'age 4-The Journal Opinion-March 31 1982
An open letter to ! II
NORTHEAST PUBLISHING COMIANY, Inc.
Publisher of
Journal M Opinion
WeIT nemlNUp,, p,l, ln, llsk b wd. VeNmmO. IkdbRrlpltOrl mlOt - Voo'iet Now Suopshiro • Se.N
Ir yt if.00 for Itx ink; cut d • III,H p year end 17.H fw Ih moeOkltt €:itil,
det SL00.
Sotd Chill pelNle Imld at Smdford, VemiNt 0S035. Publidled by aerlbet Ildiski €, inc..
P.O. |01 iT|, lmdford.
Robert F. Humlnskl
President & Publisher
Bradford /
502-222-528 i Woodsville
• o" 603-747-2016
An Independent Newspaper
-- Ill hill i ] i . --
Bath Lumber Company
",."
Rat yers vs. utilities ' ......
The two representatives from the less electricity winter. This has
Vermont Public Service Board, who
presided over public testimony at last
week's Bradford hearing on CVPS's
proposed 25 percent rate increase,
should have left the meeting with no
second thoughts about how the public
in this area views the proposal.
Those who testified at the hearing
did not do so merely to get a nagging
problem off from their chest. The
public seemed to he demanding action
-- action by government officials to
force the state's utilities to look more
humanely toward their ratepayers.
The ratepayers, at least in this area,
are saying they have bad,hough.
Public testimony at the hearing was
overwhelming in its call for help. It
will be important to see how the PSB
rules on the rate increase after the
end of its scheduled technical
hearings on the subject in May'. If the
increase is ittle
of
A 25 ) in utility rates
raises a number of concerto regard-
ing fairness. CVPS has asked their
ratepayers through their Peak Alert
program to conserve energy this
year; the public used nine percent
been a year of recession and we have
also seen our general economy slow
down, inflation has dropped and so
have oil prices. In these economic
times, the comfortable usually stay
comfortable while waiting for better
times ahead; the little guy (most of
us) usually suffers.
A look at the stock market shows
CVPS to be doing quite well by most
corporate standards. Late last year
CVPS announced that it had become
the first Vermont Corporation to
make it on to tile New York Stock
.Exchange. But you have to wonder at
whose expense when shortly after
their "great news shareholders"
announcement, the company an-
nounced their 25 percent rate increase
proposal.
Besides keeping a Watchful eye on
the PSB, the public may also want to
watch the fate of the two Senate bills
currently hnging in the legislature.
one bill, 8.220 would prohibit the
utilities from recoupment collection
or charging ratepayers retroactive
fees. A second Senate bill, S.24 would
allow the PSB to warn utilities when
they are on the verge of unwise in-
vestments.
Congressional Report
James M. Jeffords, (R-Vt.)
f
Vermonters offer insittht
into knotty budget queations
opportune time.
broiled in debate
and the questionnaire responses provide
excellent insights into the views of Ver-
monters on the knotty issues that have
been raised.
The questionnaire, which was filled out
by 8,116 adult Vermonters in January,
sought opinion on the basic economic
issue facing Congress and the social
impact of our economic policies,
A basic question on budget policy began
by asking, "Do you feel it is important to
balance
These who then
stzmld he
(First of three repm
,m quUmmaire results. )
r mast recent Vermont reduction package are also widely viewed
an as culprits in our deficit problem. Of those
eva- concerned about deficit spending, 76.9 per
cent said we should "roll hack some of the
The question was admittedly gene'al in
nature, since there are great differences of
opinion as to how soon itwfll be feasible to
balance the budget. But the responses
showed there is strong concern over deficit
spending: 85.6 per cent answered "yes".
Those who answered "yes" made it
clear that they feel the primary targets, in
reducing future deficits, should be the
military budget and some of the new tax
breaks that were adopted last year.
The largest number (of those concerned
about deficit spending) said we should
"Scrutinize the military budget, to
total
of 94.6 per
sub-
-into our rapidly increasing military
budget. Wasted defense dollars are not a
sacred cow in Vermont.
A smaller, but still significant, number
) of the military" as a
step
said there should be "less emphasis on
military buildup."
Some of the provisions of last year's tax
special tax breaks "that were added to the
1981 Tax Bill, such as these granted to the
oil companies." Smaller (but significant)
numbers of Vermonters expressed
skepticism about the economic impact of
more basic features of the tax package. A
total of 36,2 per cent said we should "roll
back some of the general tax cuts for
business and industry," while 20.3 percent
said we should "roll back some of the
individual tax cuts enacted in 1981."
