Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-26

handing a view of the city of Augusta
and for miles on each side, ii is GER
tainly a most beautiful place. The
drives about the place. lined with hun
drcds of trees. are favorte resorts for
many of the Augusta people. and all
visitors like to go over them A drive
about the great institution, to see the
place and TO look upon the view is
something well worth ones while.
Next comes the representative of the
United States. This is in the form Of
an arsenal. where about 5000. 900 worth
Of the property of Uncle sun is cared
for by force of two sergcants and IS
men under the command of Major ID.
NJ. Taylor of the ordnance depart
ment Of the United States army. This
arsenal was established, March 3, 1927,
just 10 days after Governor Lincoln
had signed the act making Augusta
the Capital of the State. The plot of
30 acres Of land on the east bank Of
the river. situated just north Of the
present Insane asylum farm. was Sc
cured and l. buildings, 10 OF which are
of stone. were at once erected and
stand today. All is surrounded by
tail iron paling with suitable gates.
The water front is protected by high
,T - "A IA. .
the same material,
1t was an important post at the time
fixed ammunition being shipped from
here to the seat of the war 1t has
been commanded by General o. 0.
Howard and other distinguished men
at different times. Visitors are al
lowed to 30 about some parts of the
grounds which are well kept and
pretty.
The Lithgow library has been heard
of by nearly everyone, as it has been
initiated in other cities in the New
England states. This library of beau
tiful granite and of handsome archi-
lecture is situated at the northwest
corner of State and Winthrop streets.
and it cost Sal. 900 while the land cost
800 1t contains about 5000 vol
umes. This was from a bequest made
the city by the late Llewellyn W
Lithgow amounting to $4,000. To this
sum was added various sums by An
drew Carnegie, Mrs. Henry w. Fuller.
Mrs. Emmons Blaine, Horace Will
liams, Charles Alden, Emory Sanborn
and others. The building was erected
in 1894. The second story is used by
the Kennebec Historical Society for
its collection.
Fort Western also comes in for its
share of the attention, especially of
the searcher for the antiquated. This
building with walls l. inches thick
being 100 feet long and % feet wide, is
the Oldest structure in the city today.
It is situated on the east side of the
hall. 1t was built in 1854 by Governor
Shirley. who came up to the town
then known as Cushnoc. The timber
was prepared for building the two
block houses and the fence. at Fort
Shirley in Dresden, and towed to this
point in the river. 1t was erected by
4nI Nv. Of. col
diers numbering 500. The history of
the early days of the fort and the time
when it became the home of Captain
James Howard, probably the first real
settler of the town. is an interesting
bit, we'll known to Augusta readers.
The old fort, without the small
buildings and the palisades which
were taken down before the present
century stands today as a tenement
house on the wall fitting tablet of
copper has been erected by koussinoc
Chapter, d. A. r., telling the history
of the fort in brief.
Augustus postofiice ! building is
doubtless the nd1luSDllltSl SoNtl llIHtill
building in the State of Maine. Stu
ated on Water street near Market
square it is in a place where all the
visitors see it, and to see is to admire.
| This building was erected by the gov
| eminent in 1890 at a cost of 100000.
1t was made necessary by the I'M
usually large amount of second-clasS
mail matter that passes out of Angus
ia daily Augusta in this respect ranks
sixth in the list of cities in the country
in the amount of mail matter trans
mitted. This is but one of the great
blessings that the publishing houses Of
the city have made possible for the
citizens of Augusta to enjoy.
The postoffice employs between so
and 60 clerks all under the Civil Ser
vice rules. The present postmaster,