Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-05-13
AROOSTOOK--XI.
The HOulton Of To-Day.
Its Wealth, Business Enterprises, aud
Natural Advantages.
BY Hon. Edward Wissfn.

relic of .ye oldsn tine" but these will
soon be swept away by the onward march
Of progress in this wide svake and pro-
2ressive town and their places Allied with
blocks more in keeping with the general
appearance Of soiidify and prosperity.
Many beautiful private residences adorn
the village ard give evidence Of the wealth
and good taste Of is citizens.
|, has . fine large public square 10
the midst Of the busine. portion of
the village, and in the middle
of the square 10 . spscious drinking
fountain, provided with pure water for
man and beast. and graceful Liberty
pole one hundred feet high and surmount-
ed with = handsome golden eagle, while An
arc light hangs suspended from the cross
trers
Of fine proportions and to these will soon be
aided the stately government building for
which liberal appropriation has been Sc
cured from Congress. A tour among the
business industries Of Houlton shows il to
be one of the busies; villages in the State
and the inducements here offered for the
investment of capital in manufacturing
enterprises are second to none in Maine.
But . short distance from the square, on
Bangor street is she extensive mill of Frank
W. Titcomb, Esq one of Houlton's mos,
enterprising citizens. Mr.. Titcomb has for
many years been engaged in manufacturing
lumber in Houlton and, though frequently
subjected to heavy losses by fire, has BY
his indomtsble energy and business cspac-
ity conquered success in spite of every OBJ
Sacle. His present mill 10 one of the
finest 10 the country and is fitted with every
appliance for convenience and economy OF
operation. II has one large rotary for long
lumber. three .hingle machines, clap board
machine, la.h saws, planners ard clap board
planners. It 10 run wholly by tteam, being
furnished with fine $50 horse power en-
CINE. This mill manufactures annually
from three to four million feet of long
lumber, ten million 10000, 0O0) shingles,
eight hundred thousand cIapboards and two
million laths. The larger part of all this
output is shipped by rail to Boston and other
New England points. even the lsths being
transported in this manner, at profit to the
outside markets Mr.. Titc0mb has thus
practically demonstrated that lumber can
be profitably manufactured in AroOs'ook
-nd shipped by rail, even over the
present circui'ous route. thus showing
wha, might be the vast development of the
lumber manufacturing int rest Of Aroostook
~ith the completion of the Northern Maine
and the repeal of the special lumber law
Mr.. ritcomb owns timber lands In this vicin-
lty and employs q large number of men
peeling bark in summer and cutting and
hauling logs in winter. He has drive of
.h"-' s'v n,'iiio" irst -""r ".-v'-e az &his
place. He also has two mills at New Linn
erick ard had one at Littleion which was
burned short time since. He employs an
average of $50 men during the year and
pays out about 1915 900 yearly, the larger
proportion of which % for labor A: his
mill at Houltou is large boarding house
aud black .mith shop and in his spacious
store may be- found a full supply of every
thing needed ina large numbering enterprise
Another of Houlton's priu cipal msnufac-
turing industries lie that of Mr.. John Watson,
Who in addition to a large hardware estsb-
lisbment, operates an extensive carriage fac
tory and also starch factory. Mr.. Wat
sons buildings are numerous and occupy q
wide space on the bank of the stream The
business of the manufacture of carriages
and team wagons has grown to vast dimen-
7ioho hhb tht "ufNiiOt 4uhhtJ VI thc NOtA
has given this factory a side rep
utation. At the carriage factory 10 made
everything in that line from q wheel
barrow to heavy team wagon. and also
every description of pleasure and business
vehicles The machinery Is run by water
power and the factory turns out an average
Of 100 team wagons and some so light
carriages yearly. A large part of the wood
is imported, but fine quality of second
growth white ash is abundant in this vicin.
ity and is most valuable wood for certain
parts of carriage work. Connected with
the factory are ample store houses in which
may be seen the most perfect specimens OF
carriage work of every variety. Mr.. Wat
son also manufactures horse hoes and pillow
sulkies, which latter he is now putting out
at q price within the reach of the farmers
In one large room we were shown all the
diferen. fittings and para phernalia which
enter into the mysteries of the plumbers
art, as Mr.. Watson keeps a number Of men
at work at this business. Near
he carriage factory Mr.. Watson has one of
he finest ard most economically arranged
starch factories in the county. Here 1000
bushels Of potatoes can be ground in ~
hours; and two large dry houses are con-
placed for the reception and finish
ing of the starch About 200 tons of starch
Of very fine quality was made At this fac
tory last all.
few steps from the public square Is the
fne, large -four and feed mill of f. Merritt
& Sons. This mill is run by water power
but is furnished with q so horse power
steam engine always ready to be used in
case of emergency. At this mill wheat
and other grain is ground for the
farmers of the vicinity but the larg-
er part of the business is the grinding
Of feed. Large quantities of corn are i'm
ported from the West. ~ many a. twenty
carloads sometimes coming at one time.
About a carload Of ground corn per week
is the output of this mill besides large
quantities of ground oats and other fl eds
Not 80 much heat as formerly is raised in
Ibis vicinity owing to the present low price
Of western -four. In connection with this
mill is the plant of the Incandescent Elec-
trio Light Company which hiss q Mather
Dynamo and furnishes some 400 lights.
There is also large plaster mill in which
many tons Of plaster are ground yearly.
The plaster rock is imported from Nova
Scotia via st. Andrews, and sells at the
mile At $500 per ton Bone meal for agri
cultural purposes is also here manufactured.
Another fine dour mill 10 the Page & Madi.
gan mill which for twenty five years in sue
&c ssion has been run by the fai hful and ex.
perienced miller, MIR. JACOB Miller Thi.
mill has five run of stones and il run BY
. alter power. Here also large quantities Of
western corn are ground A. we'll Is feed of
ali kinda nd alsn nj IN H.
Near BY is W. H Esty's Wooden Mill ee-
isblished in 1873 and run by steam power.
Here the cosrser qualities Of all wool and
'atinet cloths are manufactured, also bed
blankets, horse blankets and wooden yarns.
'ustom cardins and cloth dressing are also
Aroosiook wool is used in this "a. 2
DRY, of which 10000 lbs. yearly 10 worked
Up. There are six looms and re factory EN-.
'loys thirteen hands. The proprietor
kinks there is fine opportunity for the in-
Of capital here in the establish.
nent Of the business of manufacturing
eady made clothing from the CLOTH made
g the factory, as large quantities could be |
lispossd Of in the immense laundering opera |
ions Of the county.
On the same street 10 the Houiton steam
.aundry and DE house, NJ L. Hutchinson
roPrietor. Here all the business of 6rst-
lass establishment Of this kind Is |
arried on The laundry draws bus-
ness from = large area IN north
RI Aroos,ook snd 10 we'll pstronised.
bath rooms are attach.
a to the establishment Next on the street
! q. o. Berry's carriage repair and paint
hop and pung factory. The chop 10 we'll
tied up for the business and large amount
I work in the different lines Is here done.
he large blacksmith shop OF Mr.. John
Watson. where all the iron work for his
arriage factory is done, 10 near by and 10
ndef the supsrintspdsnes Of Mr.. Charles
,vu1a