Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-07-31
A DAY AT CANTON.

:
TO CANToN.-AN ENTKPRIsING VILLA
-GLBxRrvILLLE- Two LARGE NJ ANU
FAcrURING EMBELLISHMENTS. - HERDS
DALE FARM.-THE LOCAL PAPER.
&C, &C.
Last Wednesday We had the pleasure o
making our rrst visit to the enterprisins
town Of Canton, and Of taking first ride
on the Rumford Falls and Buckfield r. r.
The early and unfortunate history Of thii
railroad Is well known TO the people Of
Oxford County. Its one horse manage
ment, irregularities and final suspension,
were notorious throughout the State. The
| contrast between that state OF affairs, and
Its present condition Is decidedly marked
The road-bed has been put In excellen,
order, and q crew Of bridgemakers is en-
gagged in repairing and strengthening the
bridges. There are two fine engines, be-
longing to the road, and q third, buil. ex.
pressly for the Company, Is expected TO
De put on this week. 1t was pleasing to
notice how clean and bright the engineers
kept their machines. Two trains are run
daily over the road, each way from Canton
TO Mechanic Falls. The distance to Gil.
bertville, the upper station In Canton, Is
- miles, and the running time Is one hour
and twenty eight minutes. Mr.. L. L. Lin
coin, Superintendent OF the road, is q
thorough railroad man, and looks after all
the interests Of the road, Is II II were his
own personal property. Nahum Moore,
formerly Of Buckheld, Is conductor or the
passenger train. Hon. Hiram A. Ellis OF
Canton Is mail agent, and most all those
in responsible positions on the road are
Oxford County men. The road Is reported
to be earning good profit; but 1t has to
pay large sum TO the Grand Trunk for
doing its businessifrom Mechanic Falls TO
Portland. The road would be 8 good
feeder for the Grand Trunk, and 1t Is .
little surprising that it has not been leased
or purchased by that corporation. There
is talk OF extending the road TO Rumford
Falls. 1t was the intention Of the corpor-
stors 10 make that point at some future
day, as the name RuIlford Falls and Buck
field Railroad indicates. 1t Is also probable
that unless more favorable terms are made
with the Grand Trunk, the road will be
extended down through Poland and Gray,
ka Mt
or enter the city Of Portland by route all
its own. The stations on this road are
small but very neat They are all nicely
painted and the waiting rooms are pspered
in dark colors, suitable for such work.
The passenger cars are very nicely fitted
up and ride very easily. In all its APP
pointments the road is now frst class.
We took the mixed train at Mechanic
Falls, and arrived at Canton shortly after
one o'clock Near the depot is Hotel
Swasey, which is built on the corner OF
two streets so that all It's rooms face the
street. The hotel is large and comfort
able. Its Office Is particularly light,
roomy and well furnished. An excellent
table is set In the large dining room, and
attentive walters make this department
al that can be asked for. The chambers
are furnished in new, neat and substantial
ash sets, and are well supplied with those
little ornaments which make our American
hotels seem so homelike. Mr.. d. A. Swa-
sey Is proprietor Of the hotel, and Mr.. Al
vorado Hsyford Is always present as as
sistant manager. In the stable We saw
Mr.. Swssey's trotter Memo. He Is .
splendid bay, kind as kitten, and one Of
the finest trotters In this section. There
are also a number OF other good readers in
the stable which are for livery service.
Mr. B. A. Swasey gave US q drive about
town, mp through Gilbertville, and over
some OF the most excellent roads We have
travelled, in this county. There is fine
view down the Androscoggin from several
points above the village. On the return,
We took view OF the stock, housed for
the night on the Herdsdale farm. There
were SO Jersey cows in the tie-up, looking
IS much alike as two peas. They were
splendid specimens OF this fine breed OF
butter cows. There were also q large
number OF calves, loose In roomy stalls.
each having 3 room to itself. Among them
wss q splendid bull calf, which it Is said
cost the proprietor, Mr.. Ward, somewhere
between $500 and $500 when four weeks
of age. Mr.. Ward has also for service the
largest, heaviest, and best formed Jersey
bull We ever saw. This farm, its proprie-
tor and his stock have SO recently been
described by correspondent, that We
need not repeat the statistics.
We also, on the same trip, looked over
the buildings Of the Canton Steam NIL
Co., and OF the Denison Paper Mfg Co.,
which are located at Gilbertville, and
which have been the means Of settling this
little village. Many Of the operatives have
erected or purchased little houses and
have made them such homes Is are needed
TO establish this nation In all that Is good
and reliable.
The report that Canton Steam Mil Co.
had called a meeting Of its creditors, was
promulgated the day we visited Canton
and caused great uneasinsss among the
people. Investigation leads rs to believe
that the Company 10 only temporarily en-
bsrrassed. It has on hand, large guam
tity Of logs, and most Of the bills for them
and for work In securing them. fall due In
q short time. These accounts are 90 large
that the Company cannot meet them until
q portion OF the timber has been worked
and placed upon the market No douo
| an extension Of time Is all that will d
| sskad and rom the reputation Of the f1fm