STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 9 



period, ending in 1910, the population of Maine increased the 

 same per cent as the population of Iowa, namely, six and nine- 

 tenths per cent. To be sure, the increase is largely in the cities, 

 but the country towns are also beginning slowly to increase. 

 With the wise cooperation between the men of the city and the 

 men of the country, Maine is shaping itself for the future, to 

 assert and maintain its appropriate place as leader among the 

 states of the Union. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



George L. Crosman, President Chamber of Commerce, 



Portland. 



The Chamber of Commerce of Portland is glad of the oppor- 

 tunity to extend a most hearty welcome to the Maine Pomo- 

 logical Society. We are glad that you could meet with us 

 again this year. His Honor the Mayor has already anticipated 

 me in some things I had intended to say in discussing the ques- 

 tion of cooperation. The Chamber of Commerce believes in 

 the principle of cooperation — in the "get-together" spirit. We 

 believe more success is to be gained by the individual and by 

 the community, through cooperation and fostering our mutual 

 interests, than by unfriendly competition. 



I might bring to your attention, as an instance of the coopera- 

 tive spirit which pervades our people here in Portland, the 

 beautiful electric sign of welcome which has been so generously 

 donated to this occasion and erected by the Cumberland County 

 Power and Light Company in assisting us to extend to you 

 our welcome and greetings. It is true that, by delay caused by 

 the storm, the sign is not in operation tonight, but will be by 

 tomorrow evening. It represents the outlay of at least $100 

 in its erection and shows how willing this service corporation 

 is to lend its aid to our public affairs. 



The Chamber of Commerce of Portland has for its slogan 

 two ideas — Progress and Cooperation. We are not satisfied 

 with letting "well enough alone." We believe in steady 

 advance, improving the quality of all our products and attain- 



