The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-02-03

OF the building as whole it may be said that.
both as to externals, and SO far as the arrange
ment OF the interior construction and decora.
ton are concerned, it represents the best tvne
of American architecture.
Ihls is but one of the group of buildings
that will form what may well be called the
official section of Portland. The old buildings
on what is known as the Central fire station
lot now owned by the city, will be taken
down and the new city hall, the county build
ing, the new United States building and the
present post-office and court house will he we'll
together. The contractors are rushing the
work on the city building, but it will be some
time yet before it is completed.
Farther up town, the corner of Preble
and Congress street, facing Monument square
stands the steel frame of Portland's first sky
scraper. 1t is ten stories above ground, and
small American flag flies from its top. The
ornamental cornice of terra Gotta which sur-
mounts each story is being put in place. but
work on the walls has not begun. The build
ing is designed for stores and offices and is
being erected by the State Loan company. in
which the "Al1en boys" natives of Belfast
but long identified with the business interests
of Portland, are interested.
Another notable improvement is an addition
to the Maine Central office building adjoining
the Union station.
| Portland had visit Thursday from the COM
mittee on industrial education and there was
very interesting hearing at the rooms of the
Board of Trade, which some of the members of
the Maine Press Association attended. Presi-
dent Eastman presided and there was full
discussion. DR.. Seth C. Gordon spoke especial
ly of the recently adopted addition of an agri-
cultural department to the course of study at
the venerable but still vigorous Fryeburg
academy, and said that the real work is done
out of doors and that it does actually help to
fit the pupils for at least one branch of work.
Hon. John A. Warren of Westbrook spoke of
the system adopted there, by which the regular
school work is supplemented by industrial
training, and expressed the opinion that in
dustrial education would result in keeping the
young men of Maine at home, because they
would be able to see that success is as possible
here as elsewhere. Many others spoke, but DR..
Gordon and Senator Warren made direct and
practical suggestions. The committee visited
many manufacturing places while in Portland
and found that there is there as elsewhere a
demand for trained men, but that, as Mr..
Laughlin, one of the other speakers, said, there
is only a very limited demand for the unskilled
laborer. There is no doubt that industrial
education will after this receive more atten-
ton in Portland, although the city has had for
years a very successful manual training school.
While at the New Falmouth, which was the
headquarters of the Maine Press Association,
it was learned that the hotel was to undergo a
change of management February 1st, F. H.
Nunns, the manager for several years, retir-
ing, and J. j. Pooler, until recently manager of
the Columbia, succeeding him. 1t is said to
have been Mr.. Pooer's ambition from boyhood
to become the manager of the Falmouth, and
he has worked his way up in the hotel business
until now his early hopes are realized. He
made success as manager of the Columbia
and it is confidently expected that under his
capable direction the Falmouth will prosper as
never before. The hotel is owned by the
Brown estate and when built by the then head
of that family was considered so far in ad-
vance of the needs of Portland as to be a
most unwise venture. In fact, we believe it
was closed for tine, and when ]. K. Martin
took it he is said to have paid only nominal
rent. He succeeded however, in putting the
hotal on basiS and
retired to live on his fine farm in Bridgton.
The members of the Maine Press Association
were invited to call and inspect the plant OF
the Portland Evening Express, recently great,
ly enlarged to meet its increasing business as
the only daily evening newspaper in the city
but the writer did not need this reminder te
call and exchange greetings with the editor
George W. Norton. and besides was charged
with remembrances from a mutual friend
With Mr. Norton the various departments o1
the newspaper were visited, and while the i'm.
provements are not all completed it was readi
ly seen that the Express has plant that woulc
do credit to a metropolitan daily. And it is
needed, for 200 persons are employed in get
ting out the daily Express Advertiser and the
sunday Telegram. The abundance of light anG
good ventilation in all the work rooms was
particularly noticeable to one who finds both
essential. From the room of the city editor
and reporters we went up fight of stairs te
the composing room, which is lighted on two
sides and from skylights, and where there is
ample floor room. Up another fight is the art
department, of which Mr.. Norton said that ali
he knew about it was that they sent pictures
up there and got half-tones. The Thursday
evening edition of the Express had large
half-to of the new courthouse, and we have
never seen anything better in the way of news
paper illustration. 1t is perhaps hardly neces.
sary to add that the Express is prospering. Il
is ably edited, enterprising in the news field
and up-to-date in all respects.
A call was made on Norman Reed at the
place of business of H. H. Hays Sons, whole
sale and retail drugs and chemicals, 256-265
Middle street, and he was found busy taking
stock He was on the road for two months the
past season, serves in the prescription depart
ment, and as an all-around man. He learned
the business in the drug store of Poor & Son in
this, his native city, and had passed sue
! cessful examination as pharmacist before