Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-17

mond people in subscriptions and by
fairs have raised in all $S000 Which has
been expended on machinery and re-
pairs.
In 1912 Bell Bros, shoe manufactur-
ers of Salem, Mass, came to Richmond
to see what the town would do for
them, were they to locate there. The
Board of Trade found itself unable to
aid. 1t looked as if the town would
lose a good concern. Citizens talked
the matter over and again decided to
subscribe. With the cash thus raised
they built another shoe factory 125 by
40 feet and two stories in height. Bell
Bros. equipped the new shop with ma
chinery shafting and electric lights
and began work with so hands employ
ed In a very few months more room
was needed another subscription was
raised by the citizens of the now live
town and an addition to the new shop
of 100 by 40 feet was constructed. Civ
ing a plant 225 feet long by 40 feet wide
and two stories in height. When the
addition was completed, Bell Bros, at
their own expense built wing so feet
long by 40 feet wide. These additions
Bell Bros. are equipping with sbafting
be in full running order and all it's
machinery in operation before the first
of March. 51
The Richmond Improvement Asso-
citation Inc. with a capital stock of
| $4,000 and Senator Noble Maxwell
president, has been incorporated to
take over this property, which, fully
paid for and equipped, it will own and
control.
Bell Bros. have an established and
increasing trade and after its hard
work and occasional defeats, the flu
ture of Richmond as a Shoe Manu-
featuring town seems now assured.
Its Other industries.
In addition TO it's shoe factories
Richmond has cotton mill manufac-
turing cotton yarn, the mill some four
or five years ago having been pur-
chased by a Syndicate of Lowell,
Mass, manufacturers, who have run it
steadily for four years past and this
winter it is in operation in addition to
day work. four nights a week. This
| mill was built originally at a cost OF
$126, 900 by the late Hon. T. ]. Southland
and citizens and run as a bag mill, but
being unable to meet Western compe-
ton it was shut down and remained
closed for Il years. Ten years ago 1t
was sold to Sears of Fall River, who
| junked its old machinery and euipped
lit with more than $4,000 worth OF
modern English cotton manufacturing
machines. Three years later he sold it
to Arnold =. Sanford and others o;
Boston, who manufactured therein
cotton yarn for two years, when it
was again sold to the present Lowell
owners. 1t now employs at good wa
ges 100 women and men.
Another live Richmond industry is
the mill of the f. r. Bradstreet Luin-
Der Co, which has been in successful
operation for six years, cutting $4,000
long lumber every day and employing
60 hands.
The cotton mill is run by electricity
from Richmonds splendid electric
plant. This plant has been going
concern for 10 years past and brings
its electricity through Gardiner. Far
mingdale and Richmond to the village,
from the Central Maine Power Co.,
transmitting the fluid over trunk line
which carries 10000 volts.
Richmond u years ago put in its
Water Works System, taking its I'M
failing and pure supply from the Ken
nebec rive which is first pumped two
miles back to the reservoir and then
filtered into the village for use.
Rents Have Doubled
To- day in Richmond real estate is
increasing in yalue. Rents during the
last year have doubled and scarcely a
house is now unoccupied
Three years ago at a cost of $4,000
the new brick High school building
was completed and is the pride of the
town. 1t is in architecture and hy-
giene and with reference to comfort of
pupils and convenience in educational
work, a thoroughly modern structure,
Its graduates have only to present GER
tilicates from this school to enter any
American college or university.
Great Financial Record.
During the past three years Rich
mond has paid 81, 404 on its High
school debt, of which the town raised
directly but $1,500. The balance has
been saved from sumo appropriated
for other purposes and applied TO this
department. The selectmen have been
doing splendid financial work all along
the line. as is shown by the fact that
on February /, 1913, after paying all
town bills for 1872 there was left in
the treasury s4,044
-Four years ago Richmond's cash re-
sources were $5S.69 over her liabilities.
Under the new board of selectmen,
So 904.S9 has been saved and paid ON
the High school debt and to-day the
village has cash resources of $4,224.15,
making $10,129.04 which the present
board has saved in four years. This
beats the financial record of any town
in Maine.
Ten Miles of Good Walks.
Twelve years ago Richmond began
improving the condition of her side
walks and streets. On the former, the
pianks were taken up SO far as possible
from year to year and tar concrete
walks We're built. Now the village has
10 miles of this new walk of a quasi
permanent character. Upon the roads
$1,000 each year have been spent with
good results. Four years ago the Sc
leotmen decided to improve the road on