davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27
kENNEBEc RIVER SWOLLEN Ie|FREsHET
HEIGHT works HAvOC|
Bridges Go Down--Mills and Motors Hindered
By Ice---Lumbermen DismAyed

At about nine o'clock Sunday morn
ing the waters of the Kennebec be-
gan suddenly to increase In volume
and by ten o'clock was going over the
dam at freshet pitch. Some alarm was
felt for the safety of the south sec
ton of the new railroad bridge which
was supported by strong false work
able to withstand an ordinary rise of
water but not intended to hold out
against a great foe of heavy ice 1t
appeared that the waters were fall
ing shortly after ten o'clock, and
many estimated that it fell four feet
in half an hour or a little more. But
again, and in twenty minutes rose
from five to six feet, according to the
careful Judgment of watchers on the
bridges. On the crest of the flood
there came the heaviest ice foe that
has been seen passing over the dams
in many years, II not the heaviest in
history. Great cakes twenty feet
square and from twelve to eighteen
inches thick went splashing over the
falls, and then raced downstream to
deal might blow to the underpining
of the bridge work. The nearly COM
Ill hoI oh IN an
central pier but to no avail, for here
and there a timber was picked out and
carried away until the structure was
so impaired that all at once and as
whole 1t tipped down stream and
fell easily and prettily into the swirl
ing rapid. The loss thereby sustain
ed by the Maine Central railroad has
been estimated at $4,000. This Gee
ton of the bridge was to have been
swung into place on Sunday, Febru-
airy 6, but there will be a long delay
now before the bridge Is completed as
it will be necessary to bring a new
span here to take the place of that
bent and uncertain south section now
lying in Its watery berth.
The Sunday morning train from
Watervlle was stopped on the south
side of the river and the passengers
alighted there. Later, however, the
cars were taken across the bridge and
outgoing passengers in the afternoon
boarded the train at the depot.
No other disaster occurred in Show
hogan as a result of the freshet,
which was the highest since the well re-
membered December freshet of 7 years
ago. The mills were troubled consid-
erably by anchor ice Monday, but
nothing of serious nature came to
light
Below Skowhegan three miles the
ice did not break up at all 1t was
expected, when news came to this eff
feet, that there must be a great jam
there but aside from a few piles on
the head of an island the ice was not
spectacular In its movements in this
vicinity. Instead of breaking up the
thick, strong ice below, the free and
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27
MEETING OF BOARD
or TRADE
Approval of Bill for
New Post Office.
State Board VIII Be Invited 10 Meet
Here In September.

Fifty members of the Board OF
Trade attended the monthly meeting
held In the municipal building Fri
day night. In the absence of w. r.
ordway, president first vice president,
Roy L. Marston, presided.
AS chairman of the committee on
water power development. Mr.. Mars
ton reported that the committee had
held regular meetings and that it had
made considerable progress in max
ing preparations for some definite &C.
ton, so that it can present propo-
sition to holders of water power in
the near future.
The meeting desired some action to
be taken to encourage Representative
Burleigh in his efforts in behalf of the
bill he recently introduced in Con-
gress providing a new postoffice for
Skowhegan. For this purpose COM
mittee was appointed to communicate
with Mr.. Burleigh, to assure him of
the dppTOFdi Vi Tic Dodiu VI AiooO'
and to exhort him to his best effort
in behalf of the proposed building.
The committee was appointed as fol-
lows. Chairman, ]. w. Fogler, A. G.
Blunt George w. Cover, r. l.. Mars
ton, Bin w. Page.
There was discussion about the
State Board of Trades meeting here
for their annual meeting in Septem-
Der, and the meeting instructed that
an invitation be extended to this end.
The matter of placing red lights
on fire alarm boxes was discussed
and referred to a standing committee
as was also the matter, of lighting the
streets all night, instead of turning
off the lights at IL o'clock. The the
DRY was advanced that II the lights
were kept on all night, 1t would facil-
itate the difficulty of finding fire
which gave out no light but made an
appreciate cloud of smoke. The mat
ter of an extra watch at night for the
sake of better fire protection was al
40 discussed and several other minor
recommendations were made.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27

