The Portland daily press., 1878-05-10
LETTER FROM MINNESOTA.
ures to Repair the Calamity-Maine
People in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS, MIMI, May 6, 49,

MINNEAPOLIS, MIMI, May 6, 1878.
Now that the smoke of the late explosion
and fire have cleared away and the feeling of
the first alarm has given way to sober secon d
thought, few lines may not be unwelcome to
you.
The first shock suggested an earthquake, but
fastening to the second story south viii dow,
the first at hand, we saw the lurid ball of
flame like huge blood-red balloon shoot high
in the air, instantly followed by cloud of
utter blackness, and we then realized that an
explosion and fire had wrought sad havoc with
property if not with life, which latter, on
Fastening to the wild scene proved but too
true.
We are happy now to say the sons of Maine
are true to their native instincts and the most
notable of them, who was the heaviest loser in
the disaster, Ex-Governor c. c. Washburne of
Wisconsin,-has arrived upon the scene and
accepts the situation like philosopher, and
to-day inaugurates new and greater move
ments than the one SO lately and suddenly
razed to the ground and reduced to atoms.
The mill now consisting of eleven runs of
stones was in process Of enlargement last
season, and it will be pushed forward to COM
pleti0n, equal in capacity, or even larger than
the A mill was whilst that will be reproduced
in yet grander proportions and with added inn
prOvementS and facilities. Gov. Washburne
has long been considered as one of our most
valued citizens in all works of improvement in
our midst, and may he be long spared as
the almoner Of his own princely fortune At
the time of the fire he was in our sister state of
Wisconsin, engaged in the location of an
observatory which he has given to the state of
which he has of late been the honored COVER
nor Incidentally may mention the name of
Hon. DOrillus Morrison, also from Livermore,
who is only second to Mr.. Washburne in his
work of charity and improvement He is just
putting the finishing touches upon a Touring
mill from which he has transferred the
machinery of the cotton mill to another
structure down upon the platform, of fourteen
runs to be operated by the enterprising firm
of G. A. Pillsoury & Co., who are the owners
and lessees Of four -four mills, whilst R. P.
Russell & Co. will have additional runs in
working order Immediately.
So we will have in town 100 runs in work
ing order whilst the number removed by the
fire is So runs, and we have cause to be
hopeful for the future and think our fri ends
at the East will yet hear good accounts from
Minneapolis.
We often see Mr.. 7. H. Weston here of late
and will soon be enrolling him as a Western
man.
Minneapolis, as do all Eastern people who get
to know it, whilst Mr.. and Mrs. Falansbee
are on their way hither for a residence with
their son who is in improved health. Mr.. Geo.
Conant is permanent fixture, Mr.. Jere
Marks is prominently associated with leading
notion and dry goods house, and Mr.. Bacon,
late of the Ocean House, Cape Elizabeth, is
dispensing his politeness to the favored guests
| Of the Nicollet House where Mr.. Jumper oil
| Portland has been for years the chief clerk.
| may add that our city Is beautiful in its
vernal dress of this early SEASON, the crop
| prospects were never 80 promising with us,
whilst the wheat acreage is much in advance
of any previous year, ~ the immigration is
very large and the broad acres out West and
| PINE TREE.