The independent-reporter., 1910-08-04
CANAAN -1hE TOWN
WITH A FUTURE
Promises of Growth and
Prosperity
uinekley Bridge Brought Increased
yalues to the Region Round About


Grange and some of the enterprising
residents, Canaan would soon begin
70 improye. An electric car line will
nrobably be built from Hinckley to
Canaan village, distance of about
FIVE miles, within a comparatively
short time. Canaan has natural re-
sources In the way of water power,
nroductiye soil and beautiful lakes to
grant her these privileges by the ex-
ercise of a little enterprise and the
cooperation of every citizen in bring
ing these things about; and the citi-
zens are now beginning to believe
they can do 1t.
few years ago the people in Ca
naan and Hinckley and the vicinity
found out that they were being ham
nered to a great extent by having to
ferry across the Kennebec river to
market their products. 1t seems that
one day man was hauling his hay
n Hinckley from the Clinton side and
he had to wait for the ferry boat two
hours there being other teams ahead
of him. and while he sat there he
did some hard thinking. He said to
himself that it was foolish to have
TO transport his products across the
river on a ferry boat and by the time
he got ready to cross that day ne
had made up his mind that he would
see what could be done toward get
ting a bridge. He predicted to some
of his neighbors that there would be
q bridge across the river inside OF
two wears. They laughed at him,
but when the Legislature was in ses-
sion this last time in Augusta ne was
there together with nearly everybody
elise within a radius of ten miles from
that ferry. They got an appropria-
tion sufficient to build the bridge. IL
nov stands a proof of his efforts.
This goes only to show that some
one started in to bring about great
nroiect and by his leadership 1t was
done. The same spirit Is now begin
ming to work in Canaan. The local
Grange is the starter of this move
ment and through it's efforts Board
of Trade has been formed and
committee has been appointed 10
look into the matter of building the
electric car line. The members of the
Board of Trade are: President, Dr.
L. w. Shean; First Vice President
George H. Foster; Second Vice Pres
ident, w. C. Fitzgerald; Third Vice
President, T. B. Barrett; Secretary
and Treasurer, H. B. Harris.
In considering the matter, tney
have brought to mind the fact that
there is an excellent supply of lum-
ber in and about Canaan which has
heretofore been considered valueless
because of the long distance for
transportation. There Is a stream
that flows from Sibley's pond that
much of the lumber can be run down
but then it Is five miles from rail-
road and it has been considered al
most an impossibility until the build
ing of the new bridge. They, too
have thought of the many ponds that
are in the vicinity of Canaan. There
are three sheets of water that are
excellent fishing and sporting
grounds, the principal one being
Lage George. All contain large
amount of fish such as white perch,
black bass, pickerel and trout and
Lake George has good supply OF
salmon This is a good location 1or
camps and cottages and could easily
be developed so as to mean to the
number of surrounding towns and
even the city of Waterville as much
as Lakewood means to Skowhegan
Lake George has already several cot
tages on it's shores and a large COM
modious hotel and the grounds about
the pond are superb. SURPRISING IN
natural beauty any pond in the coun-
ty. This resort has been developed
10 this extent by George NWashburn;
but, being eight miles from Skowhe-
gan and about the same distance
from Hinckley, it does not have the
popularity that an electric car line
from Hinckley to Canaan would give
it.
Surrounding the village of Canaan
and on the road from the village to
Hnckley is some of the very best soil
for any product that can be grown
In Maine. The farms at present are
productive. They yield large crops
OF hay; potatoes have done well for
these farmers and corn has brought
them a great deal of profit But,
compared to what the farmers are
doing now since the Hinckley bridge
has arrived, their farms before were
worth to them about one-half their
present value.
One of the advantages to any cor
poration or company who might
pulld car line is that Canaan has
excellent water power and 1t is here
mat the people of Canaan feel their
stronghold and here they must do
lhelr greatest work. Canaan has six
Waterpowers or more: One on the
outlet stream of Morrill, pond that
esn be converted into a reservoir
win a ten foot head; on Carrabas-
eel stream, the outlet of Sibley's
pond is another power with a seven
ioot head, the pond being one by two
hiiles and receives contributions from
Morrill pond; on Carrabassett stream
az canaan village Is another power
% ",'n an eighteen foot head, also an
o,ner with an eight foot head; at
;a sioores Mills, mile below Canaan,
power with six foot head. The
power on Carrabassett stream Is only |
paIuy improved. 1t will furnish one
ppInured p,aend horsepower the year round.
hntS Sh stream and Bog stream are