broken ice that came over the dams
was drawn down under and went
rumbling end grinding beneath the
surface until it emefxed again at
Shawmut AT Hinckley\ a wooden
tramway leading out to \pne of the
new piers in the stream was snapped
away as If made of straw byAthis sub
marine ice foe.
The false work of the new Grand
Trunk bridge at Lewiston was wash
ed away, and trains were delayed all
day Sunday and Monday. The loss
was estimated at $1,000. The New
Maine Central bridge over the Andres
coggin at brunswick on the Lewiston
branch was carried away Monday
This bridge was about one-fourth
completed, and the loss was estimat-
ed at $4,000. The large steel cables
across the Androscoggin river of
both ferries between Dixfield and
Peru were broken by the ice which
left the river Saturday. The cables
were some IL or IA feet above water.
This has not happened before for SO
years.
Water eight feet deep over the high
ways at Milton Plantation, eight miles
above Rumford Falls, did consider
able damage on the Androscoggin
Monday. At Andoyer highway
bridge was washed away and the
stage line was forced to suspend At
Berlin and Lvermore Falls the river
was very high but little damage was
reported.
Between Old Town and Bangor, the
river ice for miles at a stretch was
broken up and passed down, leaving
long open places. At Veazie the
dam of the Bangor Railway & Elec-
trio Co., was damaged somewhat, an
auxiliary structure having been car
ried away.
Throughout New England minor
washouts were many In the railroad
tracks throughout the hill country,
dams and culverts gone, water mains
became SO full that they broke and
the invading waters, often with float
ing ice entered mills and factories on
river banks, crippling the waterpower
system, damaging stock and render
ing useless boiler rooms and power
plans. In a few cases buildings were
washed away
At East Hampton a dam was swept
away. a gas house was carried away
with the swollen waters, black
smith shop floated away and buildings
were undermined. The damage there
is estimated at $25 ,000 The tribu-
tary streams of the Connecticut rlv-
er In southern Vermont went on a
rampage. The lighting plant at
West Dummerston was rendered use
less. Several houses there foated
away. At Pownal, VT, and surround
ing villages farmers were forced to
barns. The trolley service was de-
barns. The trolleys service was de-
! moralized.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27
DIRECTORS or FARMERS
LINE MEET
Important Business Transaeted znd
Committees Chosen

4 special meeting Of the board Of
directors of the Somerset Farmers
Cooperative Telephone Co. uas CALI
ed to order by the manager. F. W.
Ames. at his Office at 10 O'Clock e.
IN. and the following business trans
acted
Z H. Gardner was elected secre-
tary for the ensuing year. The cleo
ton Of ". E Emery as president of
the company at the annual meeting
was ratified by Yote OF the board.
Voted. that the managers bond be
placed at one thousand 81 00o) dol
lars. Secretarys bond fifteen hum
bred C$l.5Qol and the clerks one
hundred. $500
Voted, that the committee on con-
tracts be authorized to procure two
tables for use of directors.
Voted, that the manager make COL
lections in accordance with section
of bylaws.
Voted, that noon service be estab-
lished in all exchanges if desired. the
same to take effect soon as possible
Voted. that the manager make ar
rangements with night operator at
Skowhegan to give morning service
beginning at six O'Clock, same to be
put in force at once.
Entod pniac p1hrpb Cd for
completion of line to Pittsheld, said
poles to be delivered this winter.
Voted. that a switch board be es-
tablished in the town of Madison
when the list of subscribers reach
forty in number, no assessment to be
made on account of building said
Madison line
Voted. that the manager request the
Electric Light Co. of Scion to remove
their wires from poles on Pleasant
street to prevent induction.
The following committees were
elected: Approval of bills, C. H. Gard
ner, w. c. Hobart, l.. F. Boardman;
on contracts, w c. Emery, G. H. Fos-
ter. II. B. Whipple; on accounts w
C. Emery. w c. Hobart, H. B. Whip
F. Boardman. c. II. Gardner; on COM
plants. W c. Emery, c. H Gardner,
G. H. Foster.
c. H. GARDNER, Secretary.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27

