Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-19

President Charles E. Quincy of the
Kiwanis Club in an eloquent charac-
terization Of tie governor elect and
his vision and plans for the material
advancement of the state, introduced
Mr.. Brewster. The speaker warned
his hearers that whatever he had to
say of the sister states of the Union
was not intended as disparagement.
but rather in presenting the virtues
of Maine he wished to show that this
state had all of those things which
have made other states famous, and
many other attractions and that this
state gained by comparison.
In speaking of the rapid growth
the western states, Mr.. Brewster
which was evident in the great Pa
year. The speaker declared that
during the next half century the
center of population of the United
States would become stationary and
that the trend of increase in popula-
ton would turn eastward. New York
cannot Thonopolize or absorb the in
crease and 1t must be spread out
over considerable eastern territory.
There ere two great tendencies to-
day which assure this eastward trend
of population increase. First-the
cheap agricultural land to be found
only in the east; and second, the
necessity which has presented Itself
through the railroad transportation
taEgle and other problems, for the
east to feed itself.
The speaker talked at some length
of those products for which Maine Is
preeminent. The Aroostook potatoes,
apples. sweet corn. and the recently
discovered adaptability of our 'pastur-
age and climate for the raising Of baby
beef. Maine must develop its agricul-
ture in those products for which the
State is unique, There is no intention
to attempt to compete with California
and Florida in the raising Of oranges.
but rather greater emphasis on the
products which have already brought
fame to Maine.
Recalling that Maine IL properly
"the summer playground of the ma
tion." Mr.. Brewster mentioned those
natural resources which make Names
attractions Incompatible in this coun-
try. The $500 miles of matchless sea-
Icoast-nrore than the whole of the rest
Of the Atlantic seaboard or of the
whole Pacific coast line. He said that
the great vacation land Ia within "a
hours by train of one-half Of the pop
ulation Of the east.
Last year 1.-The summer tourists and
vacationists left in Maine $4,000, geo
and besides that the assessors records
reveal that 20 per cent. of the total
valuation of the State is property own
ed by non-rcsidents and on which they
pay taxes, reducing by that amount
the taxes which citizens of the State
must pay. He mentioned the beautiful
Lafayette National Park and the ka-
tahdin Preserve. which are known TO
hardly more than handful Of our own
people as yet, which when their at
/ fractions are properly advertised and
presented to the people Of this coun-
I try will attract hundreds of thou
sands OF visitors, not only in summer
but in winter as well. @'"
The governor-elect visualized the
Katahdin region as the st. Mortz of
America, and mentioned the fact that
people Of the temperate zones are fast
learning that it is more conducive to
their continued good health to go to
cold climates than to the warmer
south IN the winter time. Through
proper presentation Of its merits Ka-
tahdin should become the winter sports
center of America. Mount Royal in
Canada is a mere pygmy in comparison
to what is offered in this great Maine
preserve. There are 100000 acres
OF wilderness In which the entire pop
uintion of any of our sister states
could thoroughly lose themselves.
He mentioned the remarkable
commercial advancement of such
states as California and Florida and
indicated how this was accomplished
by first drawing the tourists and
then converting them into investors
and permanent residents. It is Just
this which the boosters of Maine
propose to do, and it is for this pur-
pose that the publicity committee is
being organized. Tell Names story
to the nation and then capitalize the
returns.
Mr.. Brewster ->toid his audience
that it is proposed to seek fegisla-
tive authorization for municipalities
to contribute to an advertising fund
UP to one mill Of their valuation.
Besides this campaign, which will
be conducted through newspaper and
magazine advertising, the Maine
Publicity Bureau or O similar organ
ization Is to continue to function as
heretofore, for the purpose of sup
plying interested inquirers any kind
of information they may desire as
to the advantages and attractions of
any particular localities.
Y This latter bureau will continue to
be supported by private capital and
will augment the efforts of the ad.
vertising fund. The advertising. fund
raised by communities and munich.
palities Is to be used for broadcast.
Ing the attractions of this state as
a whole. impartially. and in the in.
terests of no one section OF the state.
The speakers whole talk was sup.
plemented with PERSONAL observa.
tons and Investigations which Mr..
Brewster has made in many sections
OF the country. He stated it as his
honest opinion that Maine has more
to offer. either as a vacation land or
as the location Of a permanent home.
in health, enjoyment and q livlihood
than any other state in the union,
The talk by the next governor was
most enthusiastically received and
the whole meeting Of the two local
civic organizations was remarkable
for its good feeling and sincere ,in-
terest in the propositian for the
growth and progress OF Maine.
During the luncheon session,
which was presided over by Presi-
dent Charles E. Quincy of the XII
wants Club, Rotarian J. Francis
MacNichol and Col. Keith Ryan of
the Kiwanis Club alternated in lead
ing the 100 men In group singing.