The Newtown bee., 1890-12-19
STEPNEY DEPICTS NEEDS.
Barnum Curtis's Offer.
A LONG AND BUSY LIFE.

The true doctrine is, Render unto Caesar
the things that are Caesars. feel that /
owe to the public and to all who have
patronized me so many years in my bus
mess up to the present time, all friends
far and near, my sincere thanks for their
kind and faithful remembrance of me
during the time have lived among the
people of Stepney.
Fifty years ago last September, l COM
menced business in this place with three
old mills and one old house, only fit to be
inhabited by rats and mice. One half of
this property, with a few acres of land, 1
bought of Capt Leavenworth in the year
1910. He proved better to me than my
own father could have done. | moved
here with an invalid wife and one little
daughter, fully determined to obtain an
honest living and be faithful servant, of
the public and to be thankful for the
smallest favors. 1 have seen more long
days than short ones, say II to Is hours
a day. l have succeeded most wonder
fully. After few years of toll and la
Dor, l removed my old saw mill and built
a plaster mill very near the railroad,
which was great advantage to me, be-
cause it saved so much expense in haul
ing. l would say that the railroad did
all they possibly could to accommodate
me in my business. They freighted my
plaster from Bridgeport for 81 lie. per
ton gross and gave me the use of ground
there many years without rent. | have
ever felt this to be great favor, for
which they have my sincere thanks. At
ter some years had passed, l built a saw
mill. The railroad gave me wonderful
patronage till they moved their works
from Bridgeport to Falls Village. l next
built new house and, soon after, new
flour and feed mill. No little thing es-
capped my notice, no matter how small,
for l knew that to be the only way to
succeed. / believe~in the doctrine fully
of giving to every man, woman and child
that which is their due. 1t is proper for
me to state that / have received great
patronage in my plaster trade. Many
farmers came from ID to 20 piles with
teams in the Winter to secure plaster for
the next season. From 200 to 500 tons
per year has been the bulk of my trade
| for so years. have never failed to lay
| in a good stock of the best quality of
plaster to be found in Nova Scotia to
supply my customers. This year, the
officers of the railroad have adopted new
rules, which are sometimes difficult to
carry out We gave our order for a GER
tain number of tons of plaster to be de-
! livered on the ground used for that pur-
| pose. When the plaster came, it was put
| on the turnout. with special orders to
take the plaster, carry it across the main
track, put it on the original bed and pile
| it in good order. This we refused to do.
! After it lay on the track about week,
| the company sent up an engine with men,
put the plaster on the main track and I'M
| loaded it in good order, for which l give
them credit. They charged an extra
price, which was paid. | feel it to be my
duty to say to my patrons that my plas-
ter trade will be very small, as have no
stock on hand: only small lot left from
| ldSt year, WHICH,, LO uouOo, Will OC ouhu
and ready for sale, next April or May.
We do not expect to ship any on cars, as
heretofore, but to supply our customers
at home as far as possible. Unless there
can be compromise with the railroad,
this will close our plaster trade.
A number of years ago, representa-
| tive Of the railroad company came to me
and made bargain for the ground where
the post office now stands as the site for
new depot. The bargain was complet-
ed, but no writings were drawn. Soon
after, Mr. Draper was taken sick and died.
That stopped the whole business. Mr.
Draper told me that if they ever built a
new depot it would cost 5000 and would
change the main track to the west side,
where it ought to be. No person thinks
of getting on to the cars from the east
side, for everybody who goes on the cars
comes to them on the west side by cross
ing over public road, through mud,
snow and water, then over the turnout to
the main track. Sometimes long train
stands on the turnout, which makes it
dangerous, besides the Inconvenience to
the public. have paid many thousand
dollars into the treasury of the railroad
since came here. In 1876, the whole
amount of freight received at the station
was $44O7 81; my individual freight
amounted to $22S4 Al and that is small
in comparison with what / have done
since. The cars of grain alone for the
last year amount to about 70, with from
- to 10 tons to each car, to say nothing
about lumber, coal, goods for the store,
etc. / have done what could to have the
railroad track changed. Had the new
depot been built, the public would have
had the privilege of leaving beautiful
passenger room l6x40 feet, without
wetting the soles Of their shoes. The
platform could easily have been made
from 100 to 800 feet long with q little ex-
pense. More thana year ago, I made,a jas
/ thought, liberal offer to the officers of
the road, as an inducement for the change
in tracks, but no notice was taken Of it.
As knew the time was near when new
track was to be laid, felt anxious for
the change and sent word to the vice
president to give me the lowest price to
change the track, as had made up my
mind to pay large sum rather than not
have III done. 10 notice was taken Of it.
j had made up my mind to build : large
storehouse for grain, next summer, to
enlarge our business, 70 sell more aud
cheaper and, further, To offer i buiIding
lat tor ! factory d some Kind. gem