Disillusionment over aspects of the tax
package also showed up strongly in the
rt of the questionn dealing with
social policies. In that ctlon, 74.9 per
"cent of respondents said there should be
"lea tax breaks for the wealthy, more tax
relief for low and middle incume people."
Of the steps listed for reducing future
dofielts, the one receiving the least support
was "deeper cuts in domestic programs."
However, support for that option was not
insignificant: 25.4 per cent (ef those
concerned about deficit spending) ex-
pressed the view that there is room for
further cuts on the domestic side of the
budget.
There are, of course, limitations in the
extent to which the questionnaire results
can ha applied to Vermonters' views on
specific budget items. First, any
questionnaire inherently over-simplifies
the categories of public opinion. Secondly,
mOst of the responses came before
President Reagan outlined his specific
budget proposals. Thirdly, the general
attitudes covered by the questionnaire
cannot always he directly translated to
specific pieces of legislation covering
specific s|tuatimm. But in facing the major
qubestionn t issues now be/ore Congress, the-
aire--combined with the
thousands of personal letters and com-
ments I have received from individual
Vermonters--providm a valuable guide to
the views of people in our state.
I shall he reporting the results of all
oth sections of the qt.mtinnnnire over the
next two weelm.
IVater.powered industries at Bath Vill00e
Waterpower was the key
to early industry, and the
waterpower of the
Ammonoosuc River was
harnessed in Bath Village for
nearly 200 years. The earliest
mill here was a grist mill built
by Daniel Mills on the east
side of the river, sometime
before 1782 a mill which was
worth "300 Spanish milled
dollars" in a mortgage to
Timothy Bedel (Grafton
County Register of Deeds).
Rev. Sutherland told in his
history of Bath about the trials
and tribulations of Mr. Mills:
"Soon after his first mill
was built, it was carried away
by a flood; whereupon he
remarked he was glad of it, for
it wasn't st in the right place.
He therefore built a second
one in the right place; this
having been burnt down a
short time after, he again said
he was glad of it, for it wasn't
built as it ought to have been.
He then built a third one,
which exactly suited him ,"
In 178, Daniel andhls
wife Nancy sold the mill to
Roger Sargent for "200 pounds
lawful money." Sargent then
added a sawmill on the same
side of the river (cast side).
Around the same time (by
1792), John Hurd and his son
Jacob were building a sawmill
1799, Gookin and Standring river. Mr. Bancroft built a
moved to Haverhill and began
manufacturing carding
machines for sale throughout
the United States and Canada
Gookin also set up woolen
mills in all parts of New
England, including the village
of Bath. Between 1802 and 1815
be bought up all the property
round the dam, on both sides
of the river, including the
rights to all the water power.
He operated a fulling or cloth-
dressing mill in partnership
with Caleb Hunt, also built a
brick gristmill. In 1822,
Gookin and Hunt built a new
woolen mill, at a cost of $I0,000
a lot of money for a factory
in those days.
Rev. Sutherland wrote:
"Mr. Gookin was a man of
uncommon energy and en-
terprise, as was shown by his
rebuilding in mid-winter the
mill-dams at Bath Village,
which bad been swept away by
the great freshet of Feb. 12,
1824, thereby topping all the
milis. He di at HaVerhill,
where he had long resided,
May 20, 1826."
Evidently the mill did not
prosper after Mr. Gookin was
gone, as Mr. Hunt lost it in
1829 through foreclosed
mortgages, to Ira Gondall.
and gristmill on the west side Village Falls Manufacturing
of the river. In those days Co.
Ira Goodall continued
operation of the woolen mill as
part of the Village Falls
Manufacturing Company,
which also had a dye house
and factory on the west side of
Main Street. However, the
woolen mill burned to the
ground on the night of Feb. II,
1851. Mr. Goodall rebuilt,
installing three sets of woolen
machinery, all running by
waterpower from thegristmill
flume.
The company ran into
financial difficulties, and by
mortgage foreclosure was
taken over in 1858 by Col.
James H. Johnson, who was
Bath's most prominent dtizen
at that time. He ran a saw mill
and lumber business, owned
most of the village water
power, and served at various
times in the State Legislature,
Senate, Governor's Council,
and the U. S. House of
Representatives.
Conant & Company
In 1872 Col. Johnson sold
to William Bancroft a part of
the land on the east side of the
there was no bridge at Bath
Village, and people had to
cross by means of a boat, so it
was convenient to have mills
on both sides of the river.
The next 20 years saw a
great development of small
industries at the falls in Bath
Village. A deed from Roger
Sargent to Richard Gookin in
1815 mentions the following in
that neighborhood: brickyard,
nail factory, blacksmith shop,
trip hammer shop, and a
hatter's shop, besides the saw
and grist mills. Rev.
Sutherland's history adds
further details and mentions
also a whetstone factory and a
clothing mill.
