
teen raised by the publication oommitsee
TO nay for the last edition OF 0uids Books,
and the sane COMMITTEES has under WAY
the preparation Of q new revised edition
TO be ready tor publication early IN the
coming season.
The ms tier Of providing for suitable
grain inspection at this port, urged W
western shippers and foreign oonsignses.
aiso By United states officials, was taken
up at the May meeting, and an emcient
COMMITTEES appointed. and tns sysssm
Piles ct other Atlantic ports. and 10 await
ing the acceptance OF the transportation
lines chiefly Interested.
inspscted the ONCE and books OF the
Port Wardeps last month and found the
books neatly Kept and The I, o. S., sIs
upon the records available at ell times 30
Interested parties.
The Board was represented ut the an
nual meeting Of the stats board OF Trade
At Bangor, in september last, ~ ten
delegates. most Of whom made tour OF
Railroad as guests Of the Bangor Board,
and the occasion was instructive and
enjoyable.
mittsd to the Board and i've nav mem
bers added 70 the Merchants Exchange
during the ysar, and the Board has lost
by death nine. including Aug. p. Fuller,
Edward Moore, Charles u. Mannin v. J:
IA. Sherman, Geo. L. whitney, Da MEL
II, Kelley, Weston II. Miliiksn, George
q. Peters, Joseph E. Blabon. also James
K. Mcdowell and A. p. Fuller OF the
lapses, makes the present nominal NOM
bsrship Of the Board 466. anc the Msr-
chants Exchange ll5 both about the same
as year ago
j have received for admission fees an
assessments Of the Board 81. 2360O, and
for rents. etc., $500. making total OF
81, 279. 90, and for subscriptions to the
Msu chants Exchange, t90A.O0, making my
aggregate receipts from all sources
~. 1890. which has been paid TO the
treasurer.
The general business of the city and Of
year, many branches better than ever be-
fore, both In the industries and In the
trade lines, but many branches Of trade
fell of earlier than expected, and dull
meas prevailed until the advent OF the
"holiday trade, which was the largest
In the history Of our city. and 20 reported
from other business centers OF tie state.
Financial distur Dances and failures at
home and abroad have had. no doubt,
checking Influence upon trade, and re-
strained continued industrial activity
that had bean so enoou raging throughout
the state during the past year:
The city has made substantial advance
along many lines Of public economy. The
spirit of having the best service and re-
turns for municipal appropriations seems
TO have possessed the "citv fathers" to
high degree, and 10 10 hoped may prove 20
90 beneficial to the people and to the pub
lilo interests. The adjustment OF the
affairs of ths two cities Of Portland and
Deeriag, BY annex alton, has engaged
much careful and judicious efforts TO rec
oncile all interested to one corporation,
but 10 has been very satisfactorily accom-
plished, and 10th communities recognizes
che ad vantagss and economy of the new
orslsr of tbings, and the CITY Of Portland
of today, was never In better financial or
In . more prosperous and hopeful oondi-
ton than now.
Wages have been adsanoed and labor
more fully employed than for many
years. The advance OF freights has in
spired q very encouraging revival Of ship
building In this state. as freight rates
seem Eow to DO permanently on more
remu nerative basis.
The state has also had larger number
of tourists and summer visitors than ever
before. their coming quickening the de-
mand for stores and food supplies, result
ing in the distribution Of large sums of
money throughout the whole state, and
holding a large trade for Portland well
into the autumn. During the past two
No months trade has subsidized 10 normal con
ditions, and the Usual qnietness at THIS
al
The banks have freely supplied money
to traders, manufacturers and CORPORA
tions at lowest going rates. TILL spare
funds are we'll exhausted, and there is
very little Offering at the close. A con-
servative spirit has prevailed for loans to
20 out OF the state.
Therefore we can confidently say that
Maine has largely shared with the whole
country In a general prosperity never be-
fore approached-at least within our bor-
ders-nor were the "signs Of promise"
ever brighter for the future than at the
threshold OF the new yesr.
Respectfully submitted.
III. N. Rioh. Secretary.
Portland, Jan. Sth, 1900.
The report of the secretary was placed
ON record.
The report of the port wardens, BeojA-
min w. Jones and James Keazer was
then submitted. 1t Is as follows; We
have visited officially during the year
seventy three foreign and domestic
steamers. nearly all from foreign ports;
four briggs from foreign ports, one bark.
twenty-thres sahooners from foreign and
domestic ports There have arrived dur
ing tie year 1899. 1875 steamers all foreign
and from foreign ports, representing
gross tonnage Of Acc. 800 tons. The baai'
ness Of 1899 shows an increase over 1898
Of twenty tive steamers representing an
increase of 90, $50 tors. This increase is
occasionsd mostly hy the Thomson line Of
steamers running here during the sum-
| mer months.
The report was plaosd on file.
Hon. George p. Wsssett. the chairman
of the COMMITTEES on railroads and steam
boats, reported q follows: Your COM
mittss respectfully report that there hes
been Q satisfactory Increase in the bust
ness done by all the rsailrosds entering
Portland, and inasmuch As NO complaint