The Somerset reporter., 1902-11-27
Electric Road to Athens.

Some of the Influential citizens of
Athens, supported by the local Grange,
are working In the interests OF an cleo
trio road from Skowhegan to Athens via
East Madison. We sincerely hope that
they succeed In their efforts and that
interest enough will be aroused to build
the road in the future.
Nature has done much for the town of
Athens and man but little. The town
is situated on Wesserunsett stream,
tWelye miles north of Skowhegan' but
by tapping the Somerset Traction Cos
road at the foot of Hayden lake, the dis
lance would be but ten miles.
We think 1t would be paying invest
ment for the following reason: There
is a natural fall In the stream at this
point of about four feet, topped by a
dam, giving ten foot head, with little
outlay there might be increased to twelve
feet making permanent water power
for small business.
Wesserrunsett stream is fed by Smith
pond In Brighton nearly two miles long !;
Tomlinson pond 10 the same town nearly
one mile long; and W entworth pond In
Athens nearly one and a half miles long.
At a slight expense dams can be erected
at the outlets of these ponde, thus stor-
ing up an immense volume of water for
driving and other purposes in dry sea-
sons. There are now two mills here for
cutting long and short lumber, one
equipped with a good steam power;
steam saw and shlngle mill with plaaer
and hatcher at West Athens, three miles
from Athens village; a good steam mill
with modern improvements for cutting
lumber at West Brighton, six miles; a
mill at Brighton for long and short lum-
Der, eight miles, also a box board factory
running nearly the whole year. In ad-
dition to the mills already mentioned at
Athens, there are two single machines,
two planning machine, lathe machine and
an Al can stopper business.
A. ID. Thompson & Son are, at the
present writing, putting box board ma
chinery into their steam % II. s. Nj.
Pratt also has well equipped shop run
by water, where all kinds of wood work
are neatly done by him.
There Ia an almost inexhaustable sup
ply of hard and soft lumber in this and
surrounding towns, which, IL we had
transportation facilities, would come
here. The wood supply is, generally
speaking, without end.
There are as fine and productive farms
in Athens as In any other town OF it's
size in Somerset county. We are cen
rally located for corn canning indus
try and creamery. Hundreds of BUSH
els of apples are shipped out OF here
every year. A barrel mandatory
would pay good money. A great many
of the farmers have from one TO twenty
tons of hay to press and sell every win.
ter. Besides all these exports, as we
may call them, there Is all Of the mer
chandise and supplies necessary for the
support of this community. All this
work Is now done by teams, whereas, II
we had an electric road,it would do it all.
Sportsmen need not go into the wilds
Of Maine for big game when good hunt
ing and fishing may be had within a
half hours ride of the post Office.
Moose, Barker, Wentworth, Tomlinson,
Smith and Mayfield ponds are teemlng
with white perch and piekerel, and the
streams about here are fairly stocked
with trout. Our water is second to
none Ia the world and we have the same
pure bracing air which has made Maine
famous.
Mt. Porcupibe. ten minutes walk from
the village, will furnish an endless sup
ply of granite for bridges, piers, under
pinning and dams etc. Mayfield and
Madison furnish some of the finest roof
ing slate In the world. All would neces-
sarilly pass over this road.
East Madison is a growing town. 1t
has a fine water power backed by Hay.
den lake, beautiful sheet of water. At
the upper mills Is worsted mill rushed
with orders all the time. At the lower
mills lie quite an extensive lumber work.
ing plant. The products of these mills
would naturally be conveyed by this
road.
Hayden lake ls fast becoming a FAM
Gus summer resort. This road would
pass on the south and east sides of the
lake 10 close proximity TO some OF the
most desirable cottage lots on its shores.
Such road would greatly benefit the
business men of Skowhegan. Most OF
the supplies which go to Brighton by
the way of Mainstream, to east Scion BY
the way of Scion would come from and
through Skowhegan. Many persons
from this section do not wish SkowbegaD
In the fall and winter because they dread
the long cold ride over rough roads.
There is no competition. An electric
road would do all this work. w