The Republican journal., 1888-05-24
Maine Matters.


NEWS AND GOSSIP FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.
THE DUDIIN GRANITE QUARRY.
worked here. and many of our readers will be
interested in the following sketch by cores
pondent of the Somerset Reporter: Dodlin Is
situated III the towns of NorridgeWock and
Smithtied about two miles from the former
place, ard contains an area of perhaps 200
acres. On the west side there is bluff which
stands two or three hundred feet above the
level of the country surrounding. and in many
places it is perpendicular. The hill. no doubt,
is composed of solid granite, although the sur
face in many places is covered with soil. some
parts having quite growth of timber. On the
highest part Of it, however, the ledge crops
out in many places and is entirely barren of
vegetation. The greater part of the hill, fifty
years ago was owned by Mr. John Taylor VINO
then lived on the northwest side of the noun
tain. Mr.. Taylor made some Improvement in
way of building and farming, occasionally
quarrying Il stone. Bur as the country was
new at that time. there was but little call for
granite. consequently the opening of the stone
quarry proper was not begun until within the
last twenty-five years. At the death of Mr..
Taylor. that part of bis real estate which was
situated in Smithtield fell to his heirs. six in
number, and remained in their possession for
many years, with but little Improvement on
their part. Some of the heirs, however, open
Ell small quarrieS on different parts of the hill,
for their own convenience, doing small jobs for
outside parties. Among them is Mr.. Joseph
Taylor. who is still Il resident OF Norridgc-
wock and nearly seventy five wears old, also
Mr.. William II. Taylor. Il resident Of the same
place. did all the stone cutting for the sur
rounding country. Perhaps the real opening
OF the granite business began when the Law
ton Brothers made their purchase of Mr.. IIar-
low kigore. At that time. which was about
twenty-five Years ago. there never had been a
derrick erected or used on Dodin. The Law
tons prosecuted their work with considerable
Ni9Or for Il few years but soon got what they
termed the cream of the quarry, and then grad
ually sold ont in shares to different parties.
About this time several parties from abroad
visited the quarries and took a look over Dod-
lin. Among them was Mr.. l. 5. Bangs of Wa
teryille, who negotiated for one sixth part of
the hill. formerly owned by the TAYLOR heirs,
paying for the same about $500. and commence
ed work on small scale, running crew Of
half dozen men or so about six months in the
year. In a year or two from the first purchase.
Mr.. Bangs bought two more shares at S40O
apiece. which gave him one-half interest with
the Tal lor heirs. Since that time he has been
buying of all who had an interest in the hill,
that were ready to SELL including the Old Law
ton quarry, for which he paid about $1,000,
until he now owns nearly all the whole hill at
cost Of but little less than $4,000. The OPEN
Ing Of the Bangs quarry. although it had been
menced about five years ago. when Mr.. Bangs
employed :. X. Reed of Richmond as foreman
on The quarry. Mr.. Reed was an old experience
ed hand having had charge for many years of
the Bodwell granite quarry at IIallowell and
knew Just how to 90 to work. He soon made
an opening. which opened the eyes of all inter-
c>tcd and brought forth quarry second to but
few in the state. The granite Of this quarry is
of the best quality, and is suitable for all kinds
of monumental work as well as for building
purposes. Since MIR. Reed commenced the
experimenting of the quarry. great improve
mentS have been made; new blacksmith shop
has been erected. several large derricks have
been built to take the place of smaller ones. A
steam engine is now employed to hoist stone in
place Of hand power. Il branch railroad has
been built from the Somerset to The quarry.
several large stone sheds have been erected.
etc, until it begins to look like place of bu>i-
ness. Much of this is due to the energy and
perseverance of superintendent Reed. Last
year Mr.. Bangs succeeded in organizing a com
pany called the Dodlin Granite Company The
present year. however. the company has been
consolidated with several Maine companies.
taking the name of Maine Granite and Improve
ment Company. with Il capital stock of $780,
600. and the following officers: W. III. B. Strout,
president: {. }. Hall. vice-llrcsident and man
ager; |. ;. Bangs. treasurer This company
although but recently organized, has the pros
poet of doing hourishins business, already
having several large jobs on hand. Among
hem, the tomb of Gen. Logan. which will con-
>i>t of about five hundred different pieces of
stone: the Washington library. which will cost
over half million dollars also the completion,
Of the rostotlice at Augusta has been given to
This company. OH its proposal of >2S,5o0. a
company with men of such business capacity
ut it. head. can but prove success.
