Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-10-29

There is now nearing completion at
Fryeburg, a water. power plant on Swans
Falls which will begin new era for that
well-known town. The disastrous tire OF
August, 1906, which swept away Hotel
Oxford and number of the old and best
residences in the village has been blow
which for the time paralyzed the ener-
gies of the place. 1t was the last ofea
number of fires which had destroyed the
industries, and for the time the people
began to lose courage.
1t was an old saying in the village,
''That no town founded on the site OF an
Indian town could ever fail, for lack of
energy" and it is being proved true, for
the Fryeburg Electric Lighting Co,
which a year or SO ago lost its power
plant by fire, has been quietly at work,
and through the energetic efforts OF DR..
Charles <. Harris, the largest stock
holder in the company, the water
privilege at what has been known as
''Swan's FALL" so-called from the origin
al proprietor of the town who settled
there, was secured from the Publishers
Paper Co., with a view to developing its
possibilities. Many years ago grist-
mill was built there, but it was never a
success, and local opinion never believed
in the possibilities of the falls.
The new owners carefully developed
the locality. 1t was estimated that there
was about a 14-feet fall in the river at
that point, though extended over num-
Der of rods, it was never considered so
much. This summer the dam has been
built, 225 feet long, and five feet high,
across the main channel of the river,
and a second dam 80 feet long and 10
feet high across the channel formed on
one side by rocky island. 1t is esti-
mated that 700 cubic feet of water per
second flows over the dam at the sum-
mer pitch of the river, and as the river
flows for number of miles above the
dam in a very wide channel with high
banks an immense supply of water can
be held in reserve. Besides this large
pond near by is held as a reservoir 20
meet unusual conditions, and as this
pond is at the foot of the watershed OF
Mt. Kearsarge, Green Mountain, and
other heights of the Kearsarge range its
supply of water is assured.
A penstock 800 feet and more conducts
the water to the wheelpits of which there
are two, to contain 72-inch wheels,
which will develop 800 horsepower
apiece at low water, while by making
use of the storage basins, 1000 horse
power can be developed. 1t is intended
to start the power with one wheel,
which will be sufficient to furnish power
for the Electric Lighting Co. which will
supply the villages of Fryeburg and
East Conway with light, the cables being
over l-2 miles long from the power
house to the most remote light.
The unusually high water recently has
hindered the work on the wheei-pits,
but it is hoped to have everything COM
plete by the first of November. A
power house is being built, 40 by 20 feet,
to contain the dynamos of the Light
Company.
The Power Company controls consider
able real estate, and is able to offer
superior inducements to any reputable
enterprise which is looking for loca-
ton where freight transportation is
favorable, and labor conditions advanta-
geous. In these respects Fryeburg is
well supplied, being so miles from Port
land on the Mountain Division of the
Maine Central K. X, through line to
the west or the best export harbor on
the New England coast. The conditions
affecting labor are favorable, and the
locality is Astounding in possibilities.
The village of Fryeburg is the seat Of
Fryeburg Academy, and educational
conditions of all grades are of the best
Being in the midst of timber-growing
region an excellent opportunity for
wood working enterprises is afforded.