Richard Gookin
The prosperity of Bath
Village was greatly increased
by Richard Oookin, an in-
ventor and industrialist from
Boston who later had his
residence in Haverhill, N.H.
In cooperation with his
brother, he had made the first
watch springs manufactured
in America. During the 1790's
he took charge of, a British-
owned nail factory in
Newbury, Mass. While there,
he became acquainted with
William Standring, who had
recently brought from
England certain parts of a
wool-carding machine.
Together, Gookin and Stan-
dring improved and developed
the machine, for which Gookin
received two patents.
However: the British
government, to protect its own
industries, had prohibited the
export of any British
machinery, so Gookin and
Standrin.g soon found that
they had put their lives in
jeopardy. According to Bit-
tinger's History of Haverhili,
a trunk was sent to Standring
which was intended to explode
when it was opened. Also,
Gookin was sent a hat armed
with a deadly prong powered
with a strong spring, which
was discovered-befere the hat
was worn. It was tested by
putting it onto the head of a
dog, which was instantly
killed.
In spite of' the danger,
Gookin and Standring went
ahead with their plans, as the
country was in great need of
carding machines, all wool
being carded by hand in
America up to that time. In
A news report in the
Littleton Courier for July 1,
1952, tells the story of the life
and death of the leatherboard
mill:
"The 25 to 34) men em-
ployed at the factory were to
have this week off for
vacations and the Indepen-
dence Day holiday. Con-
sequently the plant was
closed, though 3 or 4 men did
go to the mill Tuesday mor-
ning to make some machinery
repairs. In some way, while
attending to these duties, a
spark from a tool ignited oil in
the pump room, near the
northwest section. Before. the
men could rush downstairs to
fight the blaze and close fire
doors the intense heavy Smoke
drove them outside. It
seemed, reported one of the
employees, that in no time fire
was in all partsof the building,
which mostly was of brick and
cement.
"The alarm was given
locally by ringing the
Congregational Church bell.
Some at first thought that the
boys of the village were
having a premature Fourth of
July celebration, but on
looking outdoors they quickly
saw the dense smoke and
realized that a landmark was
threatened.
"By telephone the fire
departments in Lisbon,
Woodsville and Monroe were
notified. All quickly responded
to the call for help. On Monday
afternoon Lisbon had had a
brand new pumper delivered,
and soon after 8 o'clock the
next morning.., it was doing
valiant work pumPing water
out of the Ammoncosnc River
for several lines of hose...
"In making leatherbcard
the company used bales of
leather scraps and paper,
shipped to Bath from other
mills for processing. Some of
these caught fire, causing
excessive heat and
necessitating attention by the
firemen all day Tuesday, The
odor of burning leather per-
meated the entire area...
"Cushman-Rankin was
one of five leatherboard
factories in the country,
having a Boston office and
shipping to all parts of the
East. For years it has been
known as a prosperous and
substantial company, most of
the time working 24 hours a
day, year in and year out."
( continued next week)
pulp mill here, then the next
year took John H. Conant as
his partner. The mill did a
thriving business and by 1888
was grinding out about five
tons of pulp in 24 hours.
However. the mill burned
down in 1889.
According to Historical
Notes of Bath, Mr. Conant was
considered one of the town
magnates. For more than 70
years he and his family lived
in the house across from the
Colonial Inn. The original
house was torn down and Mr.
Conant replaced it with one
which the White Mountain
Republic described as one of
the finest houses in town
(present home of Charles
Diamond and family). The
Conant children were tran-
sported to school in a "surrey
with a fringe on top," drawn
by a beautiful span of horses,
with a hostler in attendance.
Mr. Conant's widow lived to be
nearly a hundred.
Bath Lumber Company
In 1891 the Conant mill site
was sold to the Bath Lumber
Company, which built a saw
mill here. For about 15 years
the mill did a large business,
employing 4O or 50 men,
besides running lumber
camps at Black Mountain,
Easton and Franconia which
employed another 100 men as
choppers and loggers.
The president and the
treasurer of the company
were Edward Woods and his
son-in-law, Amos N. Blandin,
of Bath's Upper Village. Mr.
Blandin became a highly-
successful lumberman and
businessman, and was also
active in local and state
politics, becoming speaker of
the House in 1934 and can-
didate for governor in 1936.
Cushman-Rankin Company
The sawmill property was
sold in 1905 to Walter P.
Rankin and George F. Cush-
man, who established a
leatherboard mill. For about
30 years, Mr. Rankin's son
Kenneth served as superin-
tendant of the mill.
The leatherboard mill was
struck twice by fire -- first in
1915, when the finishing room,
dry house and store house
were destroyed. The mill was
rebuilt as a modern brick
structure and operated
steadily until 1951, when there
was a second fire.
