davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

commerce of those years the pecu-
liar distinction 1t came to possess.
In 1889 the ship tonnage con.
structed in the United States to-
tailed 11S,309, Of which 1885 be-
longed to Maine, no other state COM
pairing with it in amount. OF the
ISL vessels built in Maine that year,
50 were listed as ships. So a. briggs,
and Is az schooners. OF the total
Maine tonnage Of that year, nearly
ne-third, or 1918. was constructed
at Waldoboro.
The panic Of 1857. one Of the
most severe and widespread that
has ever como to the United States,
was no less disastrous to the ocean
shipping interests than to other
fields Of activity. The shipbuilding
industry in Maine was very in1urt-
ously affected. Tho effects Of the
panic continued until after the Civil
War.
During tho period following the
Civil War a concentration in the 10.
cation OF shipbuilding plants has
taken place: and for q number OF
decades much the greatest part OF
the tonnage was built II yards at
Bath (easily of first importance),
Rockland, Camden, Boothbay, South
Portland, Phippsburg. Waldoboro,
Thomaston, Millbridge and MachiaA.
Since 1890 Bath has also been dis.
tinguished through tho possession Of
the only steel shipbuilding plant -
the State.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

of Mr.. Kelley when he was given 4
liberal pension by the Grange.
While the Gtange did not start as
cooperative association, that issue
was finally forced upon the order,
The early members were not skilled
in economics, and the establishing of
stores managed by men who Knew
nothing of business came near dis
rupting the order. This work began
in the early seventies and continued
for several years. The lesson was
finally learned and the greater part
of these stores were abandoned. The
few that still remain have been man
aged by business men, who under
stand business methods, and these
have been successful. The lessons
of that venture have aided all other
associations of q similar nature
whose leaders have studied the
grange literature OF Il half century
ago.
The work of the grange since that
time has largely been educational,
and it has aided in cSta biiShing all
the great agricultural reforms of the
country. 1t has brought agriculture
into the common schools and eX-
tended the hand of fellowship to all
good things calculated to aid the
welfare of the farmer. II was the
chief educational force in establish
ing the parcel post system and free
rural delivery. It's agitation has fin
ally placed farmer in the cabtnent
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

From. strictly home industry, by
which the early pioneers built their
homes in the Maine wilderness. lum-
bering in Maine grew into a business
whose outlet lay to the four corners
Of the globe.
Various county deeds and wills are
full Of references to early mills. Be-
fore King Charles the Second came
to biz throne Roger Plaisted had a
aw mill on Great Works river. in
Berwick. and the names of Great
Works. and Plaisted. Of Douty and
Spencerr associated with him, carry
across to the Penobscot. Equally
Early William Philips had mills in
the saco. which were burned in 1915.
There were early mills on the Mou-
nm Falls. in Wells. and in other
places. Thus over $50 years ago
there were many saw-mills in Maine
yery much like the busy little mills
Nnicn 5O years ago hummed on al
moa every stream in the State.
NMneJs forests, even after three
centuries OF agricultural and indus
1lai Development cover $4,000, 600
ol the 100000 acres in the State.
Win z value we'll over 500, 600, 600.
Iney give employment to 100000 of
'ae iU,O00 people in Maine. They
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08
Shipbuilding Once Big Maine Industry
Coming of Steamers Lessened Activity

building as an industry in Maine
could hardly have occurred until
after tn middle Of the 18th century.
Ships were built at Portland as early
as 1928. BY 1745 sloops and small
schooners for the coasting trade
were being turned off the ways at
Bath. Following the Revolutionary
War q number of towns along the
coast gave considerable attention to
the industry. The close Of the War
of 1872 found ship construction ac-
tive and rapidly developing. In 1920.
the year of Names entrance into the
Union, 14.24S tons OF shipping were
built within its borders. Five years
later the tonnage constructed was
34,55S.
It was during these years that an
interesting class of shipbuilding and
owning families came into being.
whose business enterprise and family
pride were largely responsible for
the fortune which American ship
ping came to enjoy. Starting in a
modest way, they increased their
fleet with larger and finer types Of
ships as their resources expanded.
These Maine shipping families. faith
ers and sons, generation after gen.
Grafton, made of themselves COM
petitors Of a power and ability few
could equal and none excel. Their
sails were spread on every sea; their
clipper ships were found in every
leading port Of the world. 1t was
they who chiefly gave to American
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

