Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-01-15
BOARD OF TRADE.
ANNUAL MEETING HE q Mon
DAY EVENING.
srpogTs OF PRESIDENT, SECRETARY
AND TREAsUREa-EFFoRr BEING
MADE TO REOPEN SHOE
FACTORIES.

The annual meeting OF this Ellsworth
,oard Of trade was held Monday evening.
There was good attendance. snd several
matters bearing on the industrial interests
~ Ellsworth were discussed.
The annual reports OF the officers were
rooa President j. o. whitney's report
was as follows:
Twelve months ago, after fifteen years Of
more or less apathetic existence, the Ellis
worth board Of trade wss re-organized under
vorv aattering prospects and given SEEM
,,olv propitious start. with . large and en-
,hnsiastic membership pronoupcedIy inter
ested in giving hearty and helpful encour-
.,.uept and assistance to the city's growth,
yselfare and general prosperity.
| Gooaly sums were Immediately subscribed,
and A large part Of the fund 20 raised at once
Maid In for the purpose OF defsayine the
e,pense Of carrying out any methods
| thought advisable Of securing for the city
rev business enterprises, or Of advertising It's
numerous attractions and natural and &C.
,,ired advantages as . business site, or TO be
rsed in any legitimate way ut the discretion
| a, the board to attract the attention Of ont
aide capital and business interests toward
our uuriyalled facilities for furnishing
almost any amount OF cheap power, our
admirable location for manufacturing pur-
roses. and to induce then to come and locate
with
The year 1907 has passed without any real
seneats being derived by the city from the
efforts o, the board, whose activity thus far
has resulted in simply consultations. the
annoiuting Of committees aud alecp. use
that term as it seems more nearly than any
other at my command to express the exact
condition Of our existence during the season
last mentioned, for while IT, members have
tried TO be on the alert to take advantage Of
anv opportunity that might present itself or
he terretcd ont, nothing material has been
accomplished,
The fund in Dur possession remains st the
present time intact, although work Of ad-
yer.isipg is now under way, and will soon be
accomplished by circulation that will cost
about si,o. This being the arst use Of any
par. Of the fund, Its results will determine
whether It is advisable TO follow that form Of
work to any greater extent. but be the results
as they may, would advice holding large
share OF the money in reserve TO Be used, II
necessary. as a means Of defrAying the ex-
pense Of any parties who care to come and
look over the situation with q view Of locat-
ing here
The general business conditions throughout
the country have had great bearing en- our
ability to induce capital to turn this way.
The recent collapse in financial circles shows
how the trend has been. although We did not
realize the true condition until quite late in
the year.
IA al u No. Iii
ca. banking, over speculation, general ex-
ravagance and fraudulent business methods
as quite recently exposed to public view, caus-
ing lack Of confidence among the people and
therefore the withdrawal Of circulating funds,
have had much to do with our present coudi-
lion, and have made the work not only
unsatisfactory but very discouraging to the
oArd.
The big dam with its almost limitless pro-
pectve power advantage 10 about finished and
portion of its confined energy will soon be at
he disposal OF the public. With Its present
capacity there Is said to be about thou
and horse power surplus beyond the wants
fits owners and for sale, with the possibility
pi increasing its efficiency and power advan-
ages many fold should necessity demand or
Pur future development warrant its further
tonstruction.
The Surplus already guaranteed is equal to
greater than the combined power OF the
hree dams it displaced, and which there was
cry little prospect Of utilizing for manufac-
uring purposes single and independent as
hey formerly stood. and It Is my opinion that
he consolidation Of the power as It IL under
ne present condition will prove In the end a
'ea' boon to Eilsworth's future industrial
Feiare although the present status may not
fnd to haFmonire all minds with that view.
The electric railroad to Mt. Desert island
bound to materialize, and the question will
fooably be given q fresh start as soon as
poney matters get settled to little steadier
ase and confidence 10 again restored.
In case OF continued business depression we
ay be obliged to give our attention more
lily to farming as q means OF gaining liveli-
ood and there is little doubt that it can be
ade as profitable in this section Of the State
IN any other II the same means are adopted
painting, eultivating and harvesting crops.
AeofH-canning factory has been suggested
wei as creamery, and both are dependent
the products ofthe farm.
would seem that Ellsworth is the proper
cation for both those industries. it being the
ns'e Oh large section OF country that al
asy contains many nice farms now under
i''Va,ion and countless small farms now
serted that might and should be again taken
and worked
ne establishing Of factories to handle farm
ouueIs furnishes means Of putting cash