Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-01-18

his money trying to invent a separator
| which he was positive he could use to ad-
vantage IN his mines In the West, which
are OF course better by far than the prop
erty in this town. In less than six months
I be spent considerably more than 900, 900
I IN trying TO make perfect separator, and
after fiye years he became dissatisfied with
] the results and his manager, Charles b.
Hill OF New York city, ordered the men to
quit work on the mine and blow the ma
chinery into jnnk.
The mine was first opened in the early
SOS by the Ely Mining company and aft
er the plant had been successfully operated
for many years, Smith Ely OF this town,
who practically controlled all the stock,
died. Attempts afterward by the mem
beers Of the company to operate IL success
fully we're futile and the mine was sold to
New York parties. They tried it for years
and, after losing considerable money, they,
too, abandoned it.
".Dhat was more than seven years ago.
and when Westinghouse took the proper
~ there was new life here. Miners from
all parts Of the country settled here.
New buildings were erected and rented to
them at a nominal price and business
picked up TO such an extent that not only
was Nershire making money dealing with
the miners, but Fairlee Ely, Thetford and
in fact all the towns for miles around
were made prosperous through the mine.
1.-Two good schOolhouses were erected,
as well as two churches, large for a coun-
try town, one Catholic and he other
Methods. Now the congregations are so
small that a priest comes but once
month and the Methodist minister simply
looks upon the place as a mission.
The entire population Of the village is
not more than %, and there are only six
pupils in the school The place looks so
deserted today that the few left are almost
discouraged. We believe, however, that
after Westinghouse removes all his nova
bic property there will be some syndicate
who will take 1t up. The vein today is
valuable, and il worked properly can
make fortune for somebody.
Why Westinghouse has abandoned
the mine do not know. I have heard in
directly that the representatives thought
the mine was taxed too heavily, but / can
not believe that was the case, as III they
had that idea they had an opportunity to
appear before the board OF civil authority
and ask Tor an abatement. This they did
not do, but friends OF mine have told me
they wanted the board to grant the ahate-
ment without being requested TO do so.
When the mine was first operated by
Westinghouse, his representatives made
such a request, but the townspeople would
not listen to such proposition. That
was five years ago.
"sWhiie ] do not know, ] believe that
Westinghouse's agents thought the mine
altogether too expensive. For the coke or
coal alone they were Obliged to pay at
least = a ton for freight and almost as
much for carting il from the railroad.
That was only one Of the many Items
"rhose who have lived IN Nershire speak
of the place with tears in their eyes, Dur
ing he days OF the Ely Mining company
there WAS large clu ohouse and gymna-
stun, as well as prosperous stores. The
clubhouse, costing $4,000, was sold dur
ing the past week for lumber, for sl25."