“ From colonial times Portland has been noted for commercial interests, its trade, with the West Indies especially in earlier days, being one of its important sources of wealth. The city is still of greater importance for its commerce than for its industrial enterprises, exporting extensively grain, apples, and live stock. The foreign trade of the customs district of Portland and Falmouth in 1901 consisted of exports aggregating in value $12,416,793, and imports, $633,114. In recent years the exports have increased substantially, while the imports show a tendency to decline. ”

“ On the southern slope of the hill is the Eastern Cemetery, the burial place of a number of persons noted in history. Among the prominent structures in Portland are the city hall, custom house, post-office, United States Marine Hospital, Maine General Hospital, the public library (47,500 volumes) , which is the home also of the Maine Historical Society, founded in 1822, with a library of 13,500 volumes, the building of the Portland Society of Natural History, and the cathedrals of Saint Luke (Protestant Episcopal) and the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic) . ”

“ According to the census of 1900, there were in Portland manufactures having an invested capital of $6,991,000, the products being valued at $11,440,000. The most important establishments include foundries and machine shops, railroad car and machine shops, manufactories of lumber and lumber products, boot and shoe factories, clothing factories, furniture factories, confectionery factories, flavoring extract works, fruit, vegetable, and fish canneries, carriage and wagon shops, flour and grist mills, marble works, etc. ”