Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-05-02
A susr TOWN.
Especial to the Krssrnrc JorxsAr.


+ CLIsTox, April 3o--In the last few
years the town of Clinton has been steadily
picking UP and now it stalking rank as one
sof Tire most tiourishiag of the smaller vii
( lages on the line of the Maine Central
There is no large manufacturing establish
meni here, but quite a number es coeeerns
that employ frer, half dozen 10 between
! 50 AID it hands and this with the import
ant fact that all the people believe in their
town and are willing 10 do their share in
promoting its interests, explains its present
prosperity.
In passing through the place on the ears
one docs not get correct idea of the town
from what be sees--the most conspicuous
/ objects being the freight platforms, with
their dirt and litter; but leaving the station
and proceeding down the street he finds, On
both sides of the beautiful Sebasticook,
which is spanned by a new iron bridge, one
of the neatest and most thriving little vii
iages 10 be discovered in days journey
In every direction about the village an ap-
pearance Of newness and freshness is mani
fest, explained by the care which the Ieo-
pie take TO keep their buildings painted and
in order, as well ss the fact that some 40
new houses, al, Of th-lB neat and some of
elegant design. have been built in the past
two or three years.
Among the important new business which
has lately come in are the tannery and shoe
factory. In the spring of 1890, Messrs. J,
b. Besse L SON having for some wears
previous been engaged at Albion in the bus
iness of tanning sheep skins, decided, after
IN bar
in order TO secure better freight facilities
for their business and accerdingly, having
purchased of Nj. William Lamb fine lot
for their purpose, with plenty of yard room,
directly on the line of the Maine Central,
with which they will he connected by side
track this spring, they proceeded to erect
suitable buildings which they equipped with
modern machinery and began business in
the new location, which they have since
found To be in every way desirable and
perfectly satisfactory. The plant represents
a capital of $1,000, and by vote of the
town ii is exempt from taxation for 10 wears.
They now employ about 10 men and use
1000 cords of hemlock bark per year. For
this they pay $500 per cord. Two-thirds
of this comes in here by rail from
points on b. & 2. and Somerset Railroads.
the balance is hauled in from the neighbor
hood round about.
The steam for the 81 horse power engine
and various purpose about the tanncry is /
generated in a 100 horse power boiler. The |
full capacity of the tannery is 2iOU skins |
per day, and the tanning process extends |
over period of two weeks. At present |
about 1900 are being turned out daily. The |
untanued skins are bough, in Boston, and |
the market is also in that city, the leather |
being used altogether for shoe Innings. \ |
few weeks ago the senior of the firm died, |
after an extended illness, and the business |
is now being carried on by the son, who |
expects in due time to run the establish |
meut to its full capacity,
About Il year ago Mr.. S. s. Barrows
came here from Iaverbill, Mass, and |
opened shoe factory, The people having |
encouraged t',e enterprise by an offer of |
gratutous rent for a certain length of time.
He was practical man. who started in as
he could hold out, and tie business is prov
ing success. Thirty-tvo hands are stead |
lily employed in the manufacture of ladies !
slippers. and that they receive good wages /
and like the work is attested by the fact |
that there are always more applications for |
positions than there are places to be filled. |
Since last September thdre has been a con
stant rush in the work, the factory being |
unable to keep up with its orders. Mr. |
Barrows SAYS that tiiis IL the best place to I
get good help that he has ever been in.
With single exception. all the employees |
in his factory are people of this town or
vicinity inside Of year it is expected |
that the business will be so much increased /
that the number of persons employed will |
be doubled.
Messrs Wcscoit and Ward, also from IIa-
vcrhlll, have been here lately looking over
the ground with reference to 4 business in
which they purpose engaging at some de-
sirahle point in Maine, and which will give
employment 10 - or 30 girls. Mr. Barrows
encourages them to come here and locate,
and they will return some. time next week
to further investigate. The business they
have in view Is the manufacture of Ladies
dresses. wraps and underwear. The peo-
pie will encourage the new enterprise i'll a
substantial manner, and everybody hopes
the projectors may conclude to come.
The Clinton Cornet band has been re-or
ganized this week Mr.. W. NJ. Runnclls
being chosen leader AMI Mr.. c. W. Brad
ford. secretary. The organization now
comprises II members and rchearsals are
to he held twice a week, Monday and
Wednesday in Centennial Hall. The boys
will doubtless get into line so that they can
do an acceptable job Memorial day, which
will he observed here in due form under
auspices of the &. 4. r. post.
At the unanimous request of his people,
Rev. W. l.. Brown, who has laborcd here
50 acceptably the past four years as pastor
of the Methodist clinrch. has been returned
for his fifth year. Last Tuesday night on
the arrival of Mr.. and Mrs. Brown from the
conference, they were given a reception at
the parsonage by the children of the society,
who were in some cases accompanied by
their parents, the company numbering about
30 persons. There was a very pretty adj
dress of welcome by Master Verde Brown,
to which the pastor feelingly responded and
the whole occasion is spoken of by all who
were present as a most happy and success
full affair of the kind.