Smyrna times., 1882-09-20
FOr Mc smyrna 1tWCS
Letter from Kenton.

1t is 4 long time since old Kenton
has been heard from through your
columns, so will say few words of
her, and of the new lease of life upon
which she has entered. From the first
day of March (the farmers starting
day, this section has been the scene of
great activity. The old cry of hard
times, has not been heard, but instead,
where can we get hands to do the
tired to work, could find plenty to do
at much higher wages than formerly.
After the great hay and wheat crop
had been secured, preparations began
for the gathering of the peaches.
The large cannery of J. NJ. Arthurs
was put up and since the season began
they have canned from six to twelve
thousand pounds a day. The proprie-
tor of this establishment came to Ken
ton twenty years ago, in moderate cir
cumstances, but with good education
and determination to succeed. He
took position as clerk i'll store and
has risen, until to-day he stands among
the first merchants in the county
doing more toward giving employment
to our towns folk, than any other man
who ever lived in this community.
He has been the model station agent
here since the completion of our road
until last week, when his private bust
ness compelled him to resign.
John Graham, another of our live
business men, has put his two dryers
to their best, passing through some
three hundred basket of fruit per day,
and shipping from two to five cars
!, from his own and purchased orchards
daily.
: The peach crop with a few eXcep
tions has been large, and after all the
awful delays of trains, and baskets
returned at any time or not at aV, The
y farmers hope to have fair balance
The fruit is often stolen from the car
l. on the journey, but the railroad com
pany pockets the freight on fruit neve
l. delivered with astonishing cOmpla
cency. How long must we endure thi
- eXtOrtion?
l. The location for our new station ha
h' been settled upon, and from the draw
ings, it will be Il great ornament to tn
}" town New cars and engines hav
IL been put on the road, the train me
er nicely uniformed and altogether thel
is great Improvement under the ne
~ management, but we would rathC
have a shed for a station, and ride
. the old cars, and have our fruit dcliVe
:" ed at market in good time.
az A number of new buildings will
:" erected during the coming Winter,
there is II great scarcity of dwellil
- houses.
We have had an addition of sever
families and have lost but one, that
io' Esquire Hawkins, but are fortunate
~, having the Squire still with us (as
" has taken rooms at the hotel. /
W. complains his business is not as bri
as when "Tom" English former &C
Wv stable) was in office.
W. Mr.. James Williams has been unf
tunate in the loss of two horses, on
valuable two-year-old. He has j.
nat finished shipping his grape crop, VIII
Oh l believe was large. Both he and
De neighbor, Mr.. George G. Arnold, h;
ing had light peach crops. Their fruit
;, Oh been fine, SO brought good priC
lies. Mr.. A. receiving last week from
y Oh Boston shipments 1925 per basket.
coh- Our new organ for the church ha:
'he last arrived, it is presided over by \
the MOllie Jones and it is great addit
IOr- to tho sor,,ioos
rity' Every one is too busy to think M
at 1t of politics, but suppose it will be liz
zone enough bye and bye.
leral Hoping to sometime resume my {
Eo'- with you,
hing Tam rs ever.
lilaI A TIMES READE