EXECtmVE COt00CILOR
%, I Raymond & Burton, (R-N.IL)
New Hampshire Division of
Economic Development
I have obtained a guest column from the
Division of Economic Development
outlining the mission of that division which
is within the Department of Resources and
Economic Development. The column
follows.
The Division of Economic Development
consists of two major offices, the Office of
Vacation Travel and the Office of
Industrial Development and, A newly
formed Film and Television Bureau, The
Division of Economic Developmentis a
major component of the Dept. of
Resources and Economic Development.
Since the Office of Vacation Travel will be
discussed in a separate column, this ar-
ticle will focus on Industrial Development
and the Film Bureau.
A year ago, alter a record year of in-
dnstriai expansion in 1979, and with most
forecasters calling for an economic
downturn, we were lboking at 1980 with
some misgivings.
Fortunately, New Hampshire has been
able to withstand the dip in the national
economy with continued growth and with
an unemployment rate well below the
national average. During the past year,
there were eighty-two (82) new industries
which located in the state and sixty-two
(62) expansions of firms already doing
business here. Such progress is second
only to 1979, our record year. Moreover, in
1960, somewhat fewer firms actually
provided more new jobs, a total of 5,319.
The new businesses included 18 in the
electric and electronic fields, 18 in
machinery (non-electric) and 13 in
fabricated metal products. Also, there was
representation in the wood products,
plastics, footwear, chemicals and in-'
strumentation fields. So, New Hampshire
(please turn to page 5)
Public Service Board
To the Editor: Delphia, the
An open letter to Louise 46 percent of its
Mccarren, Chairman of the Vermont Yankee.
Public Service Board: To me, this
In the Times Argus, 25 ratepayers do
March 1982, p.8, there appears these ads. Is this
an article headlined "Yankee practice
Begins Major Ad Push". The engage in? Does
$150,000 advertising campaign realize he told a
about to he initiated deals with object to the use (
four issues of public concern, in this manner
To quote from the article, furious that
"Vermont Yankee bear the burden
shareholders will foot the bill when
for the campaign, according each penny
to plant spokesman Stephen be willing to
Stoll, who said it will thus not majority of
affect ratepayers' electric this view.
bills". That's not the way I see Regardless of
it. judicial" status
CVPSC owns 31.1 percent of Board
Vermont Yankee and is its Hunneman), the
largest stockholder. It is mandate to
joined by other Vermont waste when it
utilities: Green Mountain filings.
Power Corp., Washington have to bear
Electric Co-op., Vermont institution's
Electric Co-op., and the existance.
Burlington Electric Depar-
tment. According to figures Secretary,
given by CV's Michael
Our
Fifteen Mile Falls
hy BOB LINCK
It used to be called Fifteen Mile Falls,
Gilman, Vt. to the base of the
Connecticut River. The wildest of the
"falls" cascaded 348 feet (
deposited boulders.
Last summer in St. Johnsbury, while I was
Connecticut River Watershed Council's "Source
canoe expedition, I met an old
it was like to be on the river before Moore
Comerford Dam inundated the rapids. When I
longing to have travelled the old river,
head. "You wouldn't have wanted to
river in those days," he insisted.
Wild rapids, one after another -- it is easy to
why Fifteen Mile Falls was the Connecticut's
stretch of river during the log drives. Two sets
particular were believed to have claimed more
lives over the years. The last log
of 1915. The last pulp drive,
that the long timber logs did, was carried
Today, ff the 170-foot Comerford Dam and
Moore Dam had never been built, Fifteen Mi5
a whitewater enthusiasts' dream.
of folklore and history will remember the ra
madethe hearts of lumbermen skia beat..
One small remnant of the rapids can
downstream from Gilman Dam. The head
known as "Horse Race Rapids", whitewater
no man ever rode a log, has recentl3
protection from further encroachment on iL,
and natural beauty. A 14-acre parcel of
river in Dalton, N.H. has been voluntarily
manent conservation use by its owners
Smith. "We feel very strongly
Connecticut River in as close to its natural state
It is a dream to have a protected strip along each
future generations may enjoy fishing,
ping."
They speak the dream of the Connecticut
Council as well. For two years, the Council has
land conservancy efforts on the formation Of a
a corridor of natural, recreational, and
along the river. Their efforts in New
mont have been generously funded by the
Charitable Fund (the John Pearson Trust)
Howard Charitable Trust.
Ensured productivity of farm and forest
protection of wildlife habitat, increased river
recreation, the improvement of water
scenic beauty of the valley -- all are goals
Greenway Project. Each of these directly
region's economic health. Guilding inevitable
from important riverfront land is one wa
land values and income and
preserving many
have been attracted from outside the valley
have lived their lives in the valley.
