Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-11
I820--MAINE- 1920
The Centenary Celebration
Committee Organizes.
Subcommittee Appointed and
Plans Discussed.
Some Suggestions in Preparing
for 1920 Celebration.

| Lewiston. Me. May 10.-(SpeciaD.-
The 1920 Committee of Twenty, one
appointed at the last session of the
state Board Of Trade TO consider the
matter Of celebrating the centennial of
the state Of Maine, held its first meet
ing at City hall, Lewiston, Wednesday
and organized with Col. f. f. Boothby
of Portland as president; Prof. r. j.
Sprague of Bangor, secretary; Il. NJ.
Banding, Bangor, treasurer.
The committee discussed the matter
with enthusiasm during an all-day
session and it was voted to hold reg
ular meetings at each session of the
state Beard OF Trade and that all
other meetings of the committee be
held et Augusta.
The committee also voted to ask the
Governor Of the State to act as
member Of the committee.
The following committees were ap-
pointed:
Agriculture-E. c. CARL Augusta; H.
w Spratt, Gorham; Geo w. Furbush,
Lewiston.
Civic and soeial-c. F. Flagg. Port
land: Carl Rust Parker, Yarmouth;
Harry Manser, Auburn.
Conservation and development-W.
T. Haines. Waterville; Roy e. Mars
ton. Skowhegan; l.. a. Cloudy. Port
land.
Education and Religion-R J.
Spragne. Bangor: d. J. Callahan. Lew
iston: L. c. Bunker. Waterville
Industry-H. +. Plummer. Lisbon
Falls; James Donohue. Reekland; L.
G. Gerry. Sanford; o. G. X. Robinson,
Westbrook.
Resort-E. NJ. Blanding. Bangor; J.
f. Goldthwaite. Biddeford; H. \. Wey-
mouth, Saeo.
Transportation-F Z. Boothby. Port
land; n. G. Jackson, Bath; 5. ]. Fos-
ter, Oakland.
The executive committee consists of
the chairmen of the various commit
tees.
1t is expected that President Booth
by will call the committees to meet in
Augusta some time this summer.
Among the things that Prof. Sprague
suggests to promote the Maine 1920
campaign are;
/. See to it that your own town has
an active improvement society and
that all the pushers belong to it.
.. Get every social civic and liter
airy club TO devote one meeting each
year to the subject of Maine, 1920. and
immediate local betterment.
3. Hold a rally with feed of
some kind Of all the local organiza-
tions in the interest of civic better
ment. and see to it that something is
undertaken.
A. Better sidewalks-let the old
colonial dirt sidewalks in our cities
and villages be forever abandoned be-
fore "1920.a 1t is not poverty but
tradition that keeps these relies of
pioneer life. Hundreds Of villages in
the Middle West allow no sidewalks to
be laid expect cement or stone, and
they are accordingly getting systems
of walks worthy of our civilizations.
Dusty streets must also yield TO the
demand for sanitary condition. No
other rich people of the world endures
such conditions of dust as we Ameri-
cans. Mud is bad, but not deadly;
however, the construction of modern
streets will overcome both difficulties
to a great extent.
5. Lay out all new streets only on
approved, modern plans which Will,
especially in the case of residence
streets, greatly increase their value in
the future. These should have wide
parkways between the roads and side
walks, with narrow driveways in order
to prevent dust and permit decoration
along the sides. We too often plan our
residence streets as IF thew were com
mercial highways, and thus increase
the cost. mud and dust, and decrease
the beauty and value.