Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-12
Augusta and 1928
Workers and Thinkers

Augusta and 1923
Workers and Thinkers
In spite of the fact that Maine is
the only state east of the Mississippi
to BE printed in blue on the Novem-
Der prosperity map, Augusta, during
the year 1922 has enjoyed remarkable
prosperity. Blue denotes the least
favorable territory in which to prose-
cute sales. New Hampshire and
Vermont are designated in green 70
denote average prosperity while the
rest of New England is printed in
gold to denote superior prosperity.
If Names business in general has
slumped to such a degree as to place
her at the bottom of the list of
for Augustus prosperity as vOuched
for by her leading bankers and mer-
chants in Tuesdays Journal.
In this connection, as a CONNER
cial secretary employed in the con-
slant study of business conditions in
general and in the prosperity max
ing forces at work in Augustus IN
particular, the writer will undertake
to answer two questions % what are
the causes of our present prosperity
and (2) what can we do to bring still
larger prosperity in 1923?
Augustus present prosperity is
due to her diversity Of industry and
her settled labor conditions, to her
constructive leadership in water
power development. to her location
in prosperous kennebec Valley, to her
intensive cultivation of her rural
trade territory, to her leadership in
the retail merchandising field, and to
the cooperative spirit and the spirit
of enterprise which prevails here.
any citizen: to succeed in Augusta
one must work hard, play hard and
think hard. 1t is a city of workers
and thinkers. This applies equally to
the millionaire and to the everyday
common citizen. The success of the
city is due to this community demand
that u man measure up to this
standard.
Since the various optimistic reports
published recently We're based on re-
tail trade prosperity. the writer will
confine his further analysis to that
phase of the situation. Augusta
makes many sales because her stores
have the goods to sell in wide va
riety. This applies to all lines. The
STYLE Show last fall surprised us all
Will t1lC ilCilIcSS I'll tIlc
carried, the range of quality and
price. the completeness of stocks
and the up-to- tho minute styles dis
played. No better argument for
trading in Augusta could have been
brought forth. In tires and Access
SORES. summer visitors are con-
tinually expressing themselves as de-
lighted with our ability. as a city, to
meet their demands. In hardware
we carry the vast assortment needed
by the farmers round about with the
result that Augusta is recognized as
a reliable place in which to trade, a
place where you can get what YOU
want when YOU want it. This is true
also CT furniture. electrical goods.
pianos, harnesses. art goods. smali
, wares, crockery. and all the other
| lines. 1t is variety and completeness
| of stocks that draws trade to this
| city.
Then, too, the elimination of petty
crossing of lines makes possible a
better feeling among the merchants
and that degree of specialization
which makes each man an expert in
his own line. All such things count.
Another factor in Augustus sue
cess is the personal attention given
to his shop by each Augusta mer-
| chant. This city is one in which the
proprietor himself not only works
but sets the pace for his employees.
Instead of hiding behind frosted glass
doors he is out among his goods
meeting his customers and gaining
that good will TOR his store and for
his city that comes from personal
, contact and prompt adjustment of
difficulties.
| The kennebec Journal with it's ey-
cellent rural service is no small fac
tor in the success of our city Ad-
vortisins must be read to he of value
and the journal is n readable paper
widely distributed in the very terri
tory the merchants desire to reach,
and its advertising service is most
excellent.
The various cooperative enter
prlscs of the past year and our sue
cess in promoting athletics each
PLAYED part in the gratifying record
OF 1922. The baseball team. the win
ter carnival. Cony's success in all
lines of sport. our independence Day
celebration. our Dollar Days, our
style Show. our Christmas projects,
these are all important detcrminanrs
in our success. For everyone loves a
live town and Augusta has been alive
and creatively active during the year
1922 and this is reflected in our
business prosperity. The spirit of
hustle. the good feeling that prevails.
the intelligent work for the common
welfare that has been done, these
things are fundamental and our good
lecord is the result
The future, what Of it? First a
building boom-everyone is waiting
for it. Hundreds of skilled me-
ChaniCS are hODing TO 500 n cor,o ~
pass. 1t will not come by wishing
but. like success in retailing by hard
work. intelligent leadership, and the
cooperative spirit. The Chamber
OF Commerce should be the agency
and the writer feels that the organi-
zatlon has won its way to both pub
nc confidence and public support SO
that its leadership will be acceptable
to all classes. Its motives are hon.
est; it has demonstrated that it seeks
the welfare of the city, first, last and
all of the time.
New industries? Why, Augusta,
Hallowell and Gardiner. today are in
a position to draw all the new indus
try that they can absorb. All over
the country can be seen the shifting
OF industries from the congesteo
centers, where unsatisfactory labor
conditions prevail and rents and 9TH
err living expenses are high. to the
smaller cities. This is especially no
ticeable in the shoe industry and
this is the one industry above all
others that these three cities excel
IN. Here again the community
through its commercial organization
can add to its prosperity and every
effort will be made during the COM
ing year to attract these industries to