The Portland daily press., 1898-07-22
STATE TOPICS OF INTEREST.

Several new free public libraries have
been established recently and good reports
have come from all. Among those estab-
lished arc those at Princeton, Mechanic
Falls, Sanford, Lebanon and the one al
ready mentioned in Old Orchard. Re-
garding the scheme at Old Orchard of
having the library for the use of the sum-
mer visitors, and inviting them to give
il they wish, money or books, Mr.. Fer
maid writes that the plan has worked in a
very satisfactory manner, and already
many gifts of books and of money have
been received. Free libraries are soon to
he establis shed at Corinna, Ihomaston
and Foxcroft. The State library is send
ing out the Maine Year books to all the
Senators and Representatives in the State.
The Bridgton and Saco River railroad
has petitioned the railroad commissioners
for approval of the crossing of two high
ways in the town of Bridgton. The ex-
tension from Bridgton to Harrison will
be ready for inspection of the commits
sioners on July 20, and the commission
ers will hold hearing on the petition on
the same day that they inspect the road
The road will begin operations August
1st.
Bangor is now the headquarters of the
Second regiment, N. g. S. M, and all
the military property has been removed
from Lewiston. The new headquarters
rooms are in Mercantile square. Maj.
+. B. Cummings, who has ably served
as adjutant, is succeeded by Lieut.. Oscar
e. Wasgatt, of Bangor, who has been
appointed acting adjutant of the regi-
ment. Lieut. Wasgatt intends to with
draw from the service on account of his
pressing professional duties, but will act
as adiutant until Capt. Boardman, now
commanding q company, retires from
that position, becomes a lieutenant, and
regimental adjutant.
The ice men all along the Kennebec
have more than they can attend to at the
present time shipping ice. Hardly d
schooner, comes up the river as far as Ice
boro that does OF come for the purpose
of receiving p cargo Of ice. For the past
week, almost every icehouse along the
banks of the Kennebec has had at it's
wharves u schooner loading with ice to
be shipped to New York, Baltimore Or
Washington. The season is now at its
height and there is good prospect that
before the season has closed there will
not be house which has a cake of ice
in it. There has been some trouble in
securing men to handle the ice, from the
fact that the farmers wished to do their
haying. This trouble is now over. At
uu0 pIcseu1 blLuo bn6 ually shipments
average $500 tons a day. Some of the ice
which is shipped was harvested two years
ago. When taken from the houses it was
found to be in nearly as good condition
as when stored away. AT the houses at
lceboro the ice as it comes from the house
looks as though it had been housed less
than week ago, being in splendid con-
dltion. There has been some talk that
new houses would be erected along the
river. Thsre is, as far as can be learned,
no truth in this story. The clearing out
of the houses will give all the room re-
quired for storage next winter. Present
Indications point to a very busy season
on the KennsDec ice fields during the
coming winter.
A distinguished party of gentlemen are
expected to visit Augusta, within few
days, in the person of the postal commits
sion of Congress that is now engaged in
the work of Investigating the matter of
the second class mails of the United
States. The party is led by Congressman
Loud. who is the chairman of the COM
mission. Congressman Burleigh received
a letter dated July IL, from Chairman
Loud, in which the latter said the postal
would visit Augusta some
time between the 21st and the 25th of this
month. He said the other members of
the b-committee having in charge the
inves legation are Senator Faulkner of
West Virginia, Senator Chandler of New
Congressman Moody of Mas
sachusetts, and Congressman Fleming of
Georgia.