Perhaps most importantly, the greenway ca
future availability of productive
forestland. Last year, the
recipient of a conservation easement (or
restriction) on thirteen acres of prime
Lyme, N.H. Similar efforts are underway on two
of forest land and pasture land in Claremont
N.H. The same mechanism was used on the
head of Fifteen Mile Falls. .
Conservation easements, the principal
Land Conservancy Program and Greenway
voluntary agreements between nonprofit
town governments and interested
easements can be tailored to the landowner'S
desires -- and they imply not a change in
forfeiture of certain rights to the land. As an
while retaining the rights to grow crops and
from his land, and the right to pass the land on t
landowner may choose to restrict his own
future owners to subdivide and
servation easements amount to
restrictions on future use of land. Not
fortably match the owner's original plans
but they ma
Progress on the Connecticut River GreenwaY
there appears to he a gathering awareness
play an important role in.land conservancy.
ficult ebstacle to overcome is the inherent
many landowners to
answer to that is to keep some
agreement, for possible futm'e development.
The Connecticut River and lands through
have undergone a major transformation
navigator Adrian Block discovered the river
ago. Even since the last log was driven
. more of the river has been tamed as a
for hydroelectric power,
I frequently remember that day last
Johnsbury when I was told that I wouldn't
paddle through the rapids of Fifteen
is that I would have, and that I wish I
Connecticut River Watershed
land and water management, future
to see and remember more of the river as it
presently recollect about the days of log
rapids.
(Bob IAnck is the Asseciute Executive
necticut River Watershed Council)
'age 4-The Journal Opinion-March 31 1982
An open letter to ! II
NORTHEAST PUBLISHING COMIANY, Inc.
Publisher of
Journal M Opinion
WeIT nemlNUp,, p,l, ln, llsk b wd. VeNmmO. IkdbRrlpltOrl mlOt - Voo'iet Now Suopshiro • Se.N
Ir yt if.00 for Itx ink; cut d • III,H p year end 17.H fw Ih moeOkltt €:itil,
det SL00.
Sotd Chill pelNle Imld at Smdford, VemiNt 0S035. Publidled by aerlbet Ildiski €, inc..
P.O. |01 iT|, lmdford.
Robert F. Humlnskl
President & Publisher
Bradford /
502-222-528 i Woodsville
• o" 603-747-2016
An Independent Newspaper
-- Ill hill i ] i . --
Bath Lumber Company
",."
Rat yers vs. utilities ' ......
The two representatives from the less electricity winter. This has
Vermont Public Service Board, who
presided over public testimony at last
week's Bradford hearing on CVPS's
proposed 25 percent rate increase,
should have left the meeting with no
second thoughts about how the public
in this area views the proposal.
Those who testified at the hearing
did not do so merely to get a nagging
problem off from their chest. The
public seemed to he demanding action
-- action by government officials to
force the state's utilities to look more
humanely toward their ratepayers.
The ratepayers, at least in this area,
are saying they have bad,hough.
Public testimony at the hearing was
overwhelming in its call for help. It
will be important to see how the PSB
rules on the rate increase after the
end of its scheduled technical
hearings on the subject in May'. If the
increase is ittle
of
A 25 ) in utility rates
raises a number of concerto regard-
ing fairness. CVPS has asked their
ratepayers through their Peak Alert
program to conserve energy this
year; the public used nine percent
been a year of recession and we have
also seen our general economy slow
down, inflation has dropped and so
have oil prices. In these economic
times, the comfortable usually stay
comfortable while waiting for better
times ahead; the little guy (most of
us) usually suffers.
A look at the stock market shows
CVPS to be doing quite well by most
corporate standards. Late last year
CVPS announced that it had become
the first Vermont Corporation to
make it on to tile New York Stock
.Exchange. But you have to wonder at
whose expense when shortly after
their "great news shareholders"
announcement, the company an-
nounced their 25 percent rate increase
proposal.
Besides keeping a Watchful eye on
the PSB, the public may also want to
watch the fate of the two Senate bills
currently hnging in the legislature.
one bill, 8.220 would prohibit the
utilities from recoupment collection
or charging ratepayers retroactive
fees. A second Senate bill, S.24 would
allow the PSB to warn utilities when
they are on the verge of unwise in-
vestments.
Congressional Report
James M. Jeffords, (R-Vt.)
f
Vermonters offer insittht
into knotty budget queations
opportune time.
broiled in debate
and the questionnaire responses provide
excellent insights into the views of Ver-
monters on the knotty issues that have
been raised.
