The independent-reporter., 1910-09-29
STATE BOARD OF TRADE.
Continued from Page One.

ward from Grand Isle to Upper Ma
dawaska, and the Portland, Gray e.
Lewiston electric railroad is being
built across country from the An
droscoggin cities to Portland
The volume of building has been
large this season in Maine as we'll as
In the country. The State Capitol,
Portland City Hall, and Names first
skyscraper the Fidelity Trust Build
ing, are conspicuous examples of the
years work. While the building ex-
fpenditure upon the new State House
is much less than on many other edi-
fees building in Maine, yet the radi-
cal transformation of the States
foremost institution from historical
ly revered but inadequate and out
of-date structure into a noble edifice
that will not suffer any comparison
with other modern State capitols, and
the accomplishment of the same at so
small cost, give the Augusta project
unusual prominence, and 1t is inter
esting to note that the Building Com
mission under whose auspices these
transformations have been wrought
has as Chairman a former President
of the State Board of Trade.
Much Is being done in the line of
publicity and the press of the State is
doing much to exploit Names dis
tinctive attractions and advantages.
Commissioner Lyons and his Bureau
of Industrial and Labor Statistics
have inaugurated State Publicity
Bureau and considerable progress has
been made along these lines. The
Maine Central Railroad has done
much good work tn gh its newly
established Industrial department
Maine continues to advance as a
resort state, and her attractions just
! ly entitle us to a foremost place
among American commonwealths in
this regard. The summer recently
terminated has been ideal so far as
weather conditions are concerned, and
the seashore and inland resorts have
alike been visited by throngs from
other states and countries. And
Names resort season now covers the
entire twelve months, the summer be-
| ing Immediately preceded by the
spring fishing and followed by the
autumnal hunting season, while in
the winter months the Mansion House
at Poland Spring is receiving steadily
increasing numbers of guests and 9th
er Maine resort hotels are planning
similar midwinter entertainment.
Maine is steadily advancing In
wealth and population. The State
Assessors report this season an ad-
vance in valuation of $19,000,00. That
our commonwealth has made mark
ed gain in population since 1900 is
universally admitted, but the official
figures of the 1910 census are not yet
available enabling us to correctly state
how great this advance has been
Some time since the State Board Sec
retary had the personal assurance OF
Hon. K. Dana Durand, Director of the
Census, that if possible the figures fol
Maine would be supplied for an
nouncement at this session, but much
to our regret the work of the Census
bureau has not sufficiently advanced
to admit of supplying this informa-
ton
Suggestions have been invited as tC
ways in which the State Board could
be more helpful to the local boards
and. among the responses has beer
the recommendation that the State
Board supply speakers for gatherings
in different parts of the State. Now
the State Board has no official lectur-
er, but at times the President or some
of the officials might be available
while frequently there is talent OBJ
tainable from beyond the borders Of
the State, and with a general under
standing the speaker could address
several boards on successive nights
then again the boards of a county OF
section might come together a
a centarl place and have an address
before the combined organizations
Whatever can be done to bring the
boards together and awaken genera
interest is earnestly to be commend
ed.
The interesting announcement Is
made at the Maine Central Offices tha
the Knickerbocker Limited now run
ming between New York and Noun
Desert Ferry on the summer schedule
will be retained on the run between
Portland and the metropolis through
out the coming winter. The Knicker
booker was first inaugurated in re
sponse to an earnest appeal from thu
State Board, and after its success al
a summer train had been demonstrat
ed the State Board has on severa
occasions placed itself strongly OF
record in favor of its continuance
through the winter. There will b'
much satisfaction among Maine busi
ness men at this long desired con
summation.
Respectfully submitted,
EDWARD NJ. BLANDING,
Secretary.
Skowhegan, Me-, Sept. %, 1910.