The independent-reporter., 1910-07-28
BUSINESS BOOMING
IN BINGHAM
Leads State in Hard
Wood Products
l. Market Place for Many Towns and
Plantations.

IN the Somerset railroad, and stu
ated on the Kennebec river, is max
ing a great stride at present In its
growth of population and industries.
There appears to be a general boom
in business.
This manifested activity in Bing-
ham is somewhat of surprise for
the reason that when the extension
nm the Somerset railroad was being
built from Bingham to Kineo the
general statement was that it would
hill what little life Bingham already
had. but the extension has seemed to
have the opposite effect. Some of
the best virgin timberland of the
state having been opened by this
railroad, it had a tendency to bring
canitalists and manufacturers to look
over the territory for the purpose OF
getting lumber for certain WOOD
working plants. So in the last two
wears three new plants have been
built. These manufacture hubs, BIZ
cvcle rims, shoe shanks, pegs, broom
handles. veneer, corks and last blocks
of which 1.250,000 were manufactured
last year, most of them being shipped
IN European markets. Bingham no"
loads the State in hard wood pro-
ducts. These mills mean that about
200 people have been given employ
ment
It will be seen that with new man
nfacturing plants there would natur-
ally come new people into the town.
Il is estimated that the population
has increased 20 per cent IN the last
two wears. Real estate has increased
in valuation and new houses nave
had to be built. In less than TWO
wears fifty houses have been put up.
Twenty-Five were built last year and
as many will be put up this year In
1904 the total valuation OF Bing-
ham was s26S,601. At present it is
$440,S03. .
Bingham, unlike any other town IN
this part of the State, is SO situated
that it is the market place for many
nlantations and adjoining towns.
There is a stage line from Bingham
IN Caratunk, a distance of sixteen
miles. and to The Forks, distance
of ten miles further. 1t has been the
custom for many years past for lum-
bermen and river drivers to do all
of their trading at this point and
these things have meant much to the
town.
For beautiful scenery Bingham
cannot be surpassed. One rides into
the beautiful village nestled by the
Kennebec and encircled by lotty
hills that rise Immediately behind the
village. At once one has feeling OF
rest as he passes through the beau
tiful village. The houses are well
shaded by large maple trees that
oyerhang the street. Everything sug-
gests peacefulness, and one lmme-
diately realizes that the town is
blessed by nature to no common de-
gree.
Bingham is situated near the mid
die of the southern half of the coun-
ty. 1t is bounded on the east by
Brighton; south by Solon; north by
Concord; and west by Moscow. The
area is 23,O40 acres. 1t possesses
some excellent soil and the farms are
considered some of the best in the
county. Because of it's situation the
farms in the town usually produce
excellent crops of hay, potatoes ana
various grains The town lacks In
water power, the Kennebec river be-
ing very quiet at this place Ihe
name of the first white man who set
foot on Bingham's soil is unknown.
Father Druillette passed here about
1850 and Father Rasle in 1885 The
first white settler was William
Fletcher in 1884. Bingham was in
corporated as town on February 8,
1872 taking its name from William
Bingham in whose purchase of 1,0OO,-
600 of acres in this region it was in
cluded.
There Is no town in the county, for
its size, that has better school sys-
TEN than Bingham. The superinten-
ent is Charles e. Ball. There is a
good High school in the village be-
sides good lower schools. The schools
in the rural districts are in approved
condition. BY her excellent school
system Bingham has been able to
send a large number of her boys and
girls to college, 30 that, each year
she is represented in nearly every
college in the State.
1t is an interesting fact that Bing-
ham has some excellent stores. Those
having stores are: w. B. Goodrich.
who runs somewhat of general
store, also Preble & Robinson; Mrs.
A. S. Burke, milliner; Mark Savage
Co., and A. F. Donigan, clothing;
Lander & Moore, drugs; j. ]. Lander,
hardware; Bracket & Andrews, c. w.
Abbey, John Miller, feed and grain;
+ S. Hunnewell, groceries; George
T. Miller & Son, meats and fish; John
Begonze, confectionery; A. c. Dins-
more & Son, undertakers; Bennie
Presley, newspapers; and A. s. Burke,
dry goods. Among the manufactur-
ers are: B. F. Preble and L. r. Hus-
ssey, carriages and painters; George
L. Baker, harnesses, robes, etc.; w.
3 Steward, Thomas Reynolds, black
smiths; Bracket & Andrews, saw
mill; and American Shoe Finding
company, shoe shanks.
Bingham now has two stations. For
several years the town was the ter
minus of the Somerset Railway COM
pany: The old depot is situated a
small distance from the village where
tTdln9 ovlVu dov