Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-08-17

The Village Of Winthrop.

For The Eastern Times.
The Village of Winthrop.
One Of the most pleasant villages to be found
in Keunebec county, the :" Garden of Maine,''
is the village Of Winthrop 1t is situated in a
valley between high ranges Of hills, and on a
stream connecting two Of the most beautiful
lakes with which the region abounds. This
village has been metamorphosed by the Andro-
scoggn and Kennebec railroad Prior TO the
advent of the iron horse, which is now heard
in its deep rumbngs among the hills and along
the lake shores, there was much of the high
morality of Puritan life, with lis quietude and
healthy severity, 10 this sequestered vale.
Railroads open from those recepticles of arti-
fetal life and natural wickedness, the city,
grand highway for the escape of folly and sin
into the country. Winthrop has suffered in
this respect and the communicating influence
Of facility Of access to city life and custom is
apparent 10 the most casual observer. A NOR
al change has come, which has dssIpated much
!
of a former generation, aud inaugu.ated kind
Of Young America looseness and spirit.
But, not TO settle the question whether rail-
roads are onithe whole the source Of degenera-
49, -iss II - .La nonntrp ny
object Is TO notice some eviJeucer Of enterprise
which this fine village at present furnishes.
and which may doubt be attributed 10 the
"go-aheadativeness impulse, railroads gener-
ally originate.
The establishment of The Messrs. BENJA-
MIN for the construction Of grain threshing
machines and separaters is amodel one. Tie
building occupied for the purpose is about one
hundred feet in length and three stories high.
II is located not on the stream connecting
the two lakes, which runs through the village
and affords fine water power, but quarter of a
mile distant, close by the railroad depot, where
''no water Isl except that drawn from wells.
This fact. taking into view the business judg-
ment and economy Of the proprietors, is strong
proof that water power for the driving of ma
chinery is not the best or most economical.
The machines manufactured by the Messrs.
Y benjamin are Pitts patent, double horse pow
power 'hrashers and separaters. They are
the best machines, probably, ever invented for
the threshing and winnowing Of grain, and
are used in Western New York, Ohio, and
all the grain growing States, Canada West
and California. Mr.. Pitts, the inventor, for
merly resided in Winthrop, where he invented
and perfected his machine. lie is now the
Y possessor Of fortune, rather an unusual re-
suit in the experience Of inventors, and resides
in the West.
Y The establishment, under full blast, is COM
I petent TO the turning out of one machine per
day. The lower floor Of the building is occu-
pied for machine shop the second for the
construction Of the separaters; and the third
for the leather work and betting. The whole
machinery is driven by one of the neatest
steam engines to be found in the State, of
about twenty horse power. 1t was construct
ed by the Messrs. Benjamin, and its fine finish
and precise and graceful movement is as high
a ticket of Recommendation of their mechani-
cal ingenuity and skill as the public could de-
sire. The amount of fuel necessary to drive
this engine through the working hours of one
Gay, affording abundant power for all purpos-
es, il three feet Of rood. Could any better
proof be furnished of the superiority of steam
to water power on the score of economy &
The principle of Pitts machine is the endless
cham, which is probably the best principle for
double horse powers, and most durable A
forge shop is connected with the building, and
near by, Mr.. Kelley of Winthrop has estab-
lished an iron foundry within year past
The Messrs. Benjamin are young men Of spir-
it and enterprise, intelligent and gentlemanly
in their intercourse and deserve abundant sue
cess. | was glad to learn that they have or
ders for machines which require all the force
they can command to answer. One of them
informed me that though wing he approved
Of the Reciprocal Treaty-thought the admins
tration had accomplished 'one'' good thing in
that-and that Canada, being one Of the great
est wheat growing countries in America,
would under the liberal system of intercourse
just commencing, prove TO be one of the best
markets for Yankee threshing machines.
Near this establishment is model building
about l25 feet in length, in process of compile
-tion, designed for the manufacture of oil car
peting. The proprietor is Mr.. George Hay
wood, another enterprising young man Of the
place. The old cotton factory, on the stream
mentioned above, has just been started up for
the manufacture of twine Mr.. Whitmans
establishment for the construction Of threshing
machines and separaters, is also located on the