The Somerset reporter., 1899-12-14
New Portland.

! New PORTLAND mas long Deen ana con-
tinues to be one of the important towns
of Somerset County. 1t has three
villages with water powers sufficient for.
all purposes, mostly local, to which they
have been put, and would be sufficient
for much more business could larger in
dustries be secured for them.
In the early days of numbering bust.
ness on the Carrabasset River and its
tributaries and the larger operations on
Dead River, North New Portland was
the base of supplies for many numbering
operations of magnitude, and the trade
springing therefrom was large. That
village was the threshold for the whole
Dead River business that took its natural
course up the Kennebec from Skowhe-
gan, up the Carrabasset from North
Arson and across the high lands to Dead
River and Flagstaff.
1t has not its former prestige. Its
welfare was sacrificed by the lack of en-
terprise of Kennebec River and Somer-
set people, who allowed the Franklin
County hustlers and pushers to project a
railroad from Pennington to Kingfield
and thence northward through Jerusa-
lem and on the border of Somerset.
The effect of course was to make King
field take the place of New Portland and
North New Portland to the detriment of
those places.
Down the Kennebec was the natural
course for this business and 1t should
have come this way instead of through
Franklin County, but water will not run
up hill neither will business go at right
angles or a tangent from the course of a
line of railroad.
1t was plain to any observant man 20
years ago that Kennebec River interests
should have built road from North
Arson up the Carrabasset through New
Portland, near Kingfield and so up along
through that splendid lumber country to
Stratton or Flagstaff and kept the bust
ness where it was instead of having 1t
diverted, as it has been, by the narrow
gauge road in Franklin County. This
fact is more apparent now and its i'm
portance is emphasized by the present
situation. Kingfeld Is reaping the
| benefit that should have been the harvest
of New Portland and North Arson and
Pennington Is getting business that
naturally belongs to Skowhegan.
! But regrets for derelction of the past
are vain and New Portland and other
towns, similarly situated, make the best
Of the situation. They give greater at
tention to farming and otherwise make
up for diverted business as best they
may.
A new departure in this direction is
the establishing of a creamery or butter
factory at East New Portland by com
pany Of citizens of the town. 1t is, we
understand, to be cooperative in its
methods of operation. The situation Is
good one for a creamery OF moderate
proportions. 1t isw well situated to draw
custom from all parts of the town of
New Portland also from parts of Arson,
Embden, Kingfield and Lexington, all a
fine, well watered grazing and hay pro-
ducing country.
The north village has been and Is a
good poinS for the purchase of wool.
One firm, C. H. Clark & Son, during the
past year, with Henry Merry of No.
Arson, who Is partner in this branch
J of their business, handled nearly 800, 900
pounds Of this staple. They purchase
cattle, sheep and wool in Franklin and
Somerset counties doing an extensive
| business.
Farmers are getting back their old
time flocks and herds in this region but it
will take these counties some years to get
back to the figures of the early eighties
when Somerset had 1875, 900 sheep and
Franklin 10000
At the time of the big fire In North
New Portland village, six years ago,
Columbian Hall, the one large public
hall of the place, WAS burned and since
that time the people have been obliged
to get along without suitable hall for
public gatherings, but Music Hall Asso-
citation, society OF citizens organized
for the purpose, have, this season, erect
ed building admirably adapted to the
needs OF the village and 1t will be dedi-
Gated the Dist instant 1t contains an
assembly room 35 81 feet. with an end
gallery and stage Is 80, two offices
% Is on the first floor and over the
offices Is dining room 80 20 with
closets and cloak rooms. This hall is of
pleasing design, very convenient In
arrangement, substantially built and Is a
credit to the town and the public spirited
citizens who erected it.
DR.. W. H. Stevens is just rounding out
his so years as practicing physician la
New Portland. His residence is In the
North village, but his field of labor has
been wide one covering not only New
Portland but the adjoining towns,
extending to border Franklin County
towns and reaching far up the Dead
River region. He has taken many long,
hard, cold rides and now is retiring grace.
fully from active practice amid the
scenes of his former arduous labors,
surrounded by people who have relied
upon his medical skill for half century
and by whom he is respected and highly
esteemed. DR.. Stevens richly deserves
the rest he is now In condition to take,
having done his full share of active pro-
4 fessional labor.