Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-07
The Chosen Home Of Industry--|ts Arteries of
Commerce and Natural Advantages.
Picturesque in Natural Scenery---Prominent
In Shipping and Manufacturing.
Pen and Pencil Sketches of Leading Business Men and
Enterprises.

The census of 1890 shows that no sec
ton of Maine made a more rapid
growth. in the decade which it covers
than the kennebec valley. Here, in
deed, within distance of twenty four
miles. are located the three Maine cities
which are shown by that census to
have made the greatest percentage of
growth from 1880 to 1890, viz: Water
willie with growth of 81 per cent;
Gardiner with u growth of % per cent,
and Augusta with growth of q per
cent. The city Of Hallowell, too. while
it did not show any such large increase
enjoyed a generous degree of healthy
and substantial growth during the de-
cade. In speaking of these percent
ages of growth we have dealt neces-
sarily with population: but increase of
population necessarily implies a COR
responding increase in the departments
of business activity and industrial en-
terprise. 1t is not difficult therefore.
to find in each of the cities of the Ken
nebec where these notably large
Growths in population were made in
the decade covered by the last census
industrial advancement keeping step
with it and making it possible. This is
work a day world for the vast ma
jority of people. Men usually go where
II los fn
dispose of their labor and secure to
themselves and their families the
greatest number of advantages. A
substantial industry supports far more
7 mediately upon it's pay roll. The mer-
chant. the doctor. the lawyer. the min
lister and many others find a support
! ing constituency in the army of the
employed. It is not difficult to locate
/ many of the chief causes that con-
tributed to the great growth. of popula-
ton in the Kennebec valleygfrom 1880
to 1880. In Waterville this growth was
little short of marvellous. .sFor city
to more than double it's population in
ten short years reads more like a story
Of Oklahoma. or Cripple Creek than of
the steady going old State of Maine,
and the county of Kennebec. And best
of all this growth was not of a tenn
porary or ephemeral character There
was nothing inflated about it. 1t came
to stay and was based upon founda-
ton of substantial business enterprise
that insured it's permanency. The
chief factor in this growth was, I'M
doubtedly. the location of the Maine
Central repair shops at Waterville and
no city in Maine could possibly have a
better industry than this to contribute
to it's prosperity. The big HOllingsworth
4 Whitney pulp and paper mill, and a
number of minor industries have also
contributed to the placing of Water
vile upon a substantial business basis.
The city of Augusta owes much toI
the revivifying of the old Sprague mill.
under the control of The Edwards
Manufacturing Company. The build
with the old one. the employment of
modern methods and modern machin-
cry have made this mill one of the best
Of It's class in the world, and have en-
abled it to contribute, in no small de-
gree, to the substantial prosperity of
the city. The pulp and paper industry
at the east end Of the dam; the great
growth of our publishing business. and
a number of other smaller Industrial
enterprises have constituted the sub
stantial basis for Augustus growth. |
There is still room here. as in other
cities Of the Kennebec, for the accom- |
mediation of still more live industries. |
There can be little doubt. too, but
what the business prosperity of the |
Capitol city of the State would be |
greatly enhanced by railroad con-
Meeting it with the Wiscasset road at
Cooper's Mills There can be no ques- |
ton but what a considerable amount of
trade that once found it's way to this |
city has been carried elsewhere since
this road was put into operation. Long |
before the Journal predicted this re-
suit, and urged upon the people Of Au-
Eusta the Importance of building the |
connecting link to Cooper's Mills by |
way of Togus. 1t was unable, however |
to awaken any very general interest |
in the matter. If events Of the past |