The Portland daily press., 1868-02-26
The Saco River.

| All along the Saco river, from its source to
its mouth, al, fertile lands and beautiful
scenery Perhaps on no river in our State
are there better farming lands than are those
| IN the Immediate vicinity of this river all
along its course. The soil OF its intervaies Is
so rich naturally that it needs but very little
improvement to put it in the best condition
for growing grain OF grass.
Probably many of our readers are not
aware OF the great amount OF numbering that
aas been done and is now doing on this
river. Fifty years ago the large tracts of
woodland on its banks seemed almost mex
naustible, but witl the mills that have been
Dulit, and the extensive manufacture OF 'box
snooks' and Headings" the lumber that
comes down now is comparatively small, show
ing that the briskness Of this trade is begin
ming to tell on the forests up river. Although
thls TACT is evident to all, the enterprise OF
the business men slackens not, and the num-
Der oi boxes put up this winter exceeds, or at
least equals the product ofany previous sea-
son. A great deal OF the lumber used in win
ter, is purchased inland aud hauled to the
mills during sleddins, and there is not a ma
jestic pine standing any where within the
range Of civilization, but what has had the
greedy eyes of lumbermen fixed upon it time
and again. t n. ..... . ..
This is not right, We don't like to see our
soil made barren to put money in the pockets
of Cuban millionaires. In the forests of our
State, is an everlasting source of wealth, and
the manufacture should not exceed the
growth. 1t is time now that our great water
privileges were used tor other manufacturing
Purposes, as are those of Massachusetts,, Con-
necticut and Rhode Island. Ofcourse in the
manufacture of the yearly growth the lum-
Der business woald be very extensive, and
with other branches of business, play an i'm.
portant part in increasing the wealth OF our
State. But as it is now going on, business
will soon begin to decrease in these places,
instead of increasing with the population as
it ought to do.
In order to induce capitalists to make use
OF these great privileges and to draw their at
tention to the excellent chances for invest
ment, the citizens of the villages must show
proper spirit and move in these matters. AT
West Buxton, on the Saco river, by the en-
terprlse and interest manifested by the resi-
dents in and around this village, wooden fac
tories have been erected and in operation for
some years; and but for the fire that laid
them all in ashes three years ago, they would
have proved good investment. AS it is they
have been rebuilt and besides Mr.. Oliver
Tracey. of that village has constructed, at a
cost So 900, another large ,woollen mill
which is now near+tT- ready to be put in oper-
alton. This mill after it is well rofialin iins will
double the business of The place.
At Bar Mills, six miles below West Bux-
ton, where the Portland & Rochester rail-
road crosses the river, there are water privi
leges lying idle, which, taking into considera-
ton the location, would be Invaluable il put
to use. And in this village are many enter
.prising men who would do the right thing if
properly started. In the year 1775 the fist
mill was built at this place by Shubael Wood
man, Paul Woodman and others, and ever
since that time there has been continual
consumption Of lumber-other mills having
been built and operated at a later date, by
Etlis b. Usher, Sewall Woodman, Stephen
Berry and Charles McKenney.
One mile below Bar Mills are the famous
Salmon Falls, where, if it were hot for the
high ledge on each side of the river, would be
a capital chance for factories of any kind
there being fall Of about one hundred feet
here in distance of half mile. A number
OF years ago Boston company purchased
considerable land around these Falls, and built
dam, which on account of bad calculation
in its construction, was carried away at high
water. This company expended about S4O,-
900 here but soon after this ill luck sold out
to Samuel Bradley, Esq, who soon after sold
to the Water Power Company of Saco. Since
this first attempt nothing has been done with
this great privilege and there is waste of
power here, that nature has made of suffi-
cient strength TO carry dozen factories. We
hope at no distant day to see change for the
Setter in the business on this river, and that
it will present an appearance of thrift equal
to any Of equal size in New England. t