Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-27

swer to the criticism that we are do
ing too much for the merchants and
nothing for any other section of the
voiced within the week by one Of our
members.
During the past year the Merchants
have been called upon four times to
contribute to funds for projects ap-
proved by the executive committee Of
this bureau. as follows:
/. Auto Camp Fund.
'Paid in excess by C. Of Co.. 314.06
Total cost ..................$ o51.Sl
'Partly advertising.
! 2. Dollar Day Fund.
Subscriptions sc0S.0 10
Amt. spent by committee. -. .$310.50
3. Christmas Fund. to provide Com
munity Tree and Christmas direct ad-
vertising.
Cost Of Christmas Activity $201.38
4. Winter Carnival fund subscrip-
tons. s2120O, this appropriation was
slightly exceeded by the committee.
This is a very credible record of
what might call financial backing to
joint projects, but it by no means tells
the story Of your willingness to CO.
operate. 1t is simply a guage by
which we may measure your cooper
ative spirit. The total raised by the
merchants as shown above is SS61.00,
to which has been added by the
Chamber of Commerce s312.19
Having reviewed some of the work
that we have been doing during the
past year, may make certain recon-
mendations for the coming year:
1. Dust Nuisance-I believe that we
should work out some plan for our
own protection to abate the dust
nuisance that exists en- Water street
and would propose a $3.50 arrange
ment with the city for this purpose.
2. Traffic Regulation-I believe that
we should have a no parking rule on
Water street so that people could
leave and take passengers or loads
thus accomplishing what amounts to
q widening of the street and a safe
guarding of life from accident.
3. July 4th-It is hign time that this
community made the 4th of July a
real opportunity for expressing our
Americanism by proper exercises and
through celebration and parade. !
would advise having a band concert
fireworks, and a pageant. with a good
parade of organizations this year. IT
would bring hundreds of people to
Augusta and mark this as a live CITY,
4. Fall OPENING believe that we
would all profit by fall opening. es-
pecially as we have a great manv
young people going away to school
and people who are able to reach An
gusta by auto at that season of the
year. This can be done better by Joint
effort than by individual effort and
the expense should be very slight.
5. Monthly meetings-We should
meet t least once each month with
some or our own members as sneak
ers thus bringing to our attention the
latest ideas in merchandising and al
so promoting better relationship be-
tween our members.
Secretary Clarke in presenting his
report spoke of the fine spirit of
growth of the Chamber of Commerce
since its organization in the CITY and
|of the feeling of corporation among
the merchants for the good of the
civic organization.
Mr.. Clarke's report was received
with hearty applause and was ac-
copied by the bureau.
Wednesday Afternoon, Closing
The next matter for consideration
was the Wednesday afternoon closing
OF stores in the city. There was
some discussion Of the question of
whether Wednesday afternoon closing
during July and August was prefer
able to the plan of closing Saturday
afternoons and evenings.
Secretary Clarke presented a COM
plation Of the plans adopted by vari-
Gus cities in New England, showing
that Boston and Bangor were prac-
tically the only cities favoring the
general closing of stores Saturday af-
ternoons and evenings.
The merchants then put the ques-
ton to a vote and decided to close