The Portland daily press., 1867-11-09
Letter from Lewiston.

Fruit-Androscogg Natural History Society
Lumber Busines s. Brick making - Houses
Bu1h. .Iaf
LEWISTON, Nov. z, 1867.
To the Editor of the Press:
A gentleman from Livermore tells me that
baldwin apples for which five dollars barrel
were refused few weeks ago, can not now be
sold for three and half. But they should be
much cheaper than that 1t is not cost of pro-
duction but inadequate supply that keeps the
price so intolerable. The farmers of Maine
would find it profitable raising the best apples
at fifty cents per bushel; but the present SUI
perannuated orchards must be reinforced by
new ones. Young trees will bear abundantly
as ever; they have done well this year. Pears
and plums may also be readily cultivated
Why should fruit sell in Lewiston at double
the prices of London and Paris?
On the 14th of October the Androscoegin
Natural History Society was organized, with
Prof Richard Stanley. of Bates College, for
President, j. A. Whitman of Auburn, Vice
President and Treasurer Rev. DR. Balkan OF
Lewiston, Corresponding Secretary; Il. A.
Dickinson of Lewiston, Recording Secretary
George j. Varney of Lewiston, Superntend-
ent of Rooms. Very good rooms have been
rented in Garcelon Block, and very credita-
BILE collection already secured Ga n .u4a..ia
The field of operation which the society pro-
poses for itself, embraces ~ N atural History
to wit: Geology, MineraloQy, Botany, Mann
malta, Ornithology, Iehthyology, Herpetology,
Artioulata, Molusca and Radiata. Those are
huge words; but, as 1 interpret them, they
mean: earth, rocks, plants, sucking animals
birds, fishes, "snaix, jointed animals, shellfsh
and rayed, skeletonless animals. (2) Local
Civil History and Archaeology. ~.
First regular meeting was held Tuesday
evening last, when interesting papers upon
local geology and local trout were read, the
first by Prof. Stanley, the last by Geo.J. Var
ney.
. 1t is certainly to be hoped that this will
prove permanent and prosperous society
that it will not only be well sustained at home,
but receive kind encouragement from abroad /;
for it cannot tail of doing great good in the
way OF illustrating local history, developing
the resources Of the county and creating
taste among our people for the study of nature
The season for the manufacture of lumber in
Lewiston will close in about one month S.
r. Bearce & Co. have brought down the riy-
er the present year, from 100000 to 12,OOO,-
600 feet of logs. all cut by themselves upon
their own lands on the waters OF the upper
Androscoggin and arouud the lakes By the
close of the season they will have manufactur-
ed from 100000, to 10 600 600 feet of long and
short lumber, and so will winter some 2,OOO,-
900 to 10000 feet of logs, many of which have
already been removed from the river They
will also carry over a much larger stock of
manufactured lumber than they did last win
ter.
Messrs. s. R. Bearce & Co. have two saw
mills, one driven by water, the other by steam.
The latter is, without doubt, the finest saw
mill in the whole country. 1t has an engine
OF 125 horsepower. The two mills can turn
out 10000 feet of long and short lumber per
"a hours.
The Lewiston Steam Mill Company, Hon.
John Lynch, of Portland, being one of the
principal owners, have brought 900 of logs
to Lewiston the present season. These were
mainly purchased, as they will mainly pur-
chase their logs next year, regarding that as
better than cutting from their own land now
By the close of the season they will have man
ufactured 4.500,0 900 feet of long and short lum.
ber Their mill can cut 10000 feet per "a
hours. They will winter some 100000 feet o.
logs and manufactured lumber, and SO beeir
the next spring with four times more lumbe,
than they had last spring. 1t win thus be seer
that those of our citizens who NAV wish to
build next year, need not be delayed for the
want of lumber.
Ordinary spruce lumber has sold this season
for about $l4; while pine has ranged iro'" @io
to $50 The sales have been very large mere.
Our brickmakers have been very ousy TINS
ha,,, a.. = Iarge business Here is a schedule
| of the bricks manufactured:
| Norton. 100000
| Lewis Ware & Son, 10000
| HoIlaud & Leland, 100000
! Pettengill & Son, 800 OOC
| Thomas g. Libby, 100000
| - Bailey, 100000
| Stockbridge & Dunn (Auburn) 100000
| At other points in the county, 100000