boyhood days we're spent pleasantly
in that little town and he began his
education in the public schools of
Trumbull. During his twelfth year
his parents moved to Dover, N. H.,
and he continued his studies there In
the common schools for about five
years. When he left school the Am
erican Wooden Co. had just been
formed, and he began to learn the
wooden industry from the bottom up
in it's mills in Dover. Five years ago
Mr.. Jones came to the American
Wooden Co.'S mill in Skowhegan, fill
ing at first the position of assistant
designer, where he succeeded so well
that he was advanced at the first OPP
portunity to the office of superinten-
dent. When David Haig, the Ameri-
can Wooden Co.'S agent in the Show
hogan mills, was transferred to the
Weybossett mills in Providence, Mr..
Jones was chosen to succeed him
here, and took his place as agent on
the first Monday in the new year,
January 3.
Two years ago Mr.. Jones married
Miss Mabel Witham of Skowhegan
and with one child they have just
taken up their residence in the COM
pany's house on Elm street, recently
vacated by Mr.. Haig. Mr.. Jones
friends and associates, as we'll as
the employees of the mill of which he
is the resident head, are pleased with
his promotion and wish him the best
success and enjoyment in his new
position.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27
GASOLINE | AN P
EXPLODES
Man Severely Burned.
Shop Front Shattered
Charles Provost Just Missed Serious
Injury Also.

An explosion In the cobbler shop
of Frank Pooler on Madison avenue
Tuesday resulted in serious injury to
Mr.. Pooler, and some breakage Of
quarter past eleven Mr.. Pooler was
standing in front of a stitching ma
chine holding shoe in his hand,
and Charles Provost was sitting in
the window holding conversation
with him. There is a tank of wax
connected with the machine, and this
wax has been kept hot, as Is neces-
sary by gasoline lamp. Ii was de-
cided some time ago that the gasoline
lamp was not quite safe and an
electric heater had been ordered to
take its place but had not arrived.
Mr.. Provost rose TO go, and just
as he was about to open the street
door there was a binding flash, a
thunderous report, and the sound of
broken glass falling into the street.
Mr.. Pooler, who had been standing
directly In front of the lamp when ii
exploded. WAS lrnt seriously. He
ran to three different doctors offices
in his shirt sleeves without finding a
doctor in, and finally went to the
Somerset hospital. There was no
doctor there just then and Dr. Stinch-
field was the first to arrive and at
tend him. The skin on one of his
wrists was burnt SO that it rolled up.
and there is grave doubt whether it
can be grated on again. His face
was burnt badly too; so badly that
it is feared he must lose much of the
skin, and the swelling is SO bad that
he can see very little at present.
Charles. Provosts injuries were not
severe; beyond a slight scorching of
his hair and a small cut behind the
ear he suffered nothing.
If one had been passing the shop
at the time there must surely have
been horrible injury. for the heavy
plate glass was broken into small
pieces and hurled across the street
like a voiley from a regiment. A
pail was blown into the middle of the
street by the force of the explosion.
the easement was split and splinter
ed, and the wall buckled fully three
inches breaking the plaster both in
the cobbler shop and in the adjoining
Office occupied by Charles Folsom
Jones. One may imagine the danger
of Mr. Poolers position from the
fact that the shoe which he held in
his hand at the time of the explosion
Was burned so that it is of no use.
The damage to the building. the
property of j. Palmer Merrill, is es-
timated at about 5000.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27

and when the epidemic which now
appears inevitable breaks out it will
run into thousands Already scarlet
fever has appeared at lvry.
The extent of the floods in Paris
may be judged by the fact that about
half the length of the quays within
the city are under water, which is
mourning into the streets, and thous-
ands of laborers and soldiers are
working like mad men to build cement
walls and hold back the current. The
foreign Office and the Hotel Palace
De Orsa hcve been abandoned as the
cellars are full of water. The Con-
tinental hotel and many residences in
the aristocratic section are rapidly
being wrecked There is 10 feet of
water in the subway station in front
of the Care St LaZare, and the sink
ing of the square threatens to carry
down the adjacent buildings.
With the failure OF the gas and
electric lighting plants. Paris is con
fronted with an oil famine. Scores OF
oil barges from Rouen are tied up in
the Seine and the great depots OF dis
| tribution in the outskirts of Paris are
flooded The oil reineries of Rouen
are endangered The situation in the
provinces is the same.
An official bulletin tonight stated
that the water at Port Royal will
reach the 30-foot mark tomorrow
morning. The prospect for the i'm
mediate future is grave, for it is esti-
mated that the Seine tonight will rise
| from two to three feet. Moreover, II
is feared that the high tide which is
setting in beginning tonight will ag-
gravate the situation.
Reports reaching here from Rouen
reports that the quays and fields for
many miles are under water. Halt
the town of Plaisance in the depart
ment of Gers is under water and hun
dreds of refugees are making their
way to Paris. Extensive floods have
| occurred in Gironde.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27

