Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-01-30

| ing the city government rooms was
present laSt evening at the annual
meeting OF the Gardiner Board of
Trade. President Freeman Patten
presided.
| Routine business. including the cleo
ton of officers AS follows. occupied the
.ally part of the session:
Pres, Freeman Pattcn; Treas. A.
Davenport; See. G. y. iIildreth; au-
ditor. Warren Whitmore; vice presI-
dents. Weston Lewis, a. w. McCaus-
land. r. II. Gardiner. ]. +. Cunning
nam &. A. Knight. Warren Whitmore.
George w. Heselton. Chas Whitney,
Gs orge Gray; executive committee. +.
L. Russell. G.. w. Brown. Jr.. f.. :.
Smith, l.. =. Lincoln, c. $. jackson. f.
f. StrOut, s. q. Decker +. a. Dan
forth, j. w. Rafter. G. ID. Libby, II. NJ
Lawton.
OF the work that has been done by
the board and its present condition
are most fully set forth i'll the reports
of President Patten and Treasurer
Davenport. Mr.. Pattcn spoke as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen of the Eoard of Trade:
That swiftly moving measure of dura-
to the occasion of our annual meeting.
One year ago l entered upon the duties
OF the office of president of this board
with some misGivings, and considerable
doubt as to my ability to keep up the
gratifying work begun and carried along
by my predecessors in office. but | have
been generously treated by the mem
bers of the board and the citizens at
large. and so vigorously assisted by them,
| that it is with II certain degree of pleas
| a
| past year as they may concern our busi-
ness welfare and advancement.
The Poard of Trade is actuated by i'm
| pulse. locking to the good of all. to i'm
prove our city by obtaining new man
| ufacturing plants to locate here. or to in
crease the output of those already with
The past year has been n successful
| one from Il business point of view. and
| several new Industries have been added to
| our previously strong representa- lion.
| The extension of our shoe factory has
| been one of the most important under
| takingS of u business nature. for Il has
enabled the company operating the shop
| to employ much larger number of peO-
| pie. and good warge are paid. our
| merchants and house owners must have
received much benefit therefrom.
| In talking with Superintendent Hazard
| Il short time ago | learned that the or
ders ahead have increased from the pre-
| violls year about Is per cent: that the
| retail orders have gained about 6S per
| cent, ard that all orders have increased
| in TIE short space of three years about
| 800 per cent.
| Upon assuming the presidency of this
| board | was confronted with an unpaid
| note of 5000 and bills amounting TO about
| $500 more.
| Shortly after that we found that We
| could not furnish all the power neces-
| sary for the shoe factory and addition
| thereto. and rs we were in duty bound to
| do that under our agreement With tn.
| company were obliged to build pow
or plant at 4 cost of about SHe0. Now We
hav" sufficient power of almost any eX-
| tension they may desire to make.
| almost wish, d 1T that time that had
| not accepted the honorable position t.
| which | had been elected by you. but |
was soon Convinced that | Hhould have
the undivided :SSi$tanc" Of the members
| of this board "nd | have never Hacked
for it during the J. months h;tve held
| the ntiIc".
| AS Il result we have nearly paid tho
| outstanding debts and can eliminate the
balance with the availFble assets which
| We have on hand. We have also what
Mr.. Reed Of the Commonwealth Shoe and
| Leather 60. is pleased to call one of the
best shoe plants in the country.
The weekly payroll is now something
like $iNo0 and tn greater part of it goes
into immediate circulation.
Tho Insurance Of 10000 upon our she
factory property has been Increased to
$500. so that in ease of less by fire
We would be i'll a position Immediately to
rebuild.
| Within the last few months the grist
/, mill building M the corner of Bridge and
Water street mas been fitted ltD as 4 box
factory and is operated by Glidd2n Pros.
| formerly of Hallowcll. This has already
} become one of our thriving industries
| with good prospects of increasing its
| business i'll the future.
Tho corn factory. which began opera
tions on the 18th of September last. was
the means Of distributing about s5Wn
among the farmers ir this vicinity. and
about sl.O0 to the help. Mr.. Eastman
the manager. is well pleased with the first
| wear and expects to 90 more the coming
| season.
our annual fair resulted in Il gross
revenue of nearly $1,000 leaving net p:olitS
| of S2116. That sum ;ioes not. however,
include the gift of $1,000 from the Common
wealth Shoe and Leather Co. 1t all goes
to show that while the citizens do not at
tend our meetings as we might dcslrc.
| still in heart they are with us and are
much in evidence when needed. 1t is a
noteworthy fact that when fairs are dis
| cussed in any place in Maine the annual
| BOARD of Trade fair at Gardiner is spoken
| Of as the leader and that it is so is be-
| cause we ell work together. and then we
| have learned how to run them success
| fully by experience. Money spent ut fairs
Z | goes back into the pockets of the people.
| so II is really loaned, not given.
!. Although the building operations Of the
| past year have not been as extensive rs
we might wish, still those which have
of greatly beautfying our city. Notice
ably among these is the naw Christian
Science church on Lincoln street. which
was a gift from DIR. and Mrs. G.. T.
Moves of Chicago, who make their sum
mcr home with us. This beautiful cdiiice
will he monument to them and to the
society for which it was erected for years
to come. I believe this is the very first
church of this belief ever built in this
State. and We should consider it an honor
;. in that respect
4 The Congregational society has also
- made extensive interior improvements in
its house of Worship during the past year,
|, | and Mr.. Quimby the pastor deserves
much credit for the energy displayed in
that direction.
e The House of the Good Shepherd has
= been the means of taking care OF many
8 homeless. friendlcss children. and the
Rev. r. w. Plant has accomplished Won
ders in this work I am informed that
e an addition VIII soon be constructed tc
take care of the Increasing number of de
!, ! pcndents. and l trust that this undertak-
: ing will receive the assistance it so muc1
y | deserves to have.
4 NJr T Walter Robinson wIo n,Ircha sod