Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-06-09
An Important Contract


Now an Important Branch of the In
ternationaI Paper Company.
April 10, 1860, was, probably, the most
important day in the history of Bellows
Falls, from a business standpoint, as it
marks a contract made that has resulted in
the development and utilization of the wa
ter power of the Connecticut, and the con-
sequent rapid and steady growth of the vii
lage.
The publication in The Phoenix two
weeks ago of an article showing the char
acteristics of Jabez Hills, the most eccen-
trio business character who ever lived
here, would not be complete without re-
cording the most unaccounted for act of
his life which was on the date above men
toned On that day he signed the only
contract he ever made which went upon
the town record. Although he died own
ing many pieces of real estate, all of which
were accumulated by foreclosures of mort
cages instead of outright purchase, there
is no record of his ever selling a business
piece of property in the 40 years that he
was large factor in the business of the
place. The nearest he came to it was on
the above date leasing a power he owned
under the hill to VIM. A Russell. This
was the beginning of the interest of Mr.
Russell in the place. A few wears before
the death of Mr.. Russell he told to James
H. Williams the substance of the following,
in reply to query as to how he ever came
to invest in business here.
just previous to April, 1869, the posi-
bilities of revolution of the methods of
paper makingby the introduction of wood
pulp had interested Mr. Russell, and he had
some mills making pulp at Lawrence but
was looking for more power. In passing
Bellows Falls he had noticed the almost un-
used condition of the dilapidated canal
property, and the ruins which had for
some years marked the location of the first
mill where paper had been made by hand
in Bellows Falls. That mill was erected
about 1902 and burned in 1916. 1t includ-
ed just the territory now covered by ma
chine rooms g. : and S, with the connect
ing engine and bleach rooms. Where the
old bleach room now stands was the loca-
ton of the first Office of the Fall Mountain
Paper company, presided over by the late
Lewis p Moody.
On the date above mentioned Mr. Rus
sell visited Bellows Falls for the first time,
not knowing person in town. The mills
then here were as follows: The grist mill
as it is today; just north stood frame ma
chine shop of Clark IL Chapman, where
John I. Moore's mill now Isl little further
north was a brick foundry connected with
the shop, this business being the predeces-
sor of the present extensive works of the
Bellows Falls Machine company located in
other parts of the village. One other
frame shop stood where the Flint x Sons
paper mill now does. 1t was three stories.
the first occupied by the machine shop of
the Vermont Valley railroad (the only shop
they had on their line), the second story by
Albert Derby as a mandatory of doors,
sash and blinds, and the third story as a
cabinet shop by William Conant. North of
this, between the present Robertson Paper
company's mill and the International mill,
stood saw mill, with its old up and down
saw, and pond for storing logs, with
| lumber yard near. These were the only
mills here then
Mr.. Russell alighted from the noon train
and went north the same evening. He
walked down around the canal and the old
foundation. After a careful survey he in
quired who owned the site of the burned
paper mill and was told it was Jabez Hills,
and that he lived in the Pettis block. He
went there without finding him, but was
told later he would find the old man down
| by the eddy catching flood wood. He went
|
scription, and asked if he would lease him
the mill privilege. Mr.. Hills looked him
over sharply, asked a few questions, and
told him he would do so and that he would
meet him at Lawyer j. D. Bridgman's of
flee in an hour. He then returned to his
vocation of pulling food wood from the
river. Mr. Russell inquired his way to
Mr.. Bridgmans office, which was then in
| Mammoth block, over where Fenton S
store now is. Mr.. Bridgman when told of
the arrangement laughed at Mr.. Russell,
saying Mr.. Hills never had been known to
make a contract, and he never sold prop
erty, telling of the many idiosyncrasies of
the man. They waited, however. In half
an hour Mr.. Hills was seen coming up the
street. but as he went to his block Mr..
Bridgman reminded Mr.. Russell he had
probably seen the last of him. He re-
turned, however, within the time, and in a
few minutes the contract, or lease, was
signed and delivered. The town clerk S
records show it was filed that day at 2 p. NJ.
showing the quick decisions of Mr.. Rus
sell, as well as the unheard of action of
Mr.. Hills. 1t resulted in Mr. Russel's
building up local business, which last
year went into the paper trust at valua-
ton of 81, 800 900, besides the influence
| useu W BeI many obneT lnuusJTles, ana
firms here and the erection of the various
mills owned by other corporations.
The terms of this contract were excep-
tionally advantageous to Mr. Russell, the
lease being for ten years of the water priv
ilege, and all its rights, at rental of only
5000 per year payable quarterly, with the
option of purchase at any time within the
ten years at a price of only $4,000. Mr..
Hills dying in 1871, Mr.. Russell at once
bought the property of the estate. The
possibilities of the power, not then devel.
oped or in condition to use, in this way be.
coming known to Mr.. Russell he soon
bought of exGov. S. W. Hale and f. F.
Lane of Keene a controlling interest in
the Canal company, that owned the canal
privileges, and spent large amounts in
dredging and enlarging it and raising the
water, giving more power This he util-
lied to great advantage to himself and the
town. Had Mr.. Hills not done differently
that day from what he did at any other
time in his life, and Mr.. Russell sought his
location elsewhere, what would have been
the probable present status of Bellows Falls
as a manufacturing centred