ing the Mckinley administration over
tie war with Spain.
The several counties were repre-
scented at the meeting as follows: An
droscoggin, Seth M. Carter OF Au-
burn, proxy for Frank H. Briggs of
Auburn; Aroostook, Carl p. King OF
Caribou; Cumberland, Harold w.
Morrell of Portland; Franklin, Harry
B. Austin of Phillips; Hancock, Ed
ward e. Chase of Blue Hill, proxy
for Hannibal G. Hamlin Of Ellsworth;
Kennebec, Byron Boyd of Augusta;
Knox, Maynard F. Bird of Rockland,
proxy for N. G. Eastman of Warren !;
Lincoln, Kendall M. Dunbar of Dam
ariscotta; Oxford, Henry II. Hast
ings of Bethel, proxy for A. E.
Stearns of Rumford: Penobscot, Hen
ry w. Mayo Of Hampden; Piscataquis,
William s. Owen Of Milo; Sagadahoc,
8. w. Carr of Bowdoinham. proxy
for Albert II. Shaw of Bath; Somerset.
George G. Weeks Of Fairfield; Waldo,
Arthur /. Brown of Belfast; Washing
ton, H. ]. Dudley Of Calais. proxy for
George A. Murchie of Calais; York,
Willis T. Emmons Of Saco.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27
PROFESSOR GANNETT ELECTED.
Maine Man Heads National Geo
graphic society.

The National Geographic Society Of
Washington, which has been much
advertised In the last three months
because OF Its examination of Peary' s
polar records, at last has put Prof.
Henry Gannett into the presidency
Prof. Gannett Is a Maine man. who
passed his boyhood at Bath. serves
the government and the Geologi-
cal Survey in the capacity of
geographer and, all in all, is one of
the most interesting government sci
entists In Washington. He was one
of the founders of the Geographic So
ciety, which now has about 10000
members all over the world and is
one of the institutions of Washing
ton
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27
REPUBLICAN STATE Com.
At AUGUSTA
Sen. Hale Selected as Temporary
Chairman.

Augusta was chosen as the place of
holding the next State convention at
meeting of the Republican State
committee which was held at the Au-
gusta House, Tuesday. The date
was fixed at June 20, at 10 a. m, at
the Augusta City hall, and United
States Senator Eugene Hale. of Ellis
worth, was selected as temporary
chairman. F. Marion Simpson of
Bangor, was selected as a member of
the State committee from Penobscot
county to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation Of Henry w. Mayo OF
Hampden, and w. s. Owen of Milo,
was chosen as member of the State
committee from Piscataquis county to
fill the vacancy caused by the resig-
nation of e. M. tombstone of Brown
Vile. The basis Of representation IN
the next State convention will be q
delegate for every city. town and
plantation and an additional delegate
for every rs votes or fractional part
thereof cast by the party In the last
election.
Remarks were made by United
States Senator Eugene Hale of ELS
worth, Governor Bert NJ. Fernald Of
West Poland, and ex-Governors Will
liam T. Cobb of Rockland and John
F. Hill Of Augusta. Ex-Judge Fred
erick A. Powers Of Houlton, who re-
Gently announced his candidacy for
the United States Senate to succeed
Senator Hale was present at the meet
ing. A telegram was received from
United States Senator William p.
Frye stating that he hoped that the
committee would invite Senator Hale
to preside at the convention.
u. s. Senator Eugene Hale made a
hurried trip from Washington in or
der to be present at the meeting. Sen
ator Hale will be a candidate for re-
election and Hon. Frederick A. Pow
ers of Houlton. former justice Of
the Supreme Judicial court recently
announced that he would be candi-
date. Judge Powers has been in Au-
gusta for several days sizing up the
situation and .endeavoring to gain
some friends. The crowd about the
lobby of the Augusta house was for
Hale and one of the prominent politi-
clans Of the State said that Judge
Powers got frost Senator Hale has
had no opposition In the Legislature
for reelection In all of the 30 years
that he has served in the upper
branch Of Congress, although in 1899,
there was an under current against
him because of his policy in oppos-
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27
THE WEEKS HEADLINES
WEEK OF JANUARY 20 TO %.
THURSDAY. jan. %.