The questionnaire, which was filled out
by 8,116 adult Vermonters in January,
sought opinion on the basic economic
issue facing Congress and the social
impact of our economic policies,
A basic question on budget policy began
by asking, "Do you feel it is important to
balance
These who then
stzmld he
(First of three repm
,m quUmmaire results. )
r mast recent Vermont reduction package are also widely viewed
an as culprits in our deficit problem. Of those
eva- concerned about deficit spending, 76.9 per
cent said we should "roll hack some of the
The question was admittedly gene'al in
nature, since there are great differences of
opinion as to how soon itwfll be feasible to
balance the budget. But the responses
showed there is strong concern over deficit
spending: 85.6 per cent answered "yes".
Those who answered "yes" made it
clear that they feel the primary targets, in
reducing future deficits, should be the
military budget and some of the new tax
breaks that were adopted last year.
The largest number (of those concerned
about deficit spending) said we should
"Scrutinize the military budget, to
total
of 94.6 per
sub-
-into our rapidly increasing military
budget. Wasted defense dollars are not a
sacred cow in Vermont.
A smaller, but still significant, number
) of the military" as a
step
said there should be "less emphasis on
military buildup."
Some of the provisions of last year's tax
special tax breaks "that were added to the
1981 Tax Bill, such as these granted to the
oil companies." Smaller (but significant)
numbers of Vermonters expressed
skepticism about the economic impact of
more basic features of the tax package. A
total of 36,2 per cent said we should "roll
back some of the general tax cuts for
business and industry," while 20.3 percent
said we should "roll back some of the
individual tax cuts enacted in 1981."
Disillusionment over aspects of the tax
package also showed up strongly in the
rt of the questionn dealing with
social policies. In that ctlon, 74.9 per
"cent of respondents said there should be
"lea tax breaks for the wealthy, more tax
relief for low and middle incume people."
Of the steps listed for reducing future
dofielts, the one receiving the least support
was "deeper cuts in domestic programs."
However, support for that option was not
insignificant: 25.4 per cent (ef those
concerned about deficit spending) ex-
pressed the view that there is room for
further cuts on the domestic side of the
budget.
There are, of course, limitations in the
extent to which the questionnaire results
can ha applied to Vermonters' views on
specific budget items. First, any
questionnaire inherently over-simplifies
the categories of public opinion. Secondly,
mOst of the responses came before
President Reagan outlined his specific
budget proposals. Thirdly, the general
attitudes covered by the questionnaire
cannot always he directly translated to
specific pieces of legislation covering
specific s|tuatimm. But in facing the major
qubestionn t issues now be/ore Congress, the-
aire--combined with the
thousands of personal letters and com-
ments I have received from individual
Vermonters--providm a valuable guide to
the views of people in our state.
I shall he reporting the results of all
oth sections of the qt.mtinnnnire over the
next two weelm.
IVater.powered industries at Bath Vill00e
Waterpower was the key
to early industry, and the
waterpower of the
Ammonoosuc River was
harnessed in Bath Village for
nearly 200 years. The earliest
mill here was a grist mill built
by Daniel Mills on the east
side of the river, sometime
before 1782 a mill which was
worth "300 Spanish milled
dollars" in a mortgage to
Timothy Bedel (Grafton
County Register of Deeds).
Rev. Sutherland told in his
history of Bath about the trials
and tribulations of Mr. Mills:
"Soon after his first mill
was built, it was carried away
by a flood; whereupon he
remarked he was glad of it, for
it wasn't st in the right place.
He therefore built a second
one in the right place; this
having been burnt down a
short time after, he again said
he was glad of it, for it wasn't
built as it ought to have been.
He then built a third one,
which exactly suited him ,"
In 178, Daniel andhls
wife Nancy sold the mill to
Roger Sargent for "200 pounds
lawful money." Sargent then
added a sawmill on the same
side of the river (cast side).
Around the same time (by
1792), John Hurd and his son
Jacob were building a sawmill
1799, Gookin and Standring river. Mr. Bancroft built a
moved to Haverhill and began
manufacturing carding
machines for sale throughout
the United States and Canada
Gookin also set up woolen
mills in all parts of New
England, including the village
of Bath. Between 1802 and 1815
be bought up all the property
round the dam, on both sides
of the river, including the
rights to all the water power.
He operated a fulling or cloth-
dressing mill in partnership
with Caleb Hunt, also built a
brick gristmill. In 1822,
Gookin and Hunt built a new
woolen mill, at a cost of $I0,000
a lot of money for a factory
in those days.
Rev. Sutherland wrote:
"Mr. Gookin was a man of
uncommon energy and en-
terprise, as was shown by his
rebuilding in mid-winter the
mill-dams at Bath Village,
which bad been swept away by
the great freshet of Feb. 12,
1824, thereby topping all the
milis. He di at HaVerhill,
where he had long resided,
May 20, 1826."
