The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-10
The Town Of Madison.

10 us Gdatof OF the Fress.
A recent visit to this town has convinced a
correspondent of the Wing and Courier of its
Importance; in fact any one visiting the town
can but be struck with its great Importance as
manufacturing town.
| The town of Madison is situated on the Ken
nebec river, and is four miles from Arson
eight from Norridgewock. and nine from the
county seat Skowhegan. Ten years since it
| was small settlement, hamlet of twenty
| five houses, with nothing in the line of bust
ness but a saw mill.
| The inhabitants were farmerD who went their
daily round in that honorable calling, caring
little for outside matters, and when the first
| steam whistle reverberated among their hills
and valleys, even this event did not in the
least startle them, SO steady going and monot-
onous had become their ways of lite.
| The visitor Of to-day who was acquainted
with the Sunday quietude always pervading
the Madison of ten years ago, will gaze with
establishment as he approaches the villag O..
Madison has opened her eyes, or they have
been opened for her; at any rate they are wide
open. An almost wonderful transformation
has been wrought and what was once still,
dead-like settlement is now bustling, active,
enterprising village of four to five hundred in
habitants
What has wrought this change? Well, the
Somerset railroad gave them daily oommunica-
ton with the outside world. The continued
"pufang" of its engines and the shrill "toot-
ings'' of Its whistles rendered impossible the
lathargic sleep of the past, and Madison awoke
rubbed her eyes, looked the thing all over, and
concluded to remain awake.
The town of Madison has now fine wooden
mill, three stories high, which is an ornament
to the town as well as credit to its builders.
1t is six-set mill, and all the machinery is of
the latest models. The business is in charge OF
Mr.. #. j. Goodspeed, a gentleman who
wool goods in every department Seventy-hve
or eighty men, " omen and children are en-
| ployed, most of whom are permanent residents
The monthly pay roll amounts to $1,000.
Waos Company j. known Thea as the Madison
for the New York market exclu-
siyely, and all goods are sold before
they are made, such is the demand. "All wool
and yard wide" will apply here. The COM
pany keeps Its own designer, who is so sac
cessful in filling the bill that the nobbiest
styles in the market are sent from this mill.
The mill is provided with all modern improve
ments, including fire escapes, and is model
for the equipment OF its several departments.
OiuCo bio HILL 6ut0TprlS0 WAS STARTED OU houses
have been erected in the place. The mill COM
pany own six of these, renting them for Sc
monthly. These houses Just completed, are at
tractive and commodious, and are located just
far enough from the mill to make the walk to
and from work, pleasant. The street on which
these houses stand opens large number of
lots not owned by the company, and these have
already been staked out, and many houses will
be erected next spring. The citizens see their
advantage, but they are not so much elated
4 ft1av onfu -. Al
place an embargo on retl estate in the shape
OF high prices; on the contrary the best of
building sites can be bought extremely low.
A nice two story school house has just been
completed, which fact speaks strongly for their
enterprise and wisdom in this direction.
Streets have been carefully opened at right
angles with the main thoroughfare, the land is
light loom en- irely free from rocks; the water
is pure and as near the surface as good water
can be found and under drainage has already
begun, IN fact a regular system of sewerage
will be in due season in vogue. One and one
half miles south of the station is the famous
"Old Point" massacre ground, where SO many
Indians with their squaws and papposses were
massacred. 800 years since, and to commcmor-
ate which monument duly inscribed marks
the historical spot.
Near the monument, and on land owned by
the Westons, is spring of water, which is
pr oved to be better than the celebrated Po-
land mineral spring Its analysis shows it to
water The accommodations for pleasure
seekers will soon be flrst-class, as large hotel
will be among the earliest further improve
ments. Picnic parties have this season been
of very frequent occurrence.
Unlike some towns Madison is out Of debt,
with, as | at first said, the finest water power
on the Kennebec. The mill of the Madison
Wool Company occupies but very small part
of this splendid power. The power can be
utilized at comparatively snail outlay. What
more can be said?
Then there is the Somerset Railroad, which
connects at West Waterville for all points.
This railroad is doing an extensive business
this season. 1t has added largely to its rolling
stock, and its road-bed is one of the best to be
found in New England to-day. This road as
sures easy travel to and from Madison, and
quick delivery of both raw material and MAUI
featured goods.
The Westons who own land here have
shown great enterprise in starting the wooden
mill and inaugurating other improvements,
and will undoubtedly be held in grateful re-
membrance by the people of the town.