THURSDAY, JAN. 20.
Little girl suffocated in Lewiston
ire-Another New York exchange
failure.-Horrbile murders discov-
cred in New York and Chicago.-Boy-
colt on meat grows rapidly.
FRIDAY. JAN. 21
About fifty dead and a hundred
injured in terrible wreck on Cana
dian Pacific near Espanola.-South-
bridge, taMssD bank closes doors
Boycott on meat assuming national
character.
SATURDAY. JAN. %.
National government declares in
tention of prosecuting beef trust
Reported that former Associate Jus
tice Fred A Powers is hot after
Hales place for the next term
Great food reported on the Seine,
France.-Slight earthquake felt In
Gorham and vicinity.-Meat boycott
still growing.
Sun DAY IA !. -.
Floods do considerable damage in
Maine and throughout New England
Six masted schooner Mertie B.
Crowley total loss on rocks at Mar
thas Vineyard.
MONDAY. JAN. "a.
Captain Moody and crew Of Henry
b. Fiske lost off Nantucket.-Floods
do further damage food worst
in many ars.-Inyestigation of beef
trust begins in Chicago Roosevelt
libel suit opened in United States
Circuit court in New York.
TUESDAY. JAN. %.
Republican State Committee met
in Augusta House.-Stocks took VIC
lent tumble in New York,--Maine
Seed Improvement Association or.
ganized in terville.-Chapman ad-
dressed closing meeting OF 1000 IN
Portland.--The Seine foods Paris,
stops r. r. service. renders hundreds
of thousands homeless
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26.
Paris in the dark with streets flood
ed, epidemic, no r, r. service, no
wire communication; loss already
over 5000, 900 .O00-Meat probe goes
deeper in Chicago; dealers warned
Prices drop on all food stuffs as re-
suit of boycott.-Rooseyelt libel suit
against New York World quashed by
decision of Judge. The Land lnres-
tigation begins and things look seri-
Gus.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27

In the sweet morn of life, when
health and joy laugh in the eye, and
Ger each sunny plain a mild celestial
softness seems to reign.
Christianity began in very small
way-a baby lying in a manager, with
some plain. simple minded shepherds
coming in the night to look upon him.
But the heavenly influence which
started in the world that night has
spread into all nations.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27

relatives have lived to a ripe age; his
mother lived to the age of 81, and
his brother John F., who lived In
Skowhegan. died at the age of "a.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27

When they really get squared
around for the Pinchot- Balllnger in
vestigation, we shall find that the
show Is worth waiting to see.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27

No man ever prayed heartily ~I
out learning something. oa
Creation lives, grows and multi
plies; man is but a witness.
The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-27

DR.. DaniePs-Horse Colic-Cure-
cures or money back--at any dealers;
Insure your horse against Collie. 1ys
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1910-11-30
AID. COLUMNS MARKET PLACE
People Now Go TO Their Home News.
paper for Information When In
Need Of Anything.

This might properly be called the
age or advertising
Advertising has helped to build
some OF the biggest business successes
In the country. II sells eastern goods
In the west and western goods in the
east; II has brought north and south
closer together commercially. II has
done more to educate the people In
values than any other one force.
The advertising columns of the daily
newspapers are the family market
place.
People no longer go about looking
for the things they want-they 20 to
their newspapers as 10 information as
to where they are to be found.
Women, before they start on shop
ping tour, read the advertising news
In their home paper, learn exactly
where to find what they want and go
there TO get it-because IL saves time:
because they have learned that they
can depend upon advertising firms to
live up to what they publish, that they
Will not be asked a cent more than
the goods arc worth, that they
will be- given fair and courteous treat
ment
Many women bring the advertise
ments with them and make their pur.
chases from the list of articles adj
vertised.
II you will consider the question a
minute. the reason for this public in
terest in advertising will be clear to
you.
The first interest of average men
and women are TO clothe themselves,
and their children as well as possible,
to have the best and purest OF foods
on their tables, to furnish their homes
az comfortably and pleasingly as pos
sibIe. to give their children every ad.
vantage OF education. culture and
pleasant surroundings that they can
afford
There is nothing more natural than
that they should read the advertising
column OF their home newspaper for
information. TO see what you and 9TH
ers have to offer them.
How else should they find out?
Not from hearsay. surely. not from
going from place TO place making com.
PARSONS.
No. sir. that Is not the way people
spend money nowadays: there is an
easier. surer and better way than that.
and the people have learned 81.
People are Intensely interested In
advertising because II gives them news
Of absorbing interest. and they know
ffat kaFgr. "a rauwfuttT. Huofp... .u...
publishes anything over his name he
a. going 10 make certain that II is
the truth