make this the leading State in con-
sumption and production of pulp
wood. Newspapers and magazines
throughout the country are printed
on paper made from wood grown
here. The annual cut is 1,WO,0O
cords of pulp wood and 5OO,0W,OOO
board feet of lumber, a total equiva-
lent of 1000, 100000 board feet, not
including the material that goes into
the minor Industries, such as veneer,
excelsior, cooperage, novelties ana
Toys. Spruce and balsam mr. pre-
dominate in the northern part and
white pine is the chief commercial
product in the southern.
Maine numbering divides itself in
to three stages: the development OF
saw-mills, the development OF river
driving and the development OF wa
ter storage.
In the first, which lasted from the
early days until after the Revolu-
ton, there was, generally speaking,
no division of labor and no massing
of capital beyond small local and
family partnerships. The same man
was lumberman and sawyer, pro-
prietor and laborer. This period
was marked by the building or IN
Vulnerable saw-mills upon all the
lesser coastwise streams. They
spread rapidly eastward and de-
spite the danger from the lndlahs:
began to occupy the tributaries OF
the larger rivers Thus they moved
up stream and into the woods, gnaw-
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

Following pioneer work in the
South and other states of the union
by Oliver II. Kelley, the National
Grange was organized in Washing
ton, D. c., Nov. Is, 1867. While the
original aim of the order was to
bring together the farmers of the
North and the South,.the movement
gradually spread to other parts of
the union as well as Canada. Asso-
ciated with Mr.. Kelley in the found
ing of the order was a group of
earnest. energetic men. William
Saunders, J. II. Thompson. John
Trumble. w. NJ. Ireland, A. b. Grosh
and F. NJ. Mcdowell.
Mr.. Saunders was elected the first
master and Mr.. Kelley was named
the first secretary, as that was con-
sidered the most important Office.
The Grange spread rapidly and soon
became one of the most powerful
fraternal organizations in the coun-
try. For several years, Mr.. Kelley
i'm the role of organizer worked en-
Enthusiastically, going into many
states. In this work he was -ided
appreciably by his niece. Miss Carrie
A. Hall of Boston. 1t was she who
first advocated the admission of Wo-
men on equal terms with the men.
A life time devoted to the order
found partial reward in the last days
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

with which appeals could be taken
to the supreme court was its fatal
defect. Two trials were thus grant
ed to parties almost as matter OF
course, when one would ordinarily
have answered the same purpose.
1t was therefore abolished by act of
the legislature Of 1852, and all duties
and powers, including appeals from
justices of the peace, transferred to
the supreme judicial court, the num-
Der of judges of that court being
increased to seven.
Superior Court
Under the great accumulation of
small cases resulting from this abol-
ishment. the docket Of the supreme
court in the larger counties soon be-
came crowded and unwieldy, and as
consequence suitors were unreal
sonably delayed. A demand for a
more prompt administration Of JUS
tice was heard; and in 1873, in pur-
sUance of the example in Cumber-
land county ten years before, an act
was procured establishing a superior
court for kennebec county, which
obviated the objection to the old sys-
tenn Of common pleas and the dis
trict court by giving to the jury
trial the same legal effect it had in
the supreme court. The act pro-
be held in Augusta, but by an
amendment in 1889 provision was
made for holding two terms in the
city of Waterville. William Penn
Whitehouse. of Augusta, was APP
pointed Judge of this court in Feb
ruary, 1873. for the term of seven
years, and served by re-appointment
until April 49, 1890. when he re-
signed to accept an appointment on
the bench Of the supreme judicial
court. Oliver G. Hall, of Water
Vile, was appointed to fill the va
cancy. After establishment of this
court its jurisdiction was enlarged
BY successive amendments to en-
brace all civil matters except real
actions. complaints for flowage. and
proceedings in equity, including
libels for divorce and exclusive origi-
nal and appellate jurisdiction of all
criminal matters. including capital
cases. An appeals from municipal
and police courts and trial justices
in civil and criminal cases, are cog
nizable by this court.
The Probate Court
Under the ssachusetts colonial
charter of 1923 the general court"
exercised jurisdiction in matters Of
probate until 1860, when 1t was
transferred to the county courts.
Tho general court assumed jurisdic-
ton in Maine in all matters relating
to the administration Of estates until
1901. In 1854 the Massachusetts
legislature passed the first probate
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

