Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-03-27
BOARD OF TRADE.
THEIR INDISPENSABLE USEFUL
NSS TO A COMMUNITY.
HxTRACs FROM ADDRESS OF N. G.
Rich SECRETARY OF PORTLAND
1ARD, AT STATE BOARD
MEETING.

uBod Of trade" is term with which
every usiness man is, or ought to be,
iamil. In way, most people not di-
rectlpterested in this line OF work have
= yaridea Of the objects, uses and work
Of afganization known by this name.
A bd Of trade is essentially an organi-
xati'of business men for the purpose OF
proiing general business interests.
Wphe widely diverse character of this
cosy, the scope Of boards of trade in
Inferior, on the Great Lakes, along the
ATTIC seaboard, and in the mountain
mig regions, differs widely. In diff
ii places they are called by different
n. The ultimate object, however, is
rs the same-the promotion of BUSH
5nter1sts
THE IDEAL BOARD OF TRADE.
jrmant or sleeping boards Of trade are
found here and there scattered over
ne, New England and the whole coun-
for that matter, and their helplessness
utter inutility has made it appear in
De quarters that nothing Of substantial
)ft was to be expected from organizs-
nsof the kind.
The ideal board Of trade is one which,
.et the good business advertiser, sleeps
srlastingly at it," in season and out of
ason, in good times, and more especially
Those which are bad. The ideal board
strade must always be looking after the
kteriai interests of its own section and
fiving to advance the prosperity Of its
own. There is a general feeling with
6any people that a board of trade is
eerely a trading association, like stock
1Echango. Some boards are organized in
bis way. Most OF them, however, take a
tidcr scope, and the local exchanges are
herely branches or subdivisions of the
barent board, which, on such a basis,
Usually takes for its scope all the interests
u the town commercial, agricultural,
|ailroad and manufacturing and includes
b its care the social, moral and practical
Affairs OF the community.
The things that a boards.of trade may
10 and ought to do, and the advantage
hat it can be to its town, are proper sub
ects OF inquiry. First, We have the ad-
vantage of organization. Any one knows
hat there are things that town might
undertake il some way could be found
'or accomplishing them. For this pur-
pose individual effort is very much like
oird-shot. A two-ounce charge will kill
Yery large flock OF sparrows, but if you
want to kill moose, it is good deal
better to have that two ounces of lead in
,ne solid mass.
The two-ounce bullet, if lyou please,
hen, expresses the difference between
individuals working for an object, and the
BOARD OF trade, as single unit combining
he effort of the whole forl the same pur-
,ose. 1t is impossible for town to boom
tself, at the present day, by the efforts of
citizens. This has been dem
over and over again. The in
lividual man who appeals to the public
xcites more or less suspicion and distrust
N the part of those reached by his adj
'ertising. Some sinister scheme is sus-
,ected, aud although the man may be act
ng with the highest public spirit, yet the
Instant stranger will look upon his efforts
IS biased and scheming. When, on the
,ther hand, large number of the most
espectabIe citizens, including men whose
lames are quoted in the commercial
gencies, unite to do the work, there is
ceiling that while there may be strong
'antages offered and the terms promised
rave at least substantial basis.
TOWN ADVANTAGES.
Every town in this State has some
pecial advantage. Nature has done
for it to give it a reason for ex-
stence. The first duty of the board OF
rade, then, is to find out what the town
% got that is worth using, what it has
o sell, what it can offer to outsiders, and
or what industries it affords unusual and
pecial advantages. 1t should also dis
over its beauties an summer resort, its
limatic fayors and the bounties of the
orests, the farms, or its advantages as
hlpping port; in word, it should en-
eavor to discover all those things which
o to make the place fair in the sight OF
nan for pleasure or profit.
It's second duty is to find out what is
acking, and at once to wake up the town
nost thoroughly to its own weak points,
nd having found them, set about discov-
ring remedies and what the place ought
0 have to round out its many profitable
nd commercial industries. 1t also ac-
uaints the community with what it needs
0 compete with neIghboring towns in
he way of general facilities, railroads,
arbor Improvements, river deepening,
nd such like.
Another important work for board OF
rade is to foster industries already in
rogress in the town. By means of its