Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-13
Augusta Neglected?
Up To Us We Are Told
BY Pres. L. J. COburn

h interview With l.. j. Coburn,
president OF the Recreation Land
company. developers Of Summer
raven, he stated his enthusiasm for
this section OF Maine and said:
Absolutely, believe Maine INV native
state Is all beautiful, but I feel that
augusta and the central part has
oeen somewhat neglected in publicity
setting forth its beauties and advan-
tages. Recently I have heard many
out or state people say that they
near lot about Bangor, Portland.
Lewiston and other sections, but the
capital they. seem to forget
through his friendship with some
people In Boston, Mr.. Coburn has
caused the Boston Herald, which has
oeen doing great deal for Maine
recently. to send three of their rep
resentatives to Augusta. The official
photographer took a great many
pictures of different streets, resi-
dences and public places in Augusta,
ana mas promised to give this part Of
Maine big boost on publicity in the
near future. He stated very frankly
that he believed the merchants and
other citizens of Augusta and vicin-
lty could do wonders for Kennebec
County If they would only get busy
and cooperate.
Summer Haven is already bringing
people from out of the state to Au-
gusta-from Hartford, Connecticut,
cambridge and Worcester Massa-
chusetts. and even from New Jersey.
Some of these who have never seen
this section before express them
selves as being delighted with the
beautiful lakes and streams in this
section for summer vacation, being
centrally located and only about five
or six hours ride from Boston.
personally I believe" said Mr.. Co.
burn, sit is entirely up to the citizens
of Augusta and Kennebec County
whether they grow industrially and
recreationally as other sections Of
Maine are growing. I intend to make
my permanent home in Augusta, and
naturally I am deeply interested in
all its developments, and after being
in the West, particularly southern
California, for four years, believe
if the people will just work and CO.
operate to bring people in, we can
have summer colony of which Au-
gusta will be proud, as Summer
Haven is very carefully restricted as
to the class of people to whom sales
are being made. 1t is a place where
the business man can have his cot
| tage, and only fifteen minutes drive
| from Augusta, and his children asso-
ciate with their own kind.
I believe that the business which
will be brought to Augusta through
| Summer Haven in a few years will
! be tremendous. and Augusta mer-
| chants and professional men will get
ninety nine percent of it. Why not
! get busy now? Not wait. Every
| thing we do this end Of the season
will count for next seasons business.
! We want out of state people to come
and receive a cordial welcome and
| fair treatment. This Is what builds
| up a community. There is no room
J for knockers. Let US all boost, and
! say as they do in California, "Au-
| gusta is the finest city in the State.
! Kennebec County the most desirab
and the state of Maine the best Of
/ all in the Union" While other states
have had their booms. let us in one
grand boost profit by the mistakes of
/ others and make Maine what 1t
should be. Help all developments
which are for the interest Of Maine,
particularly those by its own cit
/ liens.
Who knows but that In this sum-
mer development some one will come
j to this section who Is interested in
the furniture development, which will
be the cause of starting, which we
I should do at once, the hardwood
industry, developing not only ship
ping raw material out to be finished
and payrolls furnished in other
states. but the putting up of fac
tories for the payrolls and taxes and
shipping the finished product--~Mich-
igan has had her day in this line,
but her hardwoods, like the spruce
and pine in Maine are nearly ex-
hausted, and Maine people by con-
certed effort can bring that industry
here with it's countless millions of
: hardwood lumber just waiting for
a DEVELOPMENT"