Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-08
Expansion of Business Section.

Mr. Gony SAID in part: | take II,
Mr.. Toastmaster. that this occasion
is not for Jest and story, but rather
for a discussion of The. things that
may have been done in the past or
can b. done IN HE future for Au-
susta.
In M judgment the future of Au.
eHsta lies largely along the line of a
prosperous trade center and as a
teautfll residential city, rather Than
manufacturing community. As Il
matter of Tact we have been moving
rapidly along that line in the last
few years.
We need new industries, IL is true.
and we need To bend our energies, in
the future as in the past, toward Sc
curing them. but when one visits
what are commonly called mill Cit
les OF New England and elsewhere.
and observes the sanitary, economic
and even political conditions that
exist in many of them. as a result of
oNerdeses of new industries, untem-
pered by efforts toward other civic
Improvement. | think the average Au-
gusta man feels glad and proud that
the energies Of our Board of Trade
and of our citizens has not alone been
directed toward new industries. al the
sacrifice of everything else in order
that our city might, like Jonahs
gourd, grow up in a single night
| believe. rather. that our growth
should be along safe. sane and con
servatiV" lines-rapid if possible, slow
if need be. but IN any event let il be
the growth ana Increase in popula
ton that will give us a citizenship
that represents all that Is best IN our
old New England civilization / be-
lieve We have il now! Let's retain il.
have recently heard il said that
the Portland Board of Trade is bend
ing its energies toward two things
First, by placing before the public
the advantages of Portland as a home.
and if not for a permanent home,
then at least as q summer home.
Then, secondly, Ia make il a trade
center for the largest possible area.
y city of rare beauty is what they
are seeking and what they are fast
attaining. l believe we can we'll afford
to follow their lead along these lines.
Perhaps we cannot hope TO equal
Portland IN many ways but | do be
lieVe nature has done much for this
locality. | believe people from other
sections Of the country are coming
more and more to recognize it's value
as IL home, a statement which real
estate transactions and the upward
trend of prices clearly prove We are
centrally located at the head of nav
igation: we have tho State capitol;
we are surrounded by lakes, ana by
as fine a farming country as there rs
in Maine
What we need is more electric rail
roale If possible, even better stores
if possible: an aroused public senti-
men, that will lend itself 10 embrace
every opportunity TO improve our city.
in the smaller details. as we'll as the
larger matters; and then il possible,
new industries that will bring as
honest. earnest and desirable citizens.
With these things we shall surely
grow and expand. With this expan-
sion there necessarily will be some
practical difficulties 10 be surmounted
ne OF these viii he the problem of the
expansion Of our business street
Hemmed in as ii is, it would appear
there must be an increased conges
ton II is true, there is room for eX
pansion al the northern end Of the
street and il is to be hoped and ex7
peeted that there viii be changes in