Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-11-09

ness conditions was also to add as fully
as agreatSan improvement for the mu-
| nicipality and the merchants, especial
".
L am, therefore, somewhat out OF
my sphere tonight and if [ am to say.
anything but cannot ask for anything.
| ! shall have to confine my remarks to
! the good l can see as the result OF the
| things I have asked fer and which
have been granted. in the kindest and
most generous spirit. by the broad
gagged men in public Office because
they can also see TIE advantages that
would be gained for their fellow citi-
Zens whom they are bound to serve to
tine best of their ability.
1t requires great courage to Undue
capital into some enterprises and
| greater courage where results must Ee
ohtaired b., the men who made the
promises and prophesy as to the flu
| ture. The men who 60 things in their
! Official capacity for public service
corporation must study the situation
carefully, then make ur their minds
and go ahead. They must tax" the re-
sponsbility of being successful in
practical and financial way for their
company, and Oh the other SIDE they
have the great pubic to serve and
please.
Such men as have lad the courage
and the ability - construct and sue
ccsscuJiy operate the original street
railway system in ard about Augusta
and the men who later purchased the
local lines and Immediately began to
reconstruct them and build new ones
are the kind OF men whom We cannot
get along without, and they are right
fully greatly honored in any commu-
nifty where they have so honorably and
| successfully carried on this great de-
| velopmcnt, as has been the case i'll
and about the city of Augusta.
IT anyone has any doubt as to Wheth
| cr or not the electric lines are Il bene-
fit and conN enience that is enjoyed by
the rich and the poor. the pleasure
seeker and the business man, then let
.kat person reflect for a moment upon
the result of having the system Of
| railways discontinued.
| Every citizen OF Augusta must feel
proud of the substantial appearance of
it's business section. There is life in all
the stores and Offices of the many ele-
Gant buildings on the street. people
from neighhOring places come into
town to transact their business and
anything that makes it easy for people
to get into the center of industry is
good thing and an important thing to
the merchants, professional men and
others
During the last two years Augusta
has been connected by the construction
of additional trolley lines and has
nearly become the center Of an I'M
broken system OF electric railway that
operates through % cities and towns
and serves 100000 people and all are
within a maximum fare of 80 cents
from the Augusta postoffice.
Of the above number 42.010 are
within a Accent fare and 24,356 within
1O-cent fare
This fact and the established belief
of merchants that it pays to adver-
tise,' makes the trolley system seem
important to Augusta.
Much has been done by the organ
lied Board of Trade to get business
enterprises into Augusta. Great effort
and capital has been employed to make
business conditions better and this
work will continue and the days fol-
| lowing the completion of an electric
railway with its frequent car service
during IS hours of each day in the
year and bringing 10000 people with
in a maximum fare of 80 cents to the
center of your city are days of greater
opportunities for the merchants, ana
they will doubtless recognize the new
situation and adjust the details of their
business to meet it.
| In the development of it's own bus
| mess the electric road is bound to help
| business centers, for in the Hase of It's
| freight and express business wherever
| it is possible to move material d Ger
! tain amount of cash will change hands
| if the people who live outside OF the
city can get the product of the farm
| taken from their door, they Will be-
| come greater producers and the cash
returns for their labOrs will be eX-
changed for necessities of life and the
education of their children, within the
| business centerS.
1t is wonderful what the development
of few years will bring about and
| the greatest wonders are sometimes
given the least thought. We all seem
to be ready to accept the wonderful
things made possible by electricity.
| who knows what the next few years
VIII bring about, and shall we be sat
isfed if the next 20 years is marked
was as great achievements as the past
20?
believe that we should face the flu
| turc with the greatest confidence. We
must broaden out with the times for
the DEVELOPMENT of our latest inven-
| lions assures us at this time of richer
! Droapects, and who knows what the
| inventions of the years to come will be
auei tho individual gain to us all.
| What is good for the merchants IS
generally good for the street railway.
/ The BOARD of Trade and the railway
go hand in hand for new business aud
tncv work together to improve cohdi-.
! tons. They each influence business Tor
: the other, and the united efforts of both
! is bound to bring good results. | be