The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-05-13
OUR BOSTON VISITORS.

question. But everybody cOulQ not at
tend the meeting and so it is well to
state here, briefly, the motives which
prompted this flying visit to Maine. 1t
was Ito establish closer relationship
between Boston and her New England
neighbors to learn more of the resources
and OPPORTUNITIES of the communities
visited. and how best to cooperate with
them for a greater New England. - The
topics selected by the visitors for discus
sion here, and which We're presented in a
clear, business-like way, further indicate
the ends in view
The advantages of cooperation among
New England commercial bodies.
The DEVELOPMENT of New England manu-
features by
A Efficient transportation.
Railroads.
Waterways.
Industrial and commercial education.
3 Patronage of home Industries.
One of the visitors said, in substance:
Boston is and must remain the one great
oitv of New England. She has plenty of
money, heretofore devoted mainly to de-
veloping the west, neglecting the oppor-
tunities at her own door. This has been
A mistake. =. In developing New England
she will be LAYING the foundation for her
,wn'growth and greater prosperity" The
idea entertained by some few that the
object of the visit was simply to drum
no trade for Boston is entirely erroneous.
The men who made up the party--bank-
ars. railroad officials, wholesalers and
importers, are not in that line. They
came here to help US and to aid US in
helping ourselves, and in this the benefit
will be mutual. With 5000, 200 in the
treasury and an annual income of $780,
400 from membership dues the Boston
Chamber of Commerce, chartered to
promote the commerce, IluuSuy anu
public interest of Metropolitan Boston
and of New England" can, and we are
confident will, do a great work along
these lines. 1t is for their interest as
well as for ours to secure better trans
portaton facilities and lower freight
rates They realize, as all practical men
do. that unless Boston offers our mer-
chants such goods as they wish to buy
on as advantageous terms as they can
be bought in other cities the business
will go elsewhere. Sentiment cuts but
little figure in business Quality and
price and freight rates tell in buying
goods.
Where Boston can hel p us most and at
the same time help herself, is in supply
ing The needed capital for legitimate en-
terprises. It's just coming to be recog
mzed that Maine has vast natural re-
sources, which only need development.
We have entered upon a new era with
the advent of electricity, and the grow
ing scarcity of fuel has turned attention
IL our unused water powers. When
these are utilized our manufacturers will
have decided advantage over those who
Nave to use coal or wood to generate
power. With the growth of manufac-
lures will come increased prosperity to
farmers and to merchants. Our farm
ing interests already feel the quickening
influence of improved methods and in
creased knowledge of what is now recog-
nized as the science of agriculture The
Wasteful methods of the past have been
abandoned. The movement for the con-
servation of natural resources, and the in
creased attention paid to forestry, have
arrested the waste in wood lots and tim
Der lands. In orcharding, dairying and
potato growing are manifest the results
of the intelligent following out of new
and approved methods. In brief, there
are signs of advancement in every di-
rection, with assurance that Maine has
entered upon new era of prosperity.
Regret has been expressed that the
time Of our visitors was so limited and
that they were able to see, and then only
hastily, so small part of our State.
That is of course to be regretted. But
these men of affairs, representing vast
business interests, could not we'll be alb
sent from their posts for any length of
time. We are glad that they came at
all, and saw what they did, and Belfast,
situated as it is on branch road, should
feel specially honored by their visit.
They did not see some of our greatest
water powers, nor the lumber and WOOL