Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-09
Qmtester 0aiIp spp.

GARDINER. Me. Anr |

GARDINER, Me-, Aug. l, 1860.
left Boston last night in the steamer State
OF Maine, and arrived here this MORNING
And to those who wish to spend a few weeks
OF summer in pleasant travel, can recon.
mend this state as a pleasant place, and the
steamer that l have mentioned as most
agreeable means of travel. The commander
James Collins, is every inch gentleman, and
understands how to provide for the comfort of
xeos passengers. The ladies unite in praising
his exertions to relieve them of the embar-
easements and perplexities connected with
travelling alone. One thing strikes the travel
Ter the moment he enters river of Maine
and that is the scarcity of water this summer
While we in Massachusetts have been saluted
almost daily with showers, so that even pic
mic party must go provided with umbrellas
and cloaks, in this state for several weeks
scarcely shower has watered the earth A
gentleman told me that for forty years he had
not seen the river SO low. We passed the
rocks Of Seguin just as the sun was rising.
and were soon steamng up the beautiful Ken
nebec. An hours sail brought us to Bath This
is the largestcity formerly the most fourishing
and important place on the river. | am in.
twelve or fifteen thousand. But of late there
has been but little ship building, ana the popu.
latlon is now scarcely ten thousand. This is
the residence of Mr.. Morse, the member of
congress from this district. The republican
convention to nominate member of congress
meets in Wateryille today, and Mr.. Morse's
friends are very sanguine of his success. Mr.
A. Z. Morrill, ex. governor of this state, is also
prominent candidate,
Farther up we come to Richmond, village
of twa thousand Inhabitants and once very
fourishing. This also depends for its prospect.
ty upon hipbuilding, aud in its present stag
mated state its growth is impossible. Leaving
this behind, we soon come i'll sight of GarGi-
ner, the first manufacturing place on the riv-
er. On the left bank, facing the river, is the
beautiful mansion OF Squire Gardiner, who
once owned all the broad acres W hich now con.
sttute the city to which his name is affixed
Soon the boat touches the wharf and your
correspondent finds himself pleasantly located
at the Gardiner House. There are here vast
water privileges, though during the present
drouth the water is extremely low.
The stream on which the mills are situated
is the Cobossee Coutee) the place where the
salmon leaps,) tributary of the Kennebec,
and as beautiful as its name is poetic. With
i'll the limits of the city there are eight or
nine dams, making altogether a fall of more
than hundred feet. Gardiner has Just been
visited by a very destructive fire, chiefly
among the saw mills The loss in mills and
lumber was between $4,000 and $780, 600
Many of the mills are being rebuilt, and one
is already il running order. There are five
saw mills still left, containing nine Or ten up
and down saws, and about as many shinge
and as many clapboard machines. Going on,
we pass machine shop, which, with its ham
mering and the buzz of machinery, reminded
us of Worcester. A small wooden mill next
attracts attention. 1t employs usually about
twenty-five hands, though there are now en-
gagged only sixteen. The Gardiner flour mills
are in constant operation, and produce the
finest brands of flour. But next to the lumber
operations the works of the greatest interest
are the paper mis-the old MILL owned by
Richards and Hoskins and one just built, own
ed by company Incorporated as the Great
Falls Paper Manufacturing Company. The first
of these cost about 100000 with capital stock
OF about S125 900, the other cost $40, 600 with
a capital stock OF about S65,0O0 By the kind.
ness of Mr.. II. G Winslow, the tUrman of the
Great Falls Co., was shown through their
works. Their cylinder washers and their
boiler were both invented and made by Massa
chusetts men, the latter being from South
Boston. They turn out about 80 cwt of paper
daily, mostly for newspapers though some is
used tor books. For this they employ twenty
five male and eighteen female operatives. The
old mill employs more hands, producing over
three tons per day. Both mills together, /
was informed, support population of about
five hundred.
In looking at Gardiner, one is struck with
the amount OF water power lying idle There
could not be better privileges, and it some en-
terprsing company would but take hold Of it,
we might see there stately mills-we might
hear the hum Of the spindle, and instead OF a
city Of six thousand souls, we might look upon
one which should rival Lowell in wealth and
prosperity. Tomorrow l go to HalIowell and
Augusta. OF these will give you an account
in my next letter. HERToT