Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-21
STATE HOUSE.
Records of Public Events Way
Back In the Thirties,
Railroad Commissioners Held Import
ant Session, Yesterday.
Farmers Institute in Houlton on
Wednesday, April 2.

In the Maine Register, the predeceS-
sor of the present publication of the
same name, printed in the 30's, several
volumes of which being now on file in
the State library, many interesting facts
are recorded. For instance, a table is
published giving the valuation for the
decade beginning in 1881. which was
made by the State valuation commits
sion, upon the principal articles of tax
able estate in the several towns in
Maine. The valuation for the purposes
of taxation upon dwelling houses in
Augusta was placed at $3.50; barns,
$50: stores, $500; grist mills, 5000; saw
mills, SIPS; fulling mills $3.50; cardins
machines, S33 1-3; tillage, per acre, S11;
upland moving, per acre, $1l54; fresh
meadow, per acre, s4.S2: pasture, per
acre, s6.0S; woodland, per acre, 1897;
unimproved land, not covered by wood,
per acre, S1.63. In other towns the
amounts vary somewhat.
Hon. Joseph Williamson of Waldo
county. vas President of the Maine
Senate in 1884 and Hon. Nathan Cliff
ford of Newfield, was Speaker of the
House the same year. He was subse-
quently chief justice of the supreme
court of the United States. The SEN
ators from Kennebec county, that year,
were Josiah Prescott, Williams En-
mons and Enoch Farnham. George w.
Morton and Richard Fl. Vose repre-
scented Augusta in the House. John
T. p. Dumont and s. w. Robinson We're
members from HalloWell. Jonathan G..
Hunton of Readfield, who was Governor
of the State in 1881, represented his
town class. and Arson p. Morrill, was
the member from the Belgrade class
Jonathan Cilley represented Thomas
ton. ,Asaph r. Nichols of Augusta, was
clerk of the House in 1884 and secre-
rtary of State in 1885 and 1889.
The population of Augusta in 1884
is given as 1880. while that of Halo
we'll is stated to have been 1864. only
16less than the Capital city.
In 1882 Joseph Chandler was post
master of Augusta; Amos Nourse Hal
lowell; Seth Gay Gardiner; Abijah
Smith,. Waterville, and, George w.
Stanley, Winthrop. VIM. King. Names
first Governor, is in the list of United
States customs collectors, being sta
toned at Bath. His compensation is
giveN 1T 1887.
In the Legislature Of 1887 Kennebec
county was represented in the Senate
by Samuel p. BensonS Luther Severance
and Elijah Robinson. John c. Talbot
of East Machias, was President of the
upper body and Hannibal Hamlin was
Speaker of the House. Augusta was
represented in the lower body by
Robert A. Cony and Alfred Redington,
while Samuel Wells and Henry w.
Paine were the Hallowell members.
Charles Waterhouse of Augusta, was
clerk of the House in 1887.
In 1886 a cabinet or museum of min
eral specimens was established at the
Capitol and for many years it flourish
ed. Then it was plundered of the best
and most valuable specimens and, a
few years ago. the whole was given to
Colby University.
These old registers contain many
other facts of historical interest and
they are safely preserved in Librarian
Carvers private cabinets, where they
can only be seen in his presence. Some
miscreants in the past have mutilated
the leaves of one or two of these books
and Mr.. Carver does not propose to
take any chances of like occurrence in
the future.