The Republican journal., 1898-01-06
Belfast in 1897.
The Journals Annual Review of Local Events of the
Past Year.
Past Year.

FOIGWlnG is Iu6 Journal annual re-
view OF local happenings, religious, politi-
cal, business and social matters, ETC., for
the year 1897. While the recent hard
times affected our city much less than
some sections the advent of increasing
prosperity was felt here to a considerable
extent and a decided Improvement is
noticeable in nearly all lines of industry.
LOCAL INDUSTRIES.
The existing manufacturing establish
ments had a generally prosperous season.
Nearly all made some advancement in the
amount of business done and in increasing
then facilities. One new industry, the
creamery, has been added
Critchett, Sibley Co. have, as usual,
held their position as the leading industry
of the city and their output of shoes has
been gradually increasing. The help has
had steady employment and good wages,
and for considerable portion of the year
the shop was run on extra time to keep
up with orders.
LegTo q Spalding have steadily increas-
ed their output and the number of their
help, and their goods, principally women S
shoes, are getting such hold on the mar
ket that our citizens may rest assured that
this industry though less than two years
old, is permanent institution and it is
now, and is likely to continue, dstrihut-
Ing large amount of money in wages
each week
Mathews Bros mill met with a serious
loss in the death Of the senior partner,
MI Sanford II. Mathews. but has had its
usual !un of business and added some
what 10 its crew during the past year.
The grade Of WORT has been of the same
high order fer the best private residences
and public buildings in New England.
Tie wood working establishment of j.
C. Durham Also had prosperous year,
and TUNED out a large amount of general
Job work in addition to the regular box
business for the shoe factories and other
manufacturing concerns.
The Belfast Machine & Foundry %.
added bicvcle rana ;":.ls department. and
made number Of improvements in the
gart4d plant. The power was changed
from steam to electricity
The Belfast Light & Power Co made a
great many Improvements in its plant
dining the year A power generator was
put in and several manufacturing con
Germs ale supplied with power from a
special cilcuit, instead Of from the light
}rg circuits Several concerns lave
changed from steam to electric power in
consequence. This company also reno
waited the gas works and greatly improved
all its buildings, including the ice houses
at the mouth OF Goose River.
Sherman < Co. had a good demand for
their leather board and their three mills
have run steadily. This firm has lost its
senior member by death during the year.
Kelley q Co. increased their output of
axes over 1896, and indications are favor
able for a further increase the coming
year.
Rankin & Co. saw mill ran constantly.
and TUNED out an increased amount of
long and short lumber as compared with
1896
j f. Noyes continues to operate the
Kelley carding MILL the business keeping
well up to previous years.
Mayo & White built new building on
Peasant street ID place Of he olS one for
merry occupied, and fitted up their bot
thing works with improvements and some
new apparatus. They also enlarged and
improved their confectionery manufacture
ing department. Their wholesale bust
ie"' mas pSoii iioN0u Alohl lAG SioIe On
High street to the new building. The re
tai department was sold in December to
Mrs A M Hassell.
The MAJ Die and granite business con-
uhue" about as before, but with some i'm
PloYtm ent ali along the line. Hutchins
Bros. put in a windmill at their granite
shec on From street, but subsequently ex-
changed 1t Tor steam power. They also
bult an addition to their building and
erected derrick. Harrison Wood x Go.
kept their tll-l crew employed throughout
the year. HE marble working establish
l'ent OF Mark Wood a Son put out mum
hei oi handsome monuments and large
amount OF smaller work, and ". T. How
ART had l'r 'apefuus season i'll the same
lne'
The tiothng business, which for some
Tine past had been dull, began to revive
and marked improvement is now seen as
compared with one year ago. Selwin
Thompson took a partner and the new
fam, Thompson & Foster twice enlarged
It's working loom. 1t now occupies all of
MI, Thompson S former quarters, and the
ground tlool of the adjoining building,
formerly known as the Harden House. y
An electric motor las been put in and
additions made to the machinery and APP
pliances. George A. Quimby went out Of
the busine IS and has taken life insurance