be held at Augusta in May: and an
additional term for jury trials was
to be held by one of the justices in
each of the counties except Frank
lin. Piscataquis, Washington and
Hancock; that for Kennebec to be
held on the first Tuesday OF Octo-
Ter. Capital cases were to~pe tried
by majority of the court. In 1S47
the number of judges of this court
was increased to four, and in 1852
to seven, and in 1866 to eight, re-
duced to seven in 1856, restored tc
eight in 1857, reduced again in 1870,
restored in 1880 to eight at which
number it has since remained.
Court Of Common Pleas
The inferior court of common
pleas was organized for each coun-
" under the province charter of
lN'2. This courts was composed of
four justices in each county, three
or whom to be q quorum for the
trial of all civil actions of whatso-
ever. nature. the party cast" in this
court to have the liberty Of new
trial on appeal or writ of error to
the superior court by giving recog-
nizance to prosecute the appeal with
effect and abide the order of court.
The judges were to be substantial
persons. but practically were not
learned in the law. Indeed, there
seems to be no evidence that prior
to the beginning of the 10Th century
any member of this court In Maine
was an educated lawyer. Prior to
1856 no term of this court was held
east of Wells: after that time one
was held annually in June at Fall
mouth, now Portland, William Pep
pcrell. afterward Sir William, being
then chief justice. When the county
Of Lincoln was organized in 1860.
enc term of this court was held for
that country. Under the Massachu-
sets constitution of 1852 this court
was continued with all its jurisdic-'
ton and powers. and in 17SG provi-
sion was made for an additional
term in Lincoln county. to be held
annually at Hallowell, now Augusta.
The first term was held on the sec
end Tuesday of January, 1887. at
the Fort Western settlement in Bal
lards Tavern, by william Lithgow,
James Howard and Nathaniel
Thwing. These with Thomas Rice
were the four persons commissioned
as Judges OF the Court Of Common
Pleas. At the time of the organiZa-
ton of Kennebec County in 1903 the
judges of this court were Joseph
North and Daniel Cony Of Augusta.
and Nathaniel Drummer and Chand-
Ter Robbins of Hallowell.
In 1904 the number Of justices was
reduced to three for each county.
end in 1911, under the administra-
tior of Governor Gerry. the old sys-
tenn, which had existed for 112 years,
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

act. This established a court Of pro-
bate in the several counties, to be
held by some able and learned per-
son in each county to be appointed
judge, from whose decision an APP
peal lay to the supreme judicial
court. AS thus constituted. this inn
portant court, through which passes
all the estates in the community
once in about 30 years, was con-
tinued with essentially the same
Jurisdiction and power by act of the
the office of both judge and register
was made elective. with a tenure Of
four years.
Municipal Courts in Kennebec
In the county of Kennebec are
five municipal courts, Hallowel',
Gardiner. Augusta, Waterville and
winthrop, established in the order
named. Originally the judgeship OF
some Of these courts was an elective
office filled by vote of the people.
But since 1876 It has been an APP
pointive Office, filed by the appoint
ment of the governor and council,
the term being four years.
The jurisdiction and powers of
these five courts. as originally con-
SlllulGtA WSTS SuDSidhtAoAty viz SUNNY
comprising for the most part, mat
ters previously cognizable by JUS
tices of the peace. but by act OF 1871
the municipal court Of Watervtlie
was invested with Jurisdiction con-
current with the superior court in
all civil actions wherein the debt or
damage demanded, exclusive OF
costs, did not exceed 500. provided,
however. that any action in which
the debt or damages exceeded $40
such action might be removed to
the superior court on motion OF the
defendant under certain conditions
prescribed in the act. Its jurisdic-
ton in criminal matters was also
greatly enlarged.
The court at Hallowell was es-
tablished in 1885. with Samuel X.
Gilman as Judge. elected February
18th of that year. The present CIVIL
jurisdiction Of this court is $2O. M.
ii. Simmons is the present judge.
The Gardiner court was estab-
lished in 1850, George w. Bachelor
being its first judge, elected January
il. 1850. win c. Atkins is the pres
cnt judge. the civil jurisdiction OF
the court now being 5000.
Judge Benjamin A. G. Fuller OPP
ened the municipal court In Augusta,
May z. 1850. Judge Robert A. Cony
now holds this position. The pres
ent civil Jurisdiction of the court Is
$500.
The Waterville police court was
opened in 1850 by Horace w. Stew
art. appointed April 21st, that year.
The civil jurisdiction Of the court Is
500. with Judge Charles w. Atchley
holding Office at present
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

