The Republican journal., 1920-02-12

SnOW-ball me, pretty small target at the
time. They looked like small army to
! me then. do not recall why we were
up by the schooIhouses with our teams,
but for some reason we were. Perhaps
it is that old prejudice on account of the
snowballing that turns me personally
from the common for the site of the new
school building.
Belfast was great place to me then.
followed the team ahead mighty closely,
lest got lost. have eaten many a cold
dinner beside the round, old bullying
stove which used to stand in Woods,
Mathews & Bakers store. At that time
hay teams were in line for considerable
distance up Main street from the wharf
Each had to take his turn in unloading
! We were then hauling Is miles, but all
shipments now are made from the station
three miles distant. If a man from Knox
now had to drive loaded team into Bel
fast with mercury 5 or 10 below, he
would think it an extreme hardship.
Dairying then was carried on only
slightly. Today large herds of COWS are
maintained on almost every farm and the
hay is consumed at the farm, thereby
gradually and continually improving it's
condition Farms, which then supported
the slos, carry large herds. Farms that
then would have supported from 10 to IS
head now easily carry 80 to 35 head.
This condition obtains throughout our
county.
doubt if the most of US realize the
number of farms in Waldo county that
outside our State. | believe | never hat
tp In fbop T Il h.
year to sign the deed in transfer of the
old home farm. l can see my father
standing there and my mother sitting in
the old arm rocker by the table whenever
| think of the place Go where you NAV.
say what you will, however humble it
may have been, there is no spot so dear
| to you as the old home where mother
| lived
But have wandered slightly from nv
subject. Situated on one of the mo st
beautiful inlets of the ocean, only 1 or 2
hours therefrom, and within a compare
lively short haul by railroad from our N
E. metropolis, Belfast is most admirably
located for city many times it present
size. Nature has certainly done her part
toward making Belfast city of several
thousand Inhabitants. Though latent for
many years, the city is now becoming
active. Hardly vacant rent exists to-
day and new dwellings must be erected
soon 1t is only the excessive cost that
prevents it Immediately In taking the
census in Ward only two empty rents
were found. In one, the occupant had
Just died; in the other the party had Just
moved into Ward 2; and this condition
exists throughout the city. 1t requires
now only a little push, pull, interested
energy and unity of action to put Bella st
on the map. Indee we are on the map
already.
The purchase of the water plant; the
new bridge, the schoolhouse; the early
removal of the oil tanks, fire menace to
our business district, with the consequent
reduction of insurance rates in that i'm
mediate section; the movement toward
re-classitication of the city as to dwell
ling insurance rates are starters on the
road Of progress. AS a rule do not he
lieve in municipal or Government owner
ship or operation of anything, but | have
to make an exception as to a water
plant, particularly when conditions are
as unsatisfactory as they were in Belfast
new hotel in the center of the square
adjacent to the Post Office would be
another starter. Jones & Whittier in
such a new domicile would be able to do
even more than they are now doing to in
crease the attractlveness and prestige of
our city;
Our shoe factory strongly entrenched
financially, IN management, and in the
high order OF intelligence and ability of
It's employees, is constantly increasing
its number of employees and will ere
long be turning out 1000 dozen pairs per
day IN building extending over the
Durham lot and perhaps back to the
street over the Commercial House site.
Our other manufactures are all in a
healthy condition and growing both in
size and numbers.
What is necessary to keep and further
accelerate this momentum? It is only a
little snap, push, energy and pull-togetn-
er spirit. Truly said: ga house divided
against itself cannot stand" 1t is the
same old fable of the farmer and his sons.
The pull apart spirit existent here for so
long operated to retard the city's growth
and counteract the opportunities with
which nature has endowed u.s. Instead
OF keeping taxes low and merely ekinp
out an existence, should we not have
been paying more and further bettering
our roads, streets, sidewalks and sewers?
Would not the convenience and attrac-
tlveness of these bettered facilities have
drawn more people toward us, increased
our valuation, ultimately decreased our
tax rate, and helping us pay these ex-
per ses? Probably nothing will operate
to increase the population and prosperity
of Belfast iii the future more than the
new school building to be, and it is to be!
People will then move into Belfast to
educate their children. This will increase
the available labor supply for our fac
tories. We are short at least 100 workers
this very night. With more available
help still other factories can quickly be
located here. Children will be flocking
in from every town in the county to at
tend our High school, renting rooms,
stabling their horses, and bringing in
their relatives, neighbors and friends to
care for them, all to go back to their
homes laden with wares from our stores.
A considerable revenue will also thus be
derived from the towns rounda bout in
tuition to help defray the running ex-
penses of our High school. l am willing
to go on record that the High school will
double in attendance within three wears,
probably two, from the day the new
school building is opened Belfast will
then be known as it never has been
known before.
Today children in the High school are