Evidently the mill did not
prosper after Mr. Gookin was
gone, as Mr. Hunt lost it in
1829 through foreclosed
mortgages, to Ira Gondall.
and gristmill on the west side Village Falls Manufacturing
of the river. In those days Co.
Ira Goodall continued
operation of the woolen mill as
part of the Village Falls
Manufacturing Company,
which also had a dye house
and factory on the west side of
Main Street. However, the
woolen mill burned to the
ground on the night of Feb. II,
1851. Mr. Goodall rebuilt,
installing three sets of woolen
machinery, all running by
waterpower from thegristmill
flume.
The company ran into
financial difficulties, and by
mortgage foreclosure was
taken over in 1858 by Col.
James H. Johnson, who was
Bath's most prominent dtizen
at that time. He ran a saw mill
and lumber business, owned
most of the village water
power, and served at various
times in the State Legislature,
Senate, Governor's Council,
and the U. S. House of
Representatives.
Conant & Company
In 1872 Col. Johnson sold
to William Bancroft a part of
the land on the east side of the
there was no bridge at Bath
Village, and people had to
cross by means of a boat, so it
was convenient to have mills
on both sides of the river.
The next 20 years saw a
great development of small
industries at the falls in Bath
Village. A deed from Roger
Sargent to Richard Gookin in
1815 mentions the following in
that neighborhood: brickyard,
nail factory, blacksmith shop,
trip hammer shop, and a
hatter's shop, besides the saw
and grist mills. Rev.
Sutherland's history adds
further details and mentions
also a whetstone factory and a
clothing mill.
Richard Gookin
The prosperity of Bath
Village was greatly increased
by Richard Oookin, an in-
ventor and industrialist from
Boston who later had his
residence in Haverhill, N.H.
In cooperation with his
brother, he had made the first
watch springs manufactured
in America. During the 1790's
he took charge of, a British-
owned nail factory in
Newbury, Mass. While there,
he became acquainted with
William Standring, who had
recently brought from
England certain parts of a
wool-carding machine.
Together, Gookin and Stan-
dring improved and developed
the machine, for which Gookin
received two patents.
However: the British
government, to protect its own
industries, had prohibited the
export of any British
machinery, so Gookin and
Standrin.g soon found that
they had put their lives in
jeopardy. According to Bit-
tinger's History of Haverhili,
a trunk was sent to Standring
which was intended to explode
when it was opened. Also,
Gookin was sent a hat armed
with a deadly prong powered
with a strong spring, which
was discovered-befere the hat
was worn. It was tested by
putting it onto the head of a
dog, which was instantly
killed.
In spite of' the danger,
Gookin and Standring went
ahead with their plans, as the
country was in great need of
carding machines, all wool
being carded by hand in
America up to that time. In
A news report in the
Littleton Courier for July 1,
1952, tells the story of the life
and death of the leatherboard
mill:
"The 25 to 34) men em-
ployed at the factory were to
have this week off for
vacations and the Indepen-
dence Day holiday. Con-
sequently the plant was
closed, though 3 or 4 men did
go to the mill Tuesday mor-
ning to make some machinery
repairs. In some way, while
attending to these duties, a
spark from a tool ignited oil in
the pump room, near the
northwest section. Before. the
men could rush downstairs to
fight the blaze and close fire
doors the intense heavy Smoke
drove them outside. It
seemed, reported one of the
employees, that in no time fire
was in all partsof the building,
which mostly was of brick and
cement.
"The alarm was given
locally by ringing the
Congregational Church bell.
Some at first thought that the
boys of the village were
having a premature Fourth of
July celebration, but on
looking outdoors they quickly
saw the dense smoke and
realized that a landmark was
threatened.
"By telephone the fire
departments in Lisbon,
Woodsville and Monroe were
notified. All quickly responded
to the call for help. On Monday
afternoon Lisbon had had a
brand new pumper delivered,
and soon after 8 o'clock the
next morning.., it was doing
valiant work pumPing water
out of the Ammoncosnc River
for several lines of hose...
"In making leatherbcard
the company used bales of
leather scraps and paper,
shipped to Bath from other
mills for processing. Some of
these caught fire, causing
excessive heat and
necessitating attention by the
firemen all day Tuesday, The
odor of burning leather per-
meated the entire area...
"Cushman-Rankin was
one of five leatherboard
factories in the country,
having a Boston office and
shipping to all parts of the
East. For years it has been
known as a prosperous and
substantial company, most of
the time working 24 hours a
day, year in and year out."
