Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-31
TASSALBORO'.

The editor of the Aroostook Sunrise,
who visited Vassalboro' recently, sends
his paper an interesting article in relation
to that thriving town, which the readers
of the Journal viii take pleasure in perus-
ing. His description of what it was
when numbering was the principal bust
ness is also true of many other towns in
the State.
'It was once celebrated for rum selling and
drinking, numbering, poverty and general
destitution among the people. Now, it is as
celebrated for good farms and buildings, in
dustry, thrift, society, good morals, pleasant
and happy homes, wealth, general prosperity,
and everything which adOrns and exolts soci-
ETY.. 1t is a very wealthy town, the farms
under excellent cultivation, the farm build
ings and all their appendages eyidencing that
the farmers know just what they are about
Oak Grove Seminary, very excellent in
stitution of learning, under the care of the
Friends, is in this town. Its location is one
of the most beautiful imaginable, in grove
of oaks and pines which cover some hundreds
of acres in the vicinity. and must be very
valuable for timber. We are told that Il
school is sustained all the time, and that
many excellent scholars are educated here.
The Friends are very numerous in this town,
an element in the population which has much
to do with its prosperity and respectability.
North Vassalboro is a village in the north
part of the town, very pleasant and beautiful
for situation and surroundings, and inferior
to none in its general appearance of good
order, neatness and prosperity. There are
several very fine level streets, bordered by
neat residences and other buildings. There
are two churches in which worship is con-
stantly sustained We had an opportunity to
attend temperance meeting at one of the
churches, which was well attended and much
interest in the cause manifested. Although n
temperance community, yet they recognize
the importance Of keeping awake upon a
matter which never fails to go wrong when
its friends sleep.
The North Vassalboro' Woolen Manufac-
turing Company is located in this village,
upon an unfailing water power which comes
from ponds in China, and flows into the Sc
basticook. This manufacturing establish
ment is one of the most substantially built,
with all of the machinery and appendages ap-
parently in the best working order of any
factory we have seen. BY the kindness of
the agent, we had the pleasure of going all
over the mill, seeing all the different process
es through which the material passes from the
fleece just from the sheep, until it comes out
beautiful broadcloth, cassimeres, doeskin, and
all the other varieties of cloth, fine and good
enough to clothe the President of the United
| States.
The mill has twenty sets of machinery,
800 spndles, uses 1000 lbs of wool per
day, makes 1900 yards of cloth per day,
worth at wholesale upon an average $l.30
per yard. Three hundred hands are employ
ed. We were told by an internal revenue
officer at Augusta that this company some two
years since paid $4,000 per year tax on their
sales.
| 1t is a great thing for any town to have
such a business concern located within its
limits, as such a town cannot be otherwise
than prosperous The owners and agents OF
large manufacturing establishments are al
most always active and efficient, working in
every good cause. We find them always
supporting and contributing for the support
of the institutions of religion, learning, the
temperance reform, and whatever else rem
ders community happy and prosperous.
Hence, we found the principal gentlemen of
this establishment at the temperance meeting
lending their lid and influence to temperance,
thereby not only doing good in the commu-
nifty, but creating and sustaining very inn
portant element to their own success
We were furnished specimens of all the
varieties of goods manufactured in this mill.
which we shall be very glad to show our
friends when we return home. We intend to
have a suit of it for our own wear, as soon as
we can get the money to pay for it, as it can
be had at the factory for about one-half we
have to pay for it after it has passed through
the hands Of middle men,"