The Portland daily press., 1867-08-26
Operations of the sprasue. IN A..,...


ary men, TO be hurried into large operations
under circumstances OF bad economy. Every
body knows, that, at the present cost OF max
ing canals, building factories, obtaining ma
chinery, and employing labor, there may be a
reasonable waiting Tor more advantageous cir
cumstances. They contemplate no sudden,
forced, mushroom work. They are men OF
prudence, as well as capital, aud mean to IN
vest in such degree and manner, as shall at
once be most advantageous to their enter
prise, and to the city. They know what Is
expected of them. They purchased in the
full knowledge of what the city and State ex-
pect and will not fail to fulfil all their just and
honorable obi ations. Does any one suppose
that they would purchase the whole of that
immense water power and not inproce it2
that they would secure six hundred acres OF
land on both sides of the river as sites for fac
tories, and not hare them occupiedi The idea
is quite absurd. 7rir.Ir I..f. .8fr.le T
J.L. Stevens, ESQ, OF the Kennebec Jour
nal. has recently given, from authoritative
sources, no doubt, the plan of the Messrs.
Sprague. Mr.. Stevens has done more than
any other man to effect the purchase that has
been made, and therefore knows more than
any other editor or citizen in relation to the
matter. Hitherto, pending all the .legotia-
ton, he has been remarkably reticent. His
| paper, the Journal, has been very silent--prc-
vokingly so,-while other newspapers, some
with truth, some with talsehood on their side,
have had much to say. Even as a private in
dividual, he has been extremely close-mouth-
ed. AT length, however. he has spoken; and
for the sake OF the State whose Legislature
has interested itself in the matter, we are
glad to find, at last, something that may be
depended upon. We transfer the material
portion of his article tosthese columns, for
the information of our readers. It will be
seen that the enterprise is great one and
promises great results: H.lh .ea4t
The property transferred to the company
amounts to about 900 acres, or a little less
than square mile, and was purchased from
about one hundred different owners. IL ex
tends on the east side OF the river from the
Henry Norcross farm, embracing the shore
and good strip OF land, continuously to
Lombard's foundry south of the bridge. a
distance of about 7S0O teet, or not. Gar from
one and q half miles. A large part of this
distance the property extends up to Bangor
street. On the west side the company owns
from the Richardson farm 10 below the rail
road bridge across Water street, strip OF va
rying width, including the entire shore and
water privilege, a. large portion of ''Sand
Hill" strip from the Sand Hill road south.
taking In the land on both sides of MT. Yer
non to Laurel street, and thence south on
both sides OF Water street to the extrema
south limit OF the purchase near the railroad
| bridge.
The dam, it Is estimated. now furnishes a
minimum of 5000 horse power, in the dryest
season. This can easily be nearly doubled by
some improvements which are ALREADY pro-
Jected, OF which raising the height Of the
dam is the CHIEF, and would afford power
sufficient to run all the miIls which the topo-
graphical features OF the land will admit ot
beng advantageously and economically built
when we state that the present capacity Of
mills IKE the present c5tfon mill, it will read
lily be seen that when the power is fully de-
veloped, the results will exceed the most san
gufne expectations OF those who have been
earnestly favoring the great enterprise.
The first matter to he attended to in the
construction of mills, is, of course, the proyis-
ion OF material for building. As our leaders
have already been informed, a large brick ward
has been graded just above the dam on the
west side, where an excellent quality OF clay
is found, and is in busy operation. 1t now has
four brick machines Of the old fashioned pat
tern and is capable of making, in good wealth
er, 100000 bricks week. The kiln has ca
pacity OF 100000 The manufacture Of the
present year is regarded more as preparation
for similar work on much larger scale. But
large amounts Of lumber will also be needed
to build the interior of the mills, and the ten
ement houses. Provision has been made tor
this want also. The COMPANY has become |
hall owner of the property of the Kennebec
Land and Lumber Company, which with the
increased capital afforded by their UNION with
1t has purchased and now holds the steam
saw mill on the east side Of the river, an ex-
celient farm in Pittston on which an ice house
has been erected, and the foundation of apoth- |
er steam saw mill laid, to be built immediately, |
and townships and part townships of timber |
land in Franklin, Somerset and Piscataauis
counties on the head waters OF the Kennebec
and Dead rivers. These will furnish all the
lumber necessary for building.
As we remarked above, the chief problem
has been where to locate mills most advan-
tageously and economically. The first mill
will probably be erected to the north of
the present mill,-eithsr one very large mill
or two of medium size. Connected with 1t.
but situated partly up the bill on the west
side OF the canal will be very long and wide
building OF not more than two stories in height
devoted wholly to weaving. The main en-
trance to this mill would be above the entrance
OF the Kennebec mill, ON the Sand Hill road,
As the mill will necessarily be located far
above the water which Will turn its wheels. the
power will be carried up by shafting OF belt
ing from below. .1 n. ..s
The next mill will be placed on The east side |
OfWater street, its south end being close to the
stone bridge over Bond Brook and running as |
far north as Is deemed necessary. 1t will be
built partly In front and opposite to theKeune-
bee mill, and as far from the street as possible,
to secure the necessary light, without going
too far from the river. In this as in the weaving
mill it Is one OF the first considerations to
make sure oil good light in which to work.
g Following this there viii be located on the |
northern bank of Bond Brook another large
mill, Its lower end being near Water Street, |
supplies the present cotton mill with water |
empties into the river east of the centre of |
the mill. 1t will necessarily be enlarged by |
widening on the west side, and by continuing |
It, The Bond Brook mill will use that stream |
tor a raceway. The Kennebec mill and the |
one to be first built will use new raeeway TO |
be constructed between che two.
I Next, one very large or two smaller mills |
would be built south OF Bond Brook and East |
of Water Street, running down nearly TO the |
railroad bridge. This would be the southern
limit OF buildings in this direction.
Ii the necessities ofthe owners shouli then |
call tor 1t the mills now located near the dam |
would then be taken away and a very large |
machine shop OF Touring mill would be put |
up. This would occupy all the available space |
on the west side of the river suitable for build
ing mills and would absorb large proportion |
oil the power.
On the east side of the Kennebec there Is |
opportunity for only one very large or two |
smaller mills to be constructed without incur
ring very great expense. These would be
placed, ii two were built, close to the dam, one
almost wholly above and the other Just below.
Ii one large mill were built it would be main-
ly above the dam. - .oa.t. I.-
Other Improvements are designed which |
we shall notice only briefly. 1t is the purpose |
OF the company to build a block OF store
houses north of the railroad bridge, west OF
Water street and south of Laurel street Tor
the reception and shipping OF freight Inc
contract with the railroad includes the eoh-
struction of branch track in the rear OF these
houses so as to save truckage. Inc tehement
houses tor the west side OF the hennepec VIII
be located chiefly on Sand Hill, to the north
of the thckly settled village now built there. |
As several valuable detached spots |
are already in their possession 1t is |
iil,eIv' that large boarding house blocks |
canable of accommodating large numbers will |
be put up there. 1t is also a part of the plan |
to make material changes In the present mill, |
both in arrangement and IN machinery