( continued next week)
pulp mill here, then the next
year took John H. Conant as
his partner. The mill did a
thriving business and by 1888
was grinding out about five
tons of pulp in 24 hours.
However. the mill burned
down in 1889.
According to Historical
Notes of Bath, Mr. Conant was
considered one of the town
magnates. For more than 70
years he and his family lived
in the house across from the
Colonial Inn. The original
house was torn down and Mr.
Conant replaced it with one
which the White Mountain
Republic described as one of
the finest houses in town
(present home of Charles
Diamond and family). The
Conant children were tran-
sported to school in a "surrey
with a fringe on top," drawn
by a beautiful span of horses,
with a hostler in attendance.
Mr. Conant's widow lived to be
nearly a hundred.
Bath Lumber Company
In 1891 the Conant mill site
was sold to the Bath Lumber
Company, which built a saw
mill here. For about 15 years
the mill did a large business,
employing 4O or 50 men,
besides running lumber
camps at Black Mountain,
Easton and Franconia which
employed another 100 men as
choppers and loggers.
The president and the
treasurer of the company
were Edward Woods and his
son-in-law, Amos N. Blandin,
of Bath's Upper Village. Mr.
Blandin became a highly-
successful lumberman and
businessman, and was also
active in local and state
politics, becoming speaker of
the House in 1934 and can-
didate for governor in 1936.
Cushman-Rankin Company
The sawmill property was
sold in 1905 to Walter P.
Rankin and George F. Cush-
man, who established a
leatherboard mill. For about
30 years, Mr. Rankin's son
Kenneth served as superin-
tendant of the mill.
The leatherboard mill was
struck twice by fire -- first in
1915, when the finishing room,
dry house and store house
were destroyed. The mill was
rebuilt as a modern brick
structure and operated
steadily until 1951, when there
was a second fire.
EXECtmVE COt00CILOR
%, I Raymond & Burton, (R-N.IL)
New Hampshire Division of
Economic Development
I have obtained a guest column from the
Division of Economic Development
outlining the mission of that division which
is within the Department of Resources and
Economic Development. The column
follows.
The Division of Economic Development
consists of two major offices, the Office of
Vacation Travel and the Office of
Industrial Development and, A newly
formed Film and Television Bureau, The
Division of Economic Developmentis a
major component of the Dept. of
Resources and Economic Development.
Since the Office of Vacation Travel will be
discussed in a separate column, this ar-
ticle will focus on Industrial Development
and the Film Bureau.
A year ago, alter a record year of in-
dnstriai expansion in 1979, and with most
forecasters calling for an economic
downturn, we were lboking at 1980 with
some misgivings.
Fortunately, New Hampshire has been
able to withstand the dip in the national
economy with continued growth and with
an unemployment rate well below the
national average. During the past year,
there were eighty-two (82) new industries
which located in the state and sixty-two
(62) expansions of firms already doing
business here. Such progress is second
only to 1979, our record year. Moreover, in
1960, somewhat fewer firms actually
provided more new jobs, a total of 5,319.
The new businesses included 18 in the
electric and electronic fields, 18 in
machinery (non-electric) and 13 in
fabricated metal products. Also, there was
representation in the wood products,
plastics, footwear, chemicals and in-'
strumentation fields. So, New Hampshire
(please turn to page 5)
Public Service Board
To the Editor: Delphia, the
An open letter to Louise 46 percent of its
Mccarren, Chairman of the Vermont Yankee.
Public Service Board: To me, this
In the Times Argus, 25 ratepayers do
March 1982, p.8, there appears these ads. Is this
an article headlined "Yankee practice
Begins Major Ad Push". The engage in? Does
$150,000 advertising campaign realize he told a
about to he initiated deals with object to the use (
four issues of public concern, in this manner
To quote from the article, furious that
"Vermont Yankee bear the burden
shareholders will foot the bill when
for the campaign, according each penny
to plant spokesman Stephen be willing to
Stoll, who said it will thus not majority of
affect ratepayers' electric this view.
bills". That's not the way I see Regardless of
it. judicial" status
CVPSC owns 31.1 percent of Board
Vermont Yankee and is its Hunneman), the
largest stockholder. It is mandate to
joined by other Vermont waste when it
utilities: Green Mountain filings.
Power Corp., Washington have to bear
Electric Co-op., Vermont institution's
Electric Co-op., and the existance.
Burlington Electric Depar-
tment. According to figures Secretary,
given by CV's Michael
Our
Fifteen Mile Falls
hy BOB LINCK
It used to be called Fifteen Mile Falls,
Gilman, Vt. to the base of the
Connecticut River. The wildest of the
"falls" cascaded 348 feet (
deposited boulders.
Last summer in St. Johnsbury, while I was
Connecticut River Watershed Council's "Source