The Somerset reporter., 1903-10-01
A Ouarter-CenfnrY.

cording to the previous census was 1850
and the census of 1880 made 1t the same
or 3,895. The census of 1890 gave us
5,065 and that taken In 1900 $3.50. In
one decade 1880 to 1890 we increased
1900; the next decade but lis, but since
of the Marston Worsted Mills, the gain
in population must bring the figures
close up to 5000.
The improvement in manufacturing
plants In town have been marked, more
80 than in the gain of population The
Anderson Woolen Mills were more than
doubled in capacity. a new 4 story
shoe factory, new large two story
worsted mill, two pulp mills, large wood
working plant, two story and basement
electric light building of approved con
struction and ample capacity, are among
the more important buildings erected
for manufacturing purposes. The i'm
provements in power houses, wheels and
machinery Is perhaps the most marked
to those who are prepared to look below
the surface and take into account the
expense of excavations, granite fumes,
wheel pits, etc., and the setting of
powerful water wheels of improved con
struction.
Twenty-Five years ago there were no
telephone instruments or lines In town.
one telegraph wire did all the business.
Now we have telephone connections
with all the principal towns and cities
in Maine, including all the towns and
many of the plantations in Somerset
county and an exchange of 140 tele
phone instruments finds business in the
village.
Two electric street railways are in
| operation, one line extending from this
village to Norridgewock, and the o. her
to Madison Center and Madison (Brdge),
both connecting with the Somerset rail-
way at these places and thus furnishing
rail connection with upper Kennebec
towns. These were not even thought of
twenty-five years ago.
Among the improvements in the line
OF buildings we briefly enumerate two
large hotels, Hotel toburn and Hotel
Heselton, with extensive stables con-
nected Herewith; three new churches.
Catholic, Universalist and Bethany
Baptist; two school buildings to accomo-
date four schools each; the Public
Library building with Soldiers Memo
rial hall ; large story brick shoe facto-
ry structure; large extension to the
woolen mill; the commodious brick
building for the electric plant; capa-
cious two story building for the Marston
"orsted Company; two story mill by
l.. W, Weston; a large grange hall
with spacious dining ball, etc; the
sanitarium building now used as a
hospital, and a complete set of green
houses.
The erection of buildings on the
streets for business purposes and of res
licences has kept pace with improvement
in other directions until our town has
more the appearance of trim, neat,
small city than of the struggling village
OF 25 years ago.
The erection of complete set of rail-
way buildings, including a commodious
passenger station with tower in which
is town clock, a large freight house,
engine house, etc., with the removal of
unsightly buildings and rookeries for
the enlargement of the railroad grounds
and the construction of an iron bridge
across the Kennebec in place of the
wooden structure of the ffties brings
the Maine Central railroad property in
the town into harmony with other i'm
proved conditions. We may also mention
the erection of two large buildings for
the use of the electric street railways.
Twenty-Five years ago there were no
macadamized streets in our town and
but few rods of concrete walk. Now
the former has place on all the business
streets and Is each year being pushed
out on the principal streets, while the
latter extends on practically all the vii
lage streets. twenty-five years ago our
sewer system was very limited in extent
and of crude construction, now the town
has as good system as any other in the
State of Its size. The village has a sys-
tenn of water works with 80 hydrants
for fire extinguishment, constructed in
1887
Twenty five years ago the apparatus
for extinguishing fires consisted of a
hand-power tub and few ladders, now
we have a steamer, we'll equipped hook
and ladder companies, carriages and
reel, with we'll drilled, pluoky men and
capable, experienced officers.
The condition of streets and grounds
about residences, is also In marked con-
trast with that Of twenty-five years ago.
The grass and weeds are not allowed to
grow upon the street sides and around
the walks as of yore and the lawns are
beautifully cared for.