Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-04
FACTORIES Is. SkEL rs.

FACTORIES Is. SMELLS
The address of Mayor Eveleih to the
City Council must have driven the last nail
into tie coffin OF the croakers about the
Sprague purchase in Augusta Speaking
with the knowledge of one personally
connected with their affairs, he saws that
the Spragne Company win expend hall 4
million dollars this season in the improve.
ment of their water power in this city
They have already expended more than
that sum. aud by the close of the year viii
have expended million dollars Mayor
Eveleth is not man to speak without au-
taority, and probably has not exaggerated
the figures in The least. or endeayored to
raise an expectation which he does not be
iieve will be fully answered in the result
This is sad news for the croakers in and
out of town. 1t must present to their im-
aginations melancholy picture if they
look forward to the consequences. Ii is
as certain as anything can be that Augusta
bids iair to be a pretty large town. 1t
may distress the croakers to think of it
but it can't be helped. We shall number
on these pleasant hills sloping down to
the kennebec, when its waters are
Thoroughly put to use n they will be at no
very distant day, II people at least fifty
thousand strong. At the head of naviga-
ton, where steamers and small sail YES
sells come to our wharfes, right on the
track from Halifax to San Francisco and
on the royal road from London to Pekn,
having the largest available water power
in New England, in the centre of fine
agricultural region, with one of the most
enterprising wealthy and skilled manu-
featuring firms in the country to erect and
operate factories for us, we certainly are
bound to have future and a good many
to share it.
This is not only bad prospect for croak-
ers in town, but for those kind neighbors
OF ours who desire to have the State de-
pend upon smelts for a lifting and are con-
cerned lest the supply may be iuterfered
with by operations here. Their chances
are dwindling. Their hopes are fading.
Smells are going to be left to wriggle their
way as they best can, and industry is to
be quickened with generous and strong
hand not only upon the Kennebec but all
over the State. There will he factories,
mills, machine shops, springing up every
where upon our streams, even though
the smelts and their friends do object.
The man with the fishing rod is not to be
the divinity OF Maine; but the man with
the water-wheel, loom, anvil, lathe, and
the other insignia of manufacturing in
dustry will step to the front, smclts or no
smells. We suppose there are men who
will go into mourning and perhaps forsake
the State if they can get money enough to
carry them out, when it comes to be estab-
hshed that the Sprague purchase here was
not bad thing for the town; if so they
may as well get their Grape soon and pre-
pare to emigrate. Those who are left
will have to go along without them. Their
loss will be sew erely felt. Who then will
W. ehc Sio"hhS. W no VIII point out the
dangers to the smelts Of building factories
Who will hold up to ridicue every public
spirited citizen that refuses to bore with the
old pod auger? Who will predict horrible
disasters when towns lend their aid to en-
courage and promote enterprises in their
midst for their own growth and prosperity /?
Who will drive the young men out of the
State by starvation and brighten outsiders
from coming in BY frowning upon and OPP
posing them.as intruders, aliens, enemies,
especially if they have money in their
breaches and brains in their hats +? This
Is sad look, but IL we must bear il
We must. When this procession
of sour faces passes over the
border, there will be another and larger
one come in, bearing hopeful countenan-
ces. having strong. resolute wills, capital,
believing In work, but they will nottroublc
themselves much about smelts. We shall
see the State thriving, growing in men
and women and wealth, increasing in