The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-09-06
Letter fiOm Sanford.
SPRINGvALE, Sept, 4th, 1871.
To the Editor of the Press:

MANUFACTURING.
Some time in the year 1928 Mr.. John Old
ham, calico printer, with one or more assO-
ciates, were seen interviewing" the waters OF
the Mousam river, at this village, with the in.
tention of reacting calico printing establish
ment, if their investigation should be satisfac-
tory and favorable terms could be Obtained.
Before their intentions were made known they
we're discovered by Mr.. Ichabod Frost, one OF
thegowners of the province Saw Mill" which
then monopolized the whole power, and the
object OF their visit wormed out of them in gen.
uine Yankee style. The privilege now occu-
pied in part by grist mill, with head and
fall of Is feet, was purchased and company,
consisting of John Oldham and Geo. Holt, was
organized and Rev. Thomas Greenhalgh APP
pointed agent Suitable building were erect
ed for block and machine printing, which, after
changing hands sc veral times, were, in 1852,
set on fire and Consumed, in consequence, it is
supposed, of the active interest taken in the
temperance question, by the agent Austin G..
Fitch, Esq. On public occasion, while gath
cred at a large spring of pure water, Rev.
Mr.. Greenhalgh was called unnn to give a
name to the village. Pointing to the crystal
spring before him and to the delightful valley
spread out all around, the appropriate name
it has since borne, naturally suggested itself.
In the year 1S41 the Springvale Manufacture
ing Company was organized, consisting Of lch-
abod Frost, Isaac Hayden, Benjamin F. Hay
den, Charles Allen and Others, and Amos H.
Boyd, Esq, appointed agent. In 1866 the
company sold out to Messrs. Shattuck and
Smith, and the mill is now owned by the Graf
ton Manufacturing Company and Mr.. Joseph
Brown is managing agent. About $4,000
yards of print goods are manufactured each
month, at this mill.
Since so much of the labor of shoe manufac-
turing has been done by the aid of machinery
either steam or water power has been called
into requisition, so that extensive shoe manu-
facturers will hereafter seek out localities
where they can avail themselves of such power
and at the same time have railroad commune
cation with the great centres OF business. But
few places in the State afford better facilities,
in these particulars, than this. Within dis
lance of five miles are twelve water privileges,
each having fall of from ten to forty-five feet,
and not more than three or four of them occu-
pied, with supply OF water that has never
ufactories are already in operation at this
place. Messrs. Butler & Fogg have large
establishment, in which they manufacture
some 200 cases of womens, misses and child
reh's boots and mems Alaska boots, a month.
They give employ ment to about 100 hands, and
pay out some $50, 900 year. Their goods are
sent to Messrs. E. A. Nudge g Co., Bos ton.
Messrs. ID. Cummings &. Co., have an estab-
llshment on the same river, in which they get
out about eight cases day, of women's, misses
and chfdren's. boots. giving employment to
about the same number of persons, with about
the same disbursement. This is a branch of a
large establishment which does business in
Boston and Chicago. Messrs. Butler & Rol-
Inns are carrying on quite large business of
the same kind. Messrs. D. Cummings & Co..
are contemplating the. erection OF another large
establishment either here or elsewhere.
Mr.. Isaac Bracket is doing quite a large
BUSINESS in manufacturing pants and vests for
Boston market, and Mr.. George A. Rollins in
manufacturing vests.
At Sanford Corner, two large wooden mills
were erected in 1867 by the Sanford Manufac-
turing Co., Mr.. Thomas Goodhall, agent,whica
~ 6SeothS ouo zap iOuCS anu DldUk6US OF an GX-
cellent quality. Mr. Moses Emery is manu.
featuring wOmen's and misses shoes for Bos-
ton.
Jordan & Allen are doing large business
in saving oak timber, about a mile above
Sprlngvale, getting out about ten thousand
slaves day. Oak timber is found in abund-
ance in this town which will be valuable for
snip climber and carriage manufacturing pur.
poses.
AGRICULTURAL.
There is a ridge of land running through the
town of Sanford which Is very productive,
while along the banks of the river the shore is
bold and rocky and the soil not as good. The
farms on the ridge are generally IN a high state
Oh cultivation, and tne crops with the exception
OF hay and apples will be very large 1t is es-
timaled that the corn crop will be as good as
al any time TOR tie past ten years, and the pO-
tato crop will be abundant. The hay crop will
be larger than the average for the State, it be-
ing about two-thirds as large as last year. In
some sections of the town the trees are loaded
with apples, but generally the crop is light.
Among the best farmers in town are Jeremiah
MoultOn, Benz. f. Hanson, Olin bennett and
Capt. Butler. Hon. Increase S. Kim ball owns
probably, more land than any other man in the
county, but he has never gwen his personal
attention to its cultivation.
BUSINESS ADVANTAGES.
Since the extension of the Portland & Roch- |
ester railroad to this village and through to
Rochester, where it connects with the Eastern
and Boston & Maine railroads, business has
taken fresh start. Several new buildings are
in process of erection and others undergoing |
thorough repairs. 1t is pleasant place Tor |
residence and its immense water power and ia |
cilities for travel and transportation must in |
vite in capital and enterprise which only are |
required to make it one of our leading business |
places in the country. There are some ten |
stores, two churches and the usual amount of |
mechanic shops at Springvale, and four stores,
Two churches. &c, at Sanford Corner, about
TWO miles below. The time is not far distant
when there will be machinery of some kind in
operation ON each Of the privileges in this
town.
POLITICAL.
If the Republicans are doing ANYTHING in
this section of the county, to bring ont the
strength OF the party, it is not apparent. while
circulars and handblls in the interest of the
Democratic party, are everywhere circulated
md posted. If General Activity" should
AXE the place of General Apathy" for the
present week, in the command of the Republic
IAN force, Gov. Perham's majority will be high
y complimentary to him, but unless more is
lone in other sections of the State than in this,
lis majority will be very much reduced A
ew days remain for labor, which only is need
ID to bring out such majority as will show J