Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-02-12
Newton, New Hampshire.

&uT. Euu0f.
As your paper is received each week,
bringing interesting news items from the
various sections of Eastern Maine, and re-
minding us of friends and pleasant as
sociations of the past, we have thought
that perhaps few notes from the Gran
lite State might not be uninteresting to
many of your numerous readers.
Though We are in New Hampshire. yet
the residents of this southern section are
more identified with the interests of Mass
achusetts, than with their own state. This
is border town being only two miles
from the State line, and only four miles
from Merrimac. the largest carriage manu-
featuring place in New England. We are
also only seven miles from the city of Hav
erhill, famous for its shoe manufacturing
industry. and its go-ahead-a-tive-ness.
This town of Newton is also largely en-
gagged in the carriage and sleigh manutact-
uring business, while large number of
not only its own residents, but of all the
surrounding towns, find lucrative employ
ment in the manufacturing of shoes, some
At their homes, but the greater number at
Haverhill, going to and fro each day by
the railway. The shoe business of that
city is world-famous on many accounts,
but chiefly for the great army of workmen
that 1nd employment in its immense man
ufactories. This town is centrally located
being surrounded by large villages and
cities, within forty miles of Boston, and
having two railroads, viz. the Western
Division OF the h. & NJ. and the Merrinac
branch of the same thus giving unusual
facilities to manufacturing and commerce.
We have had remarkably pleasant win
ter, with plenty of snow and fine sleighing.
Since Dec. 4th, We have never seen the
bare earth. We have had but few days
in which the thermometer reached zero,
but most of the days have been beautiful
indeed giving health and pleasure TO many
an anxious one.
We have in remarkably degree been
free from those terrible storms that have
so affected the Atlantic coast the present
season. But all is not bright. There is a
dark side to our picture of New Hamp-
shire history the past year. There are fes-
tering sores and plague spots that need
some remedy and that applied with
strong hand. Though prohibition state,
(and we are thankful for that yet the
footsteps of king alcohol are seen around
US. Within less than twelve months nine
brutal murders have been committed, and
four of them since 1891 has dawned upon
us. Out of those nine almost inhuman
butcherics, eight of them can be traced di-
rectly to strong drink. Can we wonder
that the four murders of 1891 have all
been perpetrated in this county OF Rock
ingham, when we remember that its chief
city is Portsmouth, the headquarters of
that Infamous industry, Jones brewery:
Can we wonder when we know that in
the town Of Plaistow, within one miles
distance and near the city of Haverhill.
there are eight road houses whose gates
lead to hell? The authorities wink at
these seats of crime and hence criminals
are made and the innocent must snffer.
Our state the present winter has been in
a political turmoil, but we are thankful
that peace once more broods over the
state. In the political arena the unexpect-
ed has happened. Senator Blair has been
RI tired to private life, while DIR. Gallipger,
enters the national senate as the successor
Of Senator Blair In this as in some eth
er state political movements, we fear that
''some one has blundered."
The prospect il that the coming season
will see great boom in electric railway
construction in this state, and that many
of our isolated towns and villages will he
given electric connection with our cities
and steam railways at an early date
Our state has been remarks ably free from
sickness this present season, and as a nat
ural consequence the death rate has been
at q minimum.
Thanking you for so much space.
am yours,
RAMBLER.