The Republican journal., 1885-01-01
The year 1884. locally, was remarkable 70,

e IS attention other matters. While there have
been no convusons startling vents yet there has
been steady decline, SO that with the close of the
| year the outlook is not so bright as marked the
beginning.
The hay crop, the principal staple product of
Belfast has been a failure. The crop being light
there is buta small surplus for shipment, while an
over abundant crop in the West has enabled that
section to supply the Southern market at such
rates as to defy competition from Maine shippers
| so that outside of what finds market at Boston
and at points nearer home our surplus, if any,
must be fed out or carried over another year, 1t is
| hoped next season will witness an Improvement in
| this commodity.
| The next largest product shipped is eggs, and in
/ fact this year eggs must take the first place. This
business has been quite up to standard, although
prices have ruled somewhat lower. One of the
largest dealers in Belfast, who shipped annually
from 10000 to 100000 dozens has gone out of the
4 business, and moved away, leaving his place un-
| filed In 1853 a careful compilation made the eX-
port of Waldo county l,0O0,00O dozens of eggs, in
value $2OO,0 900 We have means of ascertaining
the exact amount for 1854
The Railroad question still hangs fire in the
courts, and remains practically where 1t was at
the close of last year. Our taxes were a trife
higher than in 1883. Some little relief may be ex-
pected. in the matter of taxation as over $1,000
of the debt falls due in 1885, which will be paid or
refunded. Besides this it is reasonable to expect
that the railroad question may be settled during
lSS5. To Offset this is the gradual loss in personal
property, notably shipping. AS this class of prep
erty shrinks in value the burden falls heavier upon
real estate Another question which greatly affects
our interests, and which swclls taxes, is
the excessive criminal costs of the county, Belfast
pays between one-fourth and one-third of the tax
of the county and is thus directly interested. The
criminal costs for 1888 We're nearly s. 900 and will
bu 0oubt approach the same figure for this season.
hat is the remedy? The journal has before sug-
gcsted Il change in our city regulations and again
! reneWs it, We would abolish the fee system in
the payment of officials. We would have three
saaried poiicemen-two for night duty and one for
day; we would re-cstablish the Belfast municipal
court, minus the recorder, at a fair salary, and
take away the criminal jurisdiction of Trial Jus.
| ices. The regular fee of the Police Judge would
be saved to the county, while the fees of the polio
men incurred in their legitimate business would be
covered into the city treasury. The class OF
tranps that arrested for drunkenness
might be arrested under the tramp act, which
would soon weed them out. A large number of
our thinking men have this matter under consider
alton, and the Journal would like to see the eNper
ment tried. We pay $1,000 per year for our legit
innate poor, and nearly as much more for the
bmnmers which are thrown upon u.s.
INDUSTRIES.
4 majority Of our industries have maintained
their former standard, with the eN ception Of the
granite interest " hch is less than at the begin
ming Of the year. Mr.. Hall, VINO worked large
force all summer contract for the Royal lnsur.
anee Building at Chicago, has done but little since
the completion of that contract. He has the gran
te the facilities, the enterprise, and it is hoped he
may procure other contracts which would again re
vve the business The New England Granite com
paay which began operations at City Point, com
plecd their contract and removed their workmcn
With the exception of the Bay View Granite com
pany, which has moved from the city to the Point
granite is dressed at the latter place. The quar-
~ on Oak Hill opened by kaltr 4 Adams witt
much promise has not been Developed The Oak
iIII Granite company is doing its usual business il
rough stone, FernaG Bros. in cemetery work
have had i good run and have i4creased theil
sales. The same is true of MI Gco,ge Mayo who
has a she'd On Bridge street.
Messrs. Critchett, Sibley Il Co. in the shoe bust
ness closed good seasons work, and enter the
new year un |cr most favorable conditions. They
have built up a large and steadily Increasing trade
In addition to their former business, they have
purchased the business of the Moses Craft factory
at Auburn which has been brought to Belfast
This introduces finer grade of work than hereto
fore made here and has been the means of employ
ing more Skilled labor. An addition has been bull
on to the factory building, and it is eXaggeratior
to say that the shoe business here never was so en-
couraging at the present time. The only lack i;
more factories of the same kind.
Mathews ro-. hy their superior Workmanship
have been enabled to keep their sash and bind fac
tory running ON full time and with fun compile
ment of men. The present depression in busines;
is felt less by them than by smaller establishments
nurb;m 4 Hall, engaged in the same business
have had an increased amount of work They ar,
confident of a good season to come. They hay,
built up a large local trade.
H. +. Pierce, wno harvested from Il 900 to l5 00(
, toms of ice, h.s disposed of the whole crop, The
larger portion having been shippedto Jacksonville
He has one of the best ice privileges in the state.
Kelley & Co. have had a fair season in the manu-
facturc OF axes. BY the death of Mir. George Har
ly we lose one OF ouraNc manufacturers. His fac
tory is closed and offered for sale.
The wooden and carding mill Of b. F. Haskell, a
the Head of the Tide, and the leather board factory
have had fair seasons run.
sIiIPBtILDING AND SHIPPING.
These industries have suffered the greatest los
during the year. The former is almost extinct
But vessel. the sch ale from Geo. w. Cot
trelps yard, has been launched this year. There
were eight vessels launched in 1883. Not q vesse
is under contract to build in 1883, and from TIL,
present outlook none viii be built. This branch o
work has been overdone in the past and there vii
bc no demand for new vessels until the number i;
reduced by natural causes. There has been al
overproducton. Vessels have been built larger
and larger until now one OF hree-m -mastet
schoonerS has the carrying capacity of three yes
Is built dozen years ago. With the present de
preston OF business there are more vessels than
cargoes.
III regard to Shipping we are losing our tonnage
year by year, and the fact is dawning upon oul
People that ii we expect to have future we mus
Change from commercial to a manufacturing
community. The one vessel built here this season
was for Connecticut parties. On the other han(
the new bark Glad Tidings sold to Baltimore
parties The bark Sarah A. Staples has been sole
in Philadelphia, the brig |. w. Parker to Cap
Kane Of lirooksvie, the brig James Miller tc
Ninitrport, and the sloop New Era to Islesboro
sch. Edward Johnson which went ashore at Cow
Bay, Cape Breton, last season was toated in tht
spring and sold to parties there. The sch Orion
has been sold, but is still owned by Belfast parties
Sch. Forest Queen has been condemned The ship
Cora, 1900 tons, put into Montevdeo in distress
and after survey was ordered home She now
liea at her wharf, and will probably he sold
Freights, which low at the beginning of the
year, gradually declined until at the close they were
So ruinousy low that vessels hauled up rather
than to take cargoes. More tonnage is now hauled
up in this port than ever before. Vessels that have
run have paid their owners but little and the
captains less. When we say it has been a hard
season for the mariner, we tell the story in d nut
shell.
Under this head may properly be mentioned the
new Merchant Marine railway which has been
constructed at an outlay of $4,000 This has been
the leading enterprise of the year. railway
with the capacity of taking up large vessels has
long been needed, and the present one, which is
large, strong and convenient, will no doubt prove
paying investment.
NEW BUILDINGS.
The Skating Rink began last year by Capt. k II
season. 1t is substantial building 100 by 40 feet
The grounds in front have been graded and the
| building and surroundings are an ornament to the
city. The Coliseum building on Main street,