Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-05-16
agricultural,



convention OF the farmers of Oxford Co
to meet at North Norway, on the FIRST an'
second days of March. From the peeu
liar wording OF that notice. was tempted
to 90 all the way from Piscataquis coun
ty TO see the Oxford county farmers il
convention. Other engagements prevent
ed my making the journey before the
first day OF the meeting, and was only
able TO reach the South Paris station on
the Grand Trunk Railroad. by the L. NJ.
train Here found Col. SWEET. county
member of the State Board OF Agricul
ture, in waiting to take me To North Nor
way. the place of meeting, nine miles
distant--s strangely selected place tor
such meeting, accounted for in the fact
that the local Farmers Club i model
One--a little smarter than is neighbors.
How it happened TO be SO, no hypothesis
was volunteered; but while at the home
of Esq. F.. where the Col. and we've
nicely lodged. learned that some men,
bers OF that club had spent their best
years in business pursuits at the Hub
city; and having returned to their first
lOye-rIral life, were commercially lib
eral with their sharpened wits. This club
buys and sells Jointly, in quantity, TO the
great disgust OF some "middle-men. -
Many farmers in this neigborhood occu-
DIV much more OF earth surface than is
usually given in surveyed acreS-,heir
advantage is in having it set edgewise, So
they can reach portion of the other
side. The meeting happened to be timed
just rs sleighing broke, 50 that the por'
iions of the county remote, and not on
the line OF the railroad failed to be rep.
resented. The local interest was COM
nendable. and the chapel well filled,
The first session OF the second day was
mostly occupied by DR.. True.in one OF his
familiar expositions on rocss, as related
TO soils and husbandry, (and ] was new
er in a neighboIhood where specimens
seemed more abundant) The interest
of the meeting was we'll sustained, and
so many were ready to speak on the SUBJ
jects incidentally introduced. that the
chairman watched long for m opening
for adjournment. First in z. NJ, out of
respect for the long way | had come, or
for other reasons not so easily seen, an
hour was set apart for mo to express my
views on some matters OF general inter-
est, all of which did rs well as | could
under the circumstances. The delegates
present from the several Farmers Clubs
in the county then proceeded to organize
a county club
returned the same evening TO South
Paris. and remained the two following
days, in which time we visited the vii.
lagos OF Paris Hill, So Paris and Norway
The first named is the seat OF the county
buildings, has two good sized hotels,
prints two or more newspapers. none OF
them dailies belieye,--has quite num-
Der OF fine residences. TO all of which
gave hasty glance in few minutes
OF rainy afternoon. This, at present.
quiet little village, sat upon a hill, has
furnished more men OF marx among her
emigrating sons, than any other place
with its numbers in the county. South
Paris is a thriving village that owes its
recent rapid growth in part 10 the bust
ness facilities afforded by the Grand
Trunk Railroad. that has an important
station here. This place is sharp bust
ness competitor and rival to the older
village of Norway only two miles dis
tanl
On the last morning of my larry in this
interesting valley OF the Little Audros-
eoggin, the storm clouds had given place
10 clear atmosphere, and from an ele.
waited point. | took view of the land
scape which here showed a circular basin
OF twelve or fifteen miles in diameter
with q continuous rim of highlands
bounding the vision 10 that distance, with
the exception OF few mountain peaks
OF great elevation. such as Mt Washing
ton anil KearsaIge. beyond our State line.
The highlands are delusive OF course,
being isolated giant hills. SET down so
thickly as TO bounl the view at all points
not even disclosing The narrow valley
through which the Grand Trunk winds
its way onward TO the Dominion. After
wards lode again through the villages
of South Paris and Norway. Al the lat.
ter place ale several mills working upon
wood. dividing and shaping ii into arli.
cles OF domestic necessity, aud for COM
mercial exchange. And this division is
in one instance carried to an interesting
degree OF oommunition-it being ground
TO pulp to De made into paper. In one
mill.yard was five hundred cords of ash
logs of fine quality, that were worked ill.,
to shovel handles to supply contract in
Canada. At another shop in an adjoin
ing town, am told that there il = much
larger quantity OF this valuable timber.
To my inquiry, ii this extensive cutting
could be repeated next year, or within 4
few years, received q negative reply.
At South Paris village the main river
gives good power tina. is used tor a
large -four mill. saw mill. &c, and
another large tributary stream from the
East affords succession OF falls within
the village, all OF which are utilized