The Portland daily press., 1870-09-12
Letter from somerse, Comfy.
Teachers Iastitute-North Anson Village The
Coming Railroad Speaker Blain e-Senator

Teachers Lnstitute-North Anson Hillage-The
Coming Railroad Speaker Blain e-Senator
Han,lin-C -Crops-Educational.
NORTH ANsoN, Sept. 10, 1870.
Somerset county has number of thrifty viii
lagos, and here is one of them on the rugged
Carrabassett stream Not small amount of
business is done at this point. There are sew
eral large brick buildings, used for stores and
offices, and another is nearly completed. Car
rabasset Hall would do credit to any village in
the State. There is the usual number of
churches, and the schools are among the very
best in the county, both the public schools and
the Academy, which is now taught by MI.
Simmons, young gentleman who has not
quite finished his course in Bowdoin College
When the railroad gets at work, an addition
al impulse WILDE given Ito all the industries
of the region, and the chief one is of course
agriculture. At present the railroad is "un-
der cloud" but it will be finished sometime.
either from West Waterville or SkOwLegan-
probably from the las: point.
During the week the County Teachers In
stitute has been in session in Carrabassett
Hall. The conductor of the Institute was Prof.
Allen, of Penn, who was assisted by G. b.
S'etson, of lewiston and the County Super
visor, Mr.. A. H. Eaton, who has been doing
| excellent work throughout the county since
his appointment. Nearly ninety teachers
were in attendance upon the Institute-mostly
| ladies. The instruction given was of practi-
| cal and satisfactory kind. Aside from the reg
ular work ofthe day, evening ad iresses were
| delivered by Messrs. Allen and Stetson and by
| State superintendent johnson. The evening
meetings were largely attended, while quite a
number of citizens were present during the ex-
ercises of the day. Friday afternoon the
larger part of the teachers were examined and
inations have proved unexpectedly successful
at all the Institutes.
On Thursday evening Nr. Speaker Blaine
| delivered an address in Carrabassett Hall. He
devoted himself mainly to a discussion of fl
nancial matters, defending the administration
of Gen. Grant and the Republican party. This
was done in language clear and incisive, SC
natural to Mr. Blaine. He has been speaking
at several points in this county, travelling
| leisurely from town to town, accompanied by
Mrs. Blaine. 1 am told that this is the frs
found opportunity to travel so !eisurely among
his constituents in this county.
During the week we have been visited by
another of Names. and the Nations notable
| men Hannibal Hamlin. With party O
friends the Senator was in this region to cap
| ture trout and view an excellent slate quarry
| Ito be) in which he is interested. 1t is but
proper that the most eminent men of the State
| should aid directly in the development of hel
resources.
1t is thought that the crops in this county will
be worth as much as those of last year. They
are indeed smaller, but better quality. Potatoe.
will reach one halfthe yield of last year. The
falling off will be largely due to the fact tha
the breadth planted is much less. Beans are
of an excellent quality. The apple crop will
exceed that of several years past.
The Skowhegan Reporter, Col. Smiths paper
looks out visilantly for the agricultural ant
educational interests of the country. NJ
Somerset man can go without the Reporter ani
not suffer loss.
Educalionally I am told that the county
needs many new and better school houses
The country has been noted, in the past, for it:
excellent schools, but of late has been falling
behind the times, like many other parts of the
State.
Judging from the ornamentation of the
fences there must be fellow in Skowhegan, by
the name of w. r. G. Estes, who sells clothing
cheap. BARLOW.