THIRD PARTY PHOHIBIrIoNISTS.
The Prohibition State Convention at Portland
was continued May III. \ praise meeting at
O'Clock was led by Rev. q. II. Shnn. The con
vention was called to order at 1915 by Col.
Eu>tis. The etemporary organization was made
permanent. Prayer was offered by Rev. W.
II. Foster, of Yarmouth The greetings of
the convention were sent to Prohibition con-
ventions then in session in Springfield, Ill.,. and
in North Carolina.
+. I. Burrowes, of Portland, \. +. Wood
bury. of Auburn. and General Neal Dow, Of
Portland, We're chosen delegates at large to the
National Convention. Mrs. NJ. y. Stevens was
empowered to select the fourth delegate at
large and She named Mrs. Hannah }. Bailey, Of
Winthrop.
Rufus Dcerin@. Portland. was chosen Presi-
dental elector from the First District and Rev.
A. 5. Iladd, of Lewiston. from tif Second
District. Neal Dow, of Portland, and Nolncy
B. Cushing We're chosen electors at large.
\ ballot was taken for canddate!pf Cover
nor and resulted: Nolney B. Cushing, 40;
Aaron Clark. 81.
n
ly adopted. The platform atfirms that the
traffic in alcoholic drinks endan.ers public
morals and safety and is Il fruitful source of
corruption in politics; that license laws per-
petuate this traffic and are consequently wrong
in principle: that prohibition As a State and
national policy is the true method of procedure
against the saloon; that prohibition is a nation
al issue and must be championed by Il national
party that both the Democratic and Republic
can party have neither the disposition nor the
ability to overthrow the saloon; that the shame
full trading of these parties with the rum vote
in Maine proves that neither can be trusted to
enforce liquor laws; that the last municipal
election in Portland shows the readiness of the
Republican party to make uisgraceful alli-
:tncc with 9rog shops to win success and dem
on>trates that prohibition party is needed in
NJ aine: that the entire separation of the gov
rrnment from the liquor traffic requires the
abolition of the internal revenue tax on IL
uuorS. that the present tariff should be revised
in order to cheaper the necessities of life and
that it should be revised by a commission; that
the corrupt use of money in elections deserves
the emphatic condemnation Of Il civilized peo-
pie The platform also endorses the Austria
Ian system of secret voting. denounces the
sectional issue in politics and approves the
work of the W. c. I. L.
MEETING OF THE MEGANTIC CLUB.
The annual meeting OF the stockholders of
the Mewantic Fish and Game Club was held in
Portland recently. The new board of direct
ors includes Charles =. IIaZeltne, of Belfast
and Orville ID. Baker, of Augusta. The terrific
ry covered by the Clubs leases will include
over >eventy-tye thousand acres or one hundred
and twenty square miles. Two game wardens
have been appointed on the Canadian side Of
the boundary and commissioned by the Quebec
Government (and lately AS fish guardians aso)
and one warden in the State of Maine. The
wardens are employed continuously, their sal
aries being paid monthly; and it is their duty to
see that no game or fish is taken out of season
in the district and to prevent poachng upon the
Club preserves. The Club pays the expenses
of these wardens. The Club has capital stock
of $50 900 divided into 500 shares Of $50 each,
one share being necessary for membership, and
the annual dues not to exceed $40 in any one
year. A new club house is contemplated soon
on the premises, where there are already camps,
boats. and all the facilities for sportsmen.
The Club intends this summer to complete
Il blackboard road to their great sporting pre-
serves near Lake Megantic. Last year there
were constructed at au expense of three or
four thousand dollars seventeen miles of good
roads, from the associations property south
ward through TIE wilderness toward Tim Pond
in the Dead River region. A space of five
miles and Il half remains to be built, and when
completed the grounds of the Club will be readi-
ly accessible from the Maine Central instead of
the present roundabout route via Montreal and
SherbroOke. The number of summer visitors
to Maine will be much increased. as the Club
has large membership in New England and
New York who will welcome this shortening
in the route to this choice hunting and fishing
resort.
SONS OF VETERANS.