The Portland daily press., 1871-09-19
The Upper Keanebec.

70 the Editor Of the Press:
This has not been in season in which farmers
In the Kennebee will ever speak with great
enthusiasm. First, the season was unusually
dry so that the hay crop is not mole than two
thirds as large as last year on the best farms
and on the older ones not more than half The
crop of 1870 was a decidedly short one. Sec
ond, the grasshoppers have been burden in
the land, destroying entirely many crops
Third. no crop is good or as good as usual.
This includes potatoes, corn and apples. Po'
tatoes will be short though of excellent quail
ty; but the price is now very low, but the trade
has not yet begun, though it is doubtful if they
com mand the price of last year. Farmers are
selling off their stock at fearful rate. To see
the heavy cattle trains over the Maine Central
the past two months might lead one to believe
that there are no cattle left in Somerset and
Piscataquis counties. Large quantities of corn
and oats are now sh pped to Skowhegan, there
ground apd sold TO farmers. Wool, of which
every good farmer of Somerset calculates on
fair clip, bias commanded unusually high prices,
and the demand for and price of sheep and
lambs has been quite good All these dis
couragng matters make farmers look rather
long faced and talk about going West, but 1
notice that there is an unusual amount of pre-
paraton going on for crop in 1872.
LAUNDERING on the Kennebec promises the
next season to engross as much attention as
| usual. The lumbermen are generally satisfied
| with the season, the price allowing careful
manufacturers a fair profit.
Railroad matters that have engrossed con-
siderable attention here are now quieter, though
the people have lost none of their interest in a
| subject so important. The Somerset railroad
from West Waterville to Scion, graded in part
| to Arson almost year ago, has since remain
ed in stdtu quo, and to an observer it seems ex
ceedingly doubtful if it succeeds, for the
chances, nearly every one, are against it,
First, location is against it,; it should have ex
tended from Skowhegan. Second, the compa
ny began before it counted the cost and bega1
with the credit of several to WINS, in the aggre
gate about one fourth enough to build the road
After voting the money several towns rescind
ed their votes and the work went on with th
balance and the others went into law. Third
the company became the partisaus of tn
Maine Central as against the Portland & Ken
nebec. Subsequently the marriage took plac
between the large companies, and the Somer
set, after being used, was dropped. Such ar
the facts. There is now considerable talk O
the very narrow guage as the next move whe
} it has been proved to be all that has been prom
!, Used.
The Kennebec is very low, but all the mill
seem to be running at their utmost. This
true of the factories and mills at Skowhega1
; The axe makers, Seward, Williams & Go
Wharf & Mason and III. M. Foster, were neve
+, doing SO much-never had so many orders
Their trip-hammers keep up their clatter a
most without iptermissiOn.
S At East Madison, 8 10 miles from Skewh,
gan, j. w. Hobart and other parties have di
= covered and are opening an extensive slai
D quarry Mr.. Hobart discovered the slate abo,
year ago, but has only been operating for
J few weeks. The proprietors have number
WEIGH miners there NOW who pronounce IL
S quality first rate and the facilities for QUAR-
0 ing quite rare. 1t can be shipped from Skov
{ hogan to where it can be drawn over an cas-
wagon road. GUS.