of that year term of the superior
court of Massachusetts was held
there by Judges Paine, Bradley and
Dawes, and thereafter regularly each
year. At the famous trial of the
Malta Indians, charged with the
murder of Paul Chadwick, the court
was held at Augusta on Nov. III,
1909, by four judges-Sedgewick
Sewall, Thatcher and Parker.
Supreme judicial Court
The constitution of 1850 changed
the title OF the superior court to that
of the Supreme judicial Court, but
with the same powers and jurisdic-
ton as its predecessor and with the
same number of judges. Those first
appointed by the new government
were William Cushing. Nathaniel p.
Sargent, James Sullivan. Daniel Sew
all and Jedediah Foster. AT first all
Jury trials were had in the presence
of not less than three members of
the court. but the "nisi prius" sys-
tenn was gradually introduced, under
which the law terms only were held
by majority Of the judges and the
tlial terms by a single judge. except
in capital cases. Until 1892 the
judges appeared on the bench in
robes and wigs. the robes being of
black silk in the summer and of
scarlet cloth in the winter.
The records of this court were
kept in Boston until 1897, when they
we're transferred to the custody of
the clerks Of the common pleas Of
the several counties, except those of
Lincoln. Hancock and Washington
in Maine. Jonathan Bowman, Jr.,
~, he ,tc pIr f~,,
kennebec County, his residence be-
ing at Pownalborough.
When Maine became a separate
state. in 1920. 1t was provided in the
constitution that the judicial pow
supreme judicial court and such
other courts as the legislature shall
from time to time establish" BY
act Of June "a, 1920, supreme judi
cisl court was established, consist
ing of a chief justice and two asso-
ciate justices, any two of whom
should be a court and have cQgni-
zance of all civil actions between
party and party which might be
legally tried before them by original
writ, ~writ Of error, or otherwise, and
of all capital crimes and other Of
lenses and misdemeanors which
might be legally prosecuted before
them. They also had general super
intendence of all courts of inferior
Jurisdiction and was made the su-
preme court of probate.
BY the act of 1923 and subsequent
amendments this court was required
to be holden annually by a majority
of the justices in each of the twelve
counties, the term OF Kennebec to
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

new era was then inaugurated
). ~ history Of these provinces.
= 80, the new charter of 1851 an
= ..stting forth general privileges"
:, promptly passed by the general
y. .snr, q Massachusetts,. comprising
~, ~ familiar doctrines of Magma
49,. and the cardinal principles
. .rs,vsrd enunciated in the Declara-
,,.n J, Independence and her own
IN = rights. Courts were also
ppr,,omptly established substantially
=. me As they existed for the next
a sss. wears. There were justices of
I nv ,ssce for the trial of small cases.
~. n vcuarter sessions. the inferior
W. Il common pleas and the su-
. .srior court. The governor and
p psnnc,f we're by the new charter
made, made court of probate.
rha snperior court of the province
...sis.ed Of a chief justice and four
..saclaies, namely: William Slough
.ou q j., Thomas Danforth. Wait
winthrop ,'i John Richards and Sam
wi SewalL none of whom had been
sIsnssted as lawyers. Two sessions
~ i,is ro,lrt were held in the several
~ .annties each year, except that all
.s.s. arising in Maine prior to 1853
rrre fried in Boston and Charles
.own Thereafter one term was
sr.rfef 10 the state of Maine until
i50Q, when the counties of Cumber-
and and Lincoln were established.
A that, time the county of Lincoln
included the territory of the kenne-
hacs nateut, and the proprietary COM
nsnvs erected buildings for the new
county at Pownalborough, now Dres-
Am. The old courthouse there has
Mean converted into a dwelling house
and IL sill In good state of repair.
The first term of the superior
rcrrt held in Lincoln county was in
11@ and the first term at Hallowell.
row Augusta, commenced July ..
1874 in q church prepared for the
occasion, the court house in Market
SQUARE erected in 1870 being insult
acient in size for the accommodation
Of this court. It was held by Judges
Robert Treat Paine and Summer and
Dawes. They were attended by
three sheriffs wearing cooked hats
and carrying swords. each with his
long white staff of Office. They were
accompanied by such celebrities as
Theophilus Parsons and Nathan
Dane. It IL related that having no
bell to summon the court. the judges
moved, by beat OF drum In a pro-
ceesion, not a little imposing. pre-
ceded BY their officers and followed
by thesbar."
After the organization OF Kenne-
bee county in 1909, Augusta, which
had been set off from Hallowell two
years before, became the shire town
Of the new county, and on July 10th
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

