Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-06-07

The town of Franklin disputes the
claim of Livermore Falls that she
has the youngest selectman in the
State, because the former claims that
Grafton l.. Bunker, who is now serv-
ing his second term, is not yet "a
years of age. Franklin also claims
that he is not only the youngest but
the biggest selectman in the State,
for he now weighs 1923 pounds and
still coming.
That Aroostook people are not going
to make altogether a miser's hoard of
their plentiful shekels, would seem to be
indicated by the fact that on a single
day recently about 90 prosperous Aroos-
tookans are said to have had their
names on the register of the Parker
House in Boston.-Star Herald. And
probably as many more were registered
at other hotels and another 80 in other
cities. No. Aroostook hush andmen are
not miserly.-Republican, Caribou.
Omar Cunningham, who lives on the
Walter Smith place, Pennington, has
collie dog, four years old, that is a most
inveterate foe of woodchucks; in fact
she nearly wears herself to skin and
bones in her work of digging and ami
hilation. The strangest part of this
story lies in the fact that in spite of her
antipathy to the woodchuck, about a
week ago she reached home with baby
chuck in her mouth, which she has since
tenderly cared for as though it were one
Of her own puppies. 1t remains to be
seen what she will do when she discov-
ers that she has brought up an alien.
During the potato season up to May
Is. the Fort Fairfield National Bank had
paid drafts. for potatoes alone, amount
ing to 1882, 1902, says the Fort Fairfield
Review. This is certainly some sum for
one bank in one town for only one prod
uct. 1t should be remembered also that
one or two of the largest buyers have
paid altogether in money, getting their
cash from this bank and paying it over
to the people they bought Of The size
of this business gives little indication
of the magnitude of the potato business
in Fort Fairfield, which is of course the
greatest farming town in New England.
An incident worthy of mention
happened recently at the Maine Cen
trail station at Lincoln when both
houses Of the Maine Legislature
played an important part. The Am
erican Express agent, James Craft,
had backed his Ford truck up to the
platform and was preparing for the
Bangor train. Among the articles
for shipment were two large dressed
hogs weighing about 800 pounds each,
and he desired to get these lifted on
to high truck. There was a large
crowd on the platform waiting for the
train and among the number were
Senator George w. Thombs and Rep
resentative Artemus Weatherbee. A
person standing by told Mr.. Craft
that he could get these two men to
give him a lift. Mr.. Craft called for
the two gentlemen and they came
without hesitating and with the agent
made short work of putting the large
hogs on the truck. 1t is very seldom
that a member from both the House
and the Senate are called upon to do
this kind of work, but Senator
Thombs and Rep. Weatherbee be-
lieve in being prepared for such an
emergency.
1t has been the custom for several
years to use the occupants of the
Cumberland county Jail on the
State highway work but it is
said that the Jail crews will
not be in evidence this year, or
at least until a peculiar and unusual
situation is cleared up. A man from
the Jail was injured last year while
working on the highway. having a
leg broken. at gravel pit in Gorham.
The county commissioners contend
that he should have damages. from
the State, the road fund or the town,
but the others contend that, as he was
receiving SO cents a day for his la
Dor, he was an employee. The coun-
ty commissioners deny this point.
saying the SO cents was a gratuity
and not wage. Therefore, no fur
ther chances will be taken by them.
All attempts last year to place work.
mems compensation insurance on the
working prisoners failed, the agents
refusing such risks. The prisoners
we're worked without any agreement
or contract with anyone as to liability
in case of accident.