Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-22
NalIomeu lnral Nems.
Then aud Now.

/ men anu NOW.
Referring to the business OF IIaowell forty or
fifty years ago, when large quantities of corr,
wheat, rye, oats, barley, peas, beans hay seed,
hogs, butter, cheese, poulty etc. were brought to
her market and exchanged for family comforts
and Injuries" a correspondent OF the Maine
Farmer draws rather ap unfavorable contrast by
adding:
| 1.-The hustle, and activity, and hum of business,
then TO be seen and heard in the streets, and
around the whsrves of Hallowel, was in striking
not to say melancholy contrast, with the dizziness
and lsnsuor unpleasantly visible at the present
time"
To casual observer the contrast drawn above
may seem to psrtskc somewhat of truth and JUS
tice, and pass current with the readers of the
Farmer throughout the State; but to those famil-
with the business of this city for the past forty
years, the faacy of the reasoning is at once ap-
parent and glarlng. In former tunes our streets
and wharves presented an appearance of business
activity at certain seasons of the year far greater
! perhaps than at present: though the ice, hay /,
lumber, coal and granite trade of the present day
will compare iayorably with the small schooner
traffic previous 10 the advent of railroads. steam
boat navigation and vessels of heavier tonnage.
"A single freight train of cars at the present day
will transport more raw material assorted me =
chandise than half a dozen of the small craft of
4
by the Farmer correspondent was mostly barter
and exchange. Our merchants furnished dry
goods, rum, molasses, tea coffee, sugar, etc, etc.
/ in exchange for country produce ofvarous kinds ;
and the amount Of teaming required to accomp
lish Il limited traffic gave our streets a lively
appearance. Farmers from the country lett but
htle money here except to pay their tavern bills ;
and many Of them would leave home fortified with
box OF doughnuts and cheese Of sufficient capsc
ity for furnishing food for the round trip" and
they also could frequently manage to "balt" their
horses and perhaps lodge with acquaintance,
and thus reduce the expense OF the journey. Our
merchants made a fair profit or their goods, and
IN the summer season would ship their produce
to Boston to pay their bills and procure more
goods. And thus business was transacted each
successive year until railroads throughout the
State and steamboats, on all our waters almost en-
tirely changed the business of our cities. and fur
nished II maj ket at the very doors of almost every
farm house in the State. The business of this
city has OF course taken new channels and In.
stead of continuing a mere huckstei mart for the
exchange OF commodities, our field has widened
and expanded, until our granite quarres and va
nous manufacturing enterprises employ more cap
ital, dlsburse more money to hundreds of opera
tives, and disseminate more prosperity gener-
ally throughout the community IN a single month
than in former times during the entire year. We
have not at present time or space to more than
alude TO this subject, which is Of fruitful in
terest and deserving of extended notice. We
n
view ci me material prosperity of our city.
| Mr.. Alfred s. White Of this city. who for the
past sN months or more has been confined to his
bed by consumption, passed quietly to his rest on
Friday evening last, aged about thirty years, re-
joiciag in hope Of blessed Immortality ION the
other shore" He leaves wife and young son, to-
gether with large circle of relatives and friends
to mourn his loss. Funeral services on Tuesday
afternoon next at 2 o'clock.
Union prayer meetings for one hour from one
to two o'clock each afternoon, are held at the
Methodist vestry in this city, with interest and
profit to all who attend.
Down river smelling with seines has destroyed
the fishing interest in this section to the no small
detriment of numerous enterprisng anglers who
sit for hours over open holes in the ice, without
receiving so much as bite. The people are not
reconciled to dispense with fresh smelts for &C
casonal feast. Our law makers should grant pro-
! lection.