nual growth approximates a million
cords a year?
The hardwood supply In Maine Is
so great that the present cuttings
take care of only a small per cent OF
the growth. Millions of feet OF hard
wood are yearly going to waste Tor
want of q market. 1t is to the devel-
opment Of our hardwood resources
that the people of Maine should
direct their attention at this time.
These hardwoods are needed by the
nation and should not be allowed 10
decay in the forests. *
We invite the consumers OF nara
wood to visit Maine. We have the
supply. We have ideal locations for
manufacturing plants. We have
high-grade, Industrious labor.
We deal in Maine Timberlands. we
buy and sell. We solicit inquiries re-
garding pulpwood and saw log supply
hardwood stumpage Of all kinds, IN.
Guiding pure white birch stands ana
old growth mixed hardwoods. Let's
utilize our hardwoods and contribute
to the prosperity of Maine and the
welfare of the nation.
BLAINE S. VILES.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08
MAINE TIMBERLANDs

4. Maine Is primarily a forest state,
quarters of our area or more
!. sa nlteep million acres is classified
y forest land.
~, tneee forests are the most valuable
suentance that could fall to any
os They protect our great water
M ,. BY regulating the flow of our
nas and streams; they make our
49,. S me ideal play ground # the
~s mum and they furnish an az equate
~ vy !or the great numbering indus
A. great enemy of the forest Is
ma ~ aaa this agency has destroyed
~ ~ umber in the past than has
N usen utilized N numbering.
t... ~ forests Of Maine must be pro-
nrss' u nom fire and with adequate
mssscuon they insure a practically
a. sustible supply Of forest prod
M yo1 realize that there are about
d ml!lion cords Of spruce and fir
fo,..ssI cnantable size standing in the
o. Maineo And that the an
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

ably more than four feet from the
ground. In the year 1S4S the Pc
nobscot mills were saving annually
about 100000 feet of long lumber
and over a half billion pieces of
short lumber, an output which for
many years gave to Bangor her title
of the greatest lumber market in
the world"
The energy and initiative OF the
early Maine lumbermen is some-
thing to be remembered with pride.
When the locomotive was hardly
more than q toy, there was line of
railroad, the second in the United
States. between Bangor and OldtoWn.
When the steamboat was still a rari-
ty. certainly as early as 1910, there
was one. running on Mooschead
Lake, and there were others running
from Oldtown up the Penobscot
river. In that busy decade they
were digging canals about the falls,
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

comprising the counties OF Lincoln,
Kennebec and Somerset, in each of
which three terms of this court were
annually held by one of the justices.
1t had original and exclusive Juris
dlction of all civil actions where the
debt or damage demanded did not
exceed two hundred dollars, and con-
current jurisdiction above that sum.
1t had also jurisdiction of all crimes
ard misdemcanors previously cog
rizable by the court of common
pleas. The aggrieved party could
carry his case forward by appeal or
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

Is concentrated and the divorce of
capital and labor is entire.
Wood is still cut in large quanti-
ties, but three-fourths Of 1t is not
numbering in the old sense. It is at
once converted into pulp or paper
and even these products are regard
ed as by-products. The production
of power rather than of lumber, ac-
counts for the vast enterprises which
have been successfully carried out in
the last three decades.
To mention only the storage sys-
tenn of the Great Northern Paper
Company on the West Branch of the
Penobscot. its first project was in
creasing the flowage of the Lower
Lakes and utilizing the vast water
power at the Grand Falls. Fourteen
billion cubic feet of water. it Is esti-
mated by the Geoglogical Survey.
are stored there. In 1902, it made
the great flowage of Seeboomook in