Ellsworth American., 1908-02-05

tidewater. the presence in the vicinity OF
the raw material for many lines OF manu-
facture, good shipping facilities by water
or rail, land and labor at reasona BILE prices,
and a climate permitting workmen to
labor advantsgeously Throughout the
entire year.
Ellsworth IL peculiarly fortunate in its
location, and nature has done much to
make it a favored spot in which to do
business and - . place to dwell in rs we'll.
1t is distant thirty miles from Bangor,
1856 miles from Portland and 80 miles from
Boston, while Bar Harbor,. Americas
famous summer resort, is only about
twenty miles distant. Situated on both
banks of Union river, the hills on which
the residences are generally built afford
great opportunities for drainage, and with
an abundance OF pure water, Ellsworth
justly ranks as the most heslthful city in
the State, contagious diseases being
practically unknown here. The city extends
down the river and includes also the head
OF Union River bay, vessels OF large size
being able to come up to the city wharves.
Ellsworth sbounds in scenic attractions.
Ellsworth's pioneer settlement was
established in 1853, the first white settlers
coming from western Maine and New
hampshire. Originally called New
Bowdoin, it was incorporated by the
the name OF Ellsworth in 1900 by the
Massachusetts, legislature. 1t was made
the shire town Of Hancock county in 1888,
and became a city in 1869.
The wealth OF water power privileges
along Union river early attracted atten-
tion, and, as the territory drained by it
was covered with virgin timber, the man
ufacture OF lumber became the chief In
dustry. In 1872 there were on Union river
within the limits Of Ellsworth seven dams
and twelve saw mills running day and
night throughout the open season, cutting
in the vicinity Of 10000, 900 feet Of lum-
Der annually, the skies at night being
lurid with the light from the burning
piles OF waste.
With the decline OF the lumber indus
try on the river, one saw mill after an
other has passed out OF existance, and the
outcome has been that the community has
felt deeply the wane Of its chief means OF
support, but fortunately other industries OF
varying Importance have sprung up in the
meantime, and Ellsworth is to-day busy
and thriving city of nearly 5000 people.
BAR HARBoR a UNION RIVER POWER co.
1t has long been the desire to have more
thoroughly utilized the unriyalled water
power on Union river, and some years ago
the Bar Harbor q Union River Power Co.
was organized. This corporation is an
amalagamation OF the Ellsworth Water
Co., the Ellsworth Electric Illuminating
Co. and the Bar Harbor Electric Light
Co.
About 1903, J. A. Leonard, an engineer
OF high ability and wide experience, began
an exhaustive survey Of the water-power
possibilities of Union river, and he has
continued on the scene down to the pres
ent time, the work of construction OF the
great dam and power plant having been
done under his supervision, with the emf
OF Philadelphia, as consulting engineers.
The financial end Of this stupendous en-
terprise has called for master hand.
The original promoters Of the company
were unable to raise the necessary funds,
but July l, 1907, John r. Graham, Bangor's
trolley magnate, who has scored such q
distinct success in the management OF the
Bangor Railway & Electric Co. and the
Lewiston, Augusta & Waterville Co., pur-
chased the control and reorganized the
company, with John R. Graham, OF Ban
gor, ss president and treasurer; II. M.
Hall, Ellsworth, secretary and Frank
Siiliman, ir., OF Scranton, Pa, II. L. Clark,
OF Philadelphia, John r. Graham, of Ban
gor, Henry B. lvers, of Bangor, and James
W. Cartwright, Of Bangor, directors.
The company acquired by purchase the