The Portland daily press., 1869-11-12
Leiter from Weld.

This town is hemmed in by mountains so
as to be almost isolated from the outside
world. 1t has Blue Mountain on the East;
Tumble Down Dick on the North West, Sad
dle-Back and Bald Mountain on the South
East. 1t is about twelve miles from any i'm
portant settlement; the village of Dixfeld
being more easy of access than any other.
The inhabitants are generally industrious, in
telligent and temperate and nearly all are in
comfortable circumstances while but few are
wealthy. There are some excellent farms and
farmers in this town. William S. Robertson,
Esq, is one of the largest land owners in the
county, having about 1000 acres, 200 of which
are under cultivation. His barn is about $50
feet long and is usually well filled with hay.
This year he cut over $50 tons.
THE FREsHET.
Nineteen of the twenty-five bridges in this
town were swept away by the late treshet, all
of which have been replaced at cost of about
$4,000. Seven of the eight dams were washed
away so there is but one man in town who
has dam, lift there are others who are worth
one. But little damage was done to the
mills or houses generally, although the mills
were washed away and several dwellings
were entirely surrounded by water. The low
er portion Of the village was in imminent
danger when one of the principal dams gave
way taking with it the bridge and nearly ev-
erything in its course. Nothing like it in this
section has been seen by the oldest inhabi-
tant.
MANUFACTURING.
Messrs. Austin & Sanborn commenced
about two years ago manufacturing spools.
they are now getting out 500 gross month,
and are using nearly 500 cords of birch wood
a year which costs them here about So per
cord. They give employment in the busy
season to Is men. Mr.. Porter Ladd has a
salt box mandatory turning out 100000
year. Messrs. Stockbridge & Robinson and E.
l.. Foster are making butter firkins. Messrs.
Hougbton Brothers have a sash, door, and
furniture mandatory. There is also an ex-
cellent grist mill at the lower village owned
by Messrs. Houghton & Sons. There are
also a carriage and furniture mandatory at
the upper village AMI five sawmils and four
shingle and clapboard machines in different
sections of the town.
CHURCHES, STORES &C.
At the lower village are two very neat
churches which have been erected within a
few years at an expense Of $500 each. The
Congregational Society has no pastor at
present. but meetings are held every Sabbath
and sermon read with the usual religious
9th cbnycI, lie Oocnniod
alternately by the Methodist and Free
will Baptist societies. There is no lawyer
and at present no doctor in the town and
no liquor sold except what is required
for medicinal or mechanical purposes.
STEAMBOATS, AND RAILROADS.
Strange as it may seem there is plying on
the pond in this town a real, genuine steam
boat, with boiler, engine and whee.s very
much like other and larger steamers. The
steamer Anglia, Capt. Holt, leaves anywhere
along shore for the purpose of taking pleasure
parties to any point they may wish to land, at
fifty cents for the round trip. During the
summer months this is quite resort for per-
sons who wish to get away from the heat and
dust of cities, and if large and commodious
hotel were erected il would be one of the |
most romantic and desirable places in the |
State in which to spend the summer months.
There is a railroad route through this town
that was surveyed several years ago, and some
of the citizens are quite confident it will be
built. 1t is in almost direct line from Dlx-
field to Phillips, "a miles, and is said to be
very level route. The Buckfeld road VIII, az |
no far distant day, be built to Dixheld,
through Canton, and stranger things have