Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01

railroad tax set by the state was too
high and he said that in this the
chambers of the state had an OPP
portunity to do much good.
Industries came to Maine in the
first place, Mr.. Pattangan said, be-
cause there was O supply of cheap
| water power but the policy of the
state has prevented the development
| on wholesale basis. The speaker
| said that the people of Maine should
find a way whereby power can be
developed to the fullest extent bur
that the amount shipped beyond the
borders should not exceed the
amount needed at home.
Prosperous farms are always
found surrounding prosperous cities
| and the speaker was of the impress
sion that the people have not as yet
| applied business methods to their
| agriculture. The encouragement of
intelligent farming was thing
, which Mr.. Pattangall said the Cham
bers of Commerce might we'll take
up. The industries of.coast fisheries
and canning were also advocated by
him as valuable adjuncts to the
| prosperity of Maine.
Major General Mark L. Hersey
was introduced by Judge Atchley as
an unexpected guest whom all would
| want to hear. General Hersey told
of q recent visit which he made to
Maine In the interest of the Military
Order of the World War, of which
| he is national commander, during the
course Of which he called on Cover
nor Brewster, and was requested by
the governor to get in touch with
Washington agencies which could be
of use to Maine. During his inter-
views with authorities in Washing
ton, he had some discussion of the
| hydro electric situation in Maine,
and found that opinions there was to
the effect that the present policy of
| the State is in error. DR.. George
Otis Smith of Skowhegan, director
| Of the United States Geological Sur
vey, DIR. Nathan Grover, and other
| men, he said, were of this belief.
Upon asking them where he could
get the other side of the case. he
was told that it could not be had in
| Washington. that he would best re-
| turn to Maine for it.
General Hersey has been survey
ing conditions in Maine. and is to
| broadcast a report on the State from
| the Symphony Hall radio station in
! Boston this evening.
Henry F. Merrill of Portland was
! introduced as a man who would
| speak for the State Chamber OF
Commerce. Mr.. Merrill admitted at
| the outset of his speech that he
could not omit mention of the State
! Pier, and, LIN discussing it, spoke OF
the departure three days ago of a
vessel from the State Pier carrying
1900 tons of Maine products to the
Pacific coast, which, he held. was a
new market for Maine that had been
| opened up by the availability of wa
| ter transport which makes a lower
! transportation rate possible tC
| Maine manufacturers. Only ten pei
cent of the ships cargo came from
Portland, and of the remaining sc
7 per cent were products of manufac-
| turers who never had shipped to the
| Pacific coast before the Inauguration
| of the State Pier. Mr.. Merrill
! maintained that with three steam
| ship lines offering trans oceanic
service IL months in the year out OF
Portland, the Atlantic was no longer
a barrier to Maine, but that the
world markets in which Maine for
| merly was a great trader are once
moe open to the State. The fact
| that Portland is JIG miles nearer
| to European markets than any other
port in the United States is. he said
a powerful factor in expediting this
| expansion.
! Referring to the growth of cities
| in the West, Mr.. Merrill urged that
| Maine people cease knocking, but al
| ways boost their communities, when
| he declared, would do much to help
| Names advance.