Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-04-04
For The Oxford Democrat.
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND ABOUT
CANTON.
WHY NOT M0REr

Mr.. Editor Thinking, perhaps, that q
brief sketch Of the new business indu.
tries that have grown up since the COM
pletion Of the railroad to Canton, might te
OF interest to your readers, your contrbu-
tor will endeayor to give short summary
OF the same, and, also, his reasons why
there are not more.
Sometime In July, 1873, the first train Of
cars over the K. +. & b. r. r. arrived in
Canton, at which time there was great
jolitlcation, and an appropriate speech
was made from one OF the hat-cars by an
old and esteemed citizen, J. NJ. Desohn,-
now deceased,-to n large and excited au-
dience). Soon after, trains commenced
to run regularly, and business men saw
the advantage of locating here.
The first enterprise to settle in our little
village was a steam saw mill. This COM
pany was composed OF c. II. & H. l.. Gil
bert, of Berlin, n. H., experienced men In
the business. BY a vote OF town passed
taxation for a term of ten years. They
soon had mill ! - feet long, 40 feet wide
and three and one-half stories high, fitted
up with the most approved machinery for
the manufacturing Of long and short lum-
Der, with a capacity OF saving from 10000
to 81. 600 long lumber per day; and giving
employment TO sixty men. Said mill is
located on the farm formerly owned by
VIM. X. French, near the Androscoggin
river, and IL mills from the village.
Through the influence of, and the in.
ducements offered by, Messrs. Gilberts, the
Denison Paper Manufacturing Co. Of Me.
chanic Falls, were induced to locate and
build large mill for the manufacture OF
paper pulp. The mill was located near the
steam mill, and was rapidly pushed along,
until an immense combination Of building
conferred TO the mind of the observer the
great cnormity OF the business which was
to be carried on there. A large crew Of
men were engaged in its construction, and
when in operation employed over one hun
drcd hands. This mill runs both night
and day, and turns out ten carloads Of
pulp per week, which is valued at $40, 600.
one change closely followed another.
Improvements were constantly being made
In public and private buildings, and gen.
eral impetus was given TO the whole town.
Messrs. Gof Merrill located a shook
and staye mill in the village and employed
about fifteen men.
\ corn factory was erected last summer,
and during canning season gave employ
ment to large crew Of men, women and
children.
ON the other side Of the river has been
built steam saw mill by Mr.. Thayer,
W hich employs some fifteen men.
In June, 1879, Mr.. J. NJ. Thompson, COM
plIer OF work entitled Maine Bred
Horses" having long contemplated the
idea OF publishing work devoted to the
horse interests OF Maine and New England,
issued Vol l., No. l., of The NdiEe Horse
Breeders Monthly, which met with hearty
approval and support. BY his untirIng
Efforts he has made success OF 1t, and
now issues monthly, from the Office OF
james W. Bickpell, steam printer, over
eleven hundred copies.
And last is the bridge Iacross the An
Jroscoggin river at point near the steam
aud pulp mills, which is now nearly COM
pleted. There are three spans, resting on
two piles and two end butments. When
completed this bridge will accommodate
large travel. 1t is built by stock COM
pany, the Canton Bridge Co., and is very
nice bridge, being of wood and iron.
One hardly realizes the rapidity with
which our town IS growing until he takes
Il stroll from his own place OF business
and marks the change. AMI Improvements
that have been made, and the number OF
unfamiliar faces which he IS sure 10 en-
! counter.
Noticing and appreciatlng the many :m-
proyemeuts which have already been made
in and around our village, we wish to urge
upon our citizens the necessity OF still
more, and the effect of the appearance Of
place upon people looking for place to
locate.
Some of our reasons for not growing
still faster is the high prices which are
asked for building lots, the high rents and
taxes, aud not public spirit enough in town
to hold out inducements for people to come
in and locate.
A general reformation in these things is
needed for the welfare Of the town.
|