The Republican journal., 1914-04-09
as an inducement for that trade.

as an inducement for that trade.
With the exception of three towns in
Waldo county the average distance from
Belfast is only trifle over Is miles.
More than half of the 25 towns are less
than fourteen miles from here and most
of them should find this the easiest mar
ket.
This Board of Trade should arrange to
have meetings in practically every one
of these 25 towns to cultivate a better
feeling toward Belfast.
But before this is done positive ar
engagements should be made with one, or
more, high grade commission houses in
Boston, and possibly New York, to have
buyer from their house at Belfast at
least during the fall and winter seasons.
This firm, or firms should have repre-
sentative go with the Board of Trade as
it visits these long neglected hamlets.
The Board of Trade should stand ready
to act as an arbitrator in case of misun-
Outstanding between buyer and seller.
Our Board of Trade members who
have to make these visits should get
some of the big mail order house cata-
logues and show to the farmers in sever
al instances where they could buy in Bel
fast as cheap and often cheaper for the
same quality of goods in ONE lines than
Of the mail order house, if goods were
ordered in the same way. That is, cash
with order. Here, also. the Board of
Trade could stand as arbitrator in case
of dispute. Give in each town small
cash prize to the boy or girl raising the
largest crop from measured area, pro-
vided the product was marketed in Bel
fast.
Make Waldo county the basis of Great
err Belfast. But we need manufacturers
here. First decide what lines are best
suited to our locality. Then buy Dodge
reports and employ the Clipping Bureau
Service to get in touch with the men in
those lines who may desire to change
their location. 1t is better for this place
to have 20 or so small but reliable con-
Germs employing twenty TO forty people
each than one big concern employing
thousand, or two employing the same.
Our banks can easily finance so or 100
small manufacturers while it would be
impossible for them, even under the new
banking law, to finance properly the
very big single concerns. Belfast can
easily become a tobacco growing center.
1t is clearly within the province of the
Board of Trade to encourage this very
profitable industry among the farmers OF
Greater Belfast.
1t takes money to get money. This
Board of Trade can do much if the citi-
zens of Belfast will come with the little
band who have made such big start.
The very best way to help is to first be-
come member, then worker, cham
pion of Belfast.
You will not get cash dividend back
in three months, perhaps, but it you
were satisfied that Belfast would have
ten thousand inhabitants in five years
with all that would mean in bigger mar
kets, better assortments of goods to Sc
lect from, possibly even lower prices
than now, wouldn't you willingly give
fifteen dollars and pay it on the Install
ment plan? That is about what the
Board of Trade believe they can do with
your help.
To the Board of Trade l would say,
that as soon as you can possibly see your
way clear to do so, hire your present
secretary away ftom his present daily
work and have him permanently at the
secretary's work. A good secretary is
worth everything to Board of Trade.
If the present secretary wont leave the
bank for the place, find some clear head
ed man who will take it.
Belfast has natural advantages sur
ficient to build upon them great city. L
have intimated quite strongly why she is
not so now. 1t is up to you, business
men of Belfast, to make for her and your
selves fortune in growing beautiful
Belfast. Will you do it? Other cities
with less to work upon have pooled their
strength, their ambition, their time, and
finally their money, and have won: They
were no more able than you. What has
been done can be done again. 1t is up to
you, and to no one else. Gentlemen, l
thank you for your kind attention.