The Republican journal., 1912-03-21
BELFAST BOARD OF TRADE.

The meeting of the Belfast Board of Trade
last Monday evening was the best attended
and most enthusiastic session held since its
organization. Many members were pres
ent and the old members manifested an awak-
ened interest. Secretary West gave a very
Interesting account of the meeting of the
State board in Augusta, speaking enthusias c.
ally of the addresses, the banquet and the
toastmaster. Lewis A. Burleigh He then
brought up the matter of one cent letter post
age and an informal discussion followed in
which variety of sentiments We're expressed,
The post office department was self-sustain-
ing last year for the first time and the advo-
Gates of the one-cent letter rate claim that
if this were adopted twice as many letters
would be written ano there would be no loss of
revenue. But one member suggested that
double the amount of letters could not be car
ried at the same cost as at present, and an
other, Granger. enquired if the adoption of
this rate would not imperil the movement for
parcels post Secretary West thought not,
but the enquirer said that he had read some
strong arguments to that effect A member
him to pay two cents postage on letter he
did not want them to write him. President
Frost said that you could now send letter
practically to any part of the world for two
cents Aside from the question of parcels
post we know that it is proposed to double the
rate of postage second class matter, which,
would be burden on many newspapers, and
huc 4
more than the one-cent letter postage would
benefit him. The matter finally laid on the
table. Then the proposed bond issue of ST.
100000 for State roads was taken up. The
State is to issue these bonds, the interest to be
met and sinking fund provided from the
automobile tax. This tax will amount this
year to over s1OO. 900, and provided it does not
increase it would be sufficient to meet the in
terest and retire the bonds at the end of 2S
years. President Frost said that there had
been some objection to expendng large
su m for this purpose. but one of the speakers at
Augusta said that taking the number of miles
of road in the State and the average cost per
mile, putting them in condition would call
for an exrer diture of S92,OOO,O9O, What is
PAopooSu at tHlS llLlt Is d ilIlS dcTuSS lHt
State. The State Board has endorsed the pro-
ject and the Belfast Board unanimously adopt
ed resolution in its favor similar to that
adopted by the Portland Board and other
boards in the State. A letter from Orrin j.
Di ckey was read in which he said he was maxi
ing arrangements for 4th of July cele-
bration. He also spoke of the visit of
the Portland Board of Trade to this.
city in May and of the cruise of the Port
ard Yacht Club to Bangor, suggesting that
t hey might be induced to visit this port on the
way. A motion was made for committee to
confer with Mr.. Dickey. when member after
giving the letter careful reading said he did
not see that it called for any help or advice
from the board. This led to considerable dis
Gu ssion and finally the board of managers was
mi made an entertain me mt committee to make ar
rangements for entertaining the Portland
Board of Trade. AS to the Portland Yacht
Club. Mr.. W. H. Quimby said he was member
of it and would be glad to do an, thing in his
power to help the thing along. Secretary
pie in the county, with their addresses, to be
kept in the board of trade rooms for the use of
me mbers, the list to be revised every six
months. Several of the business men have
such lists, which they use in sending out cir
culars. The matter was left with q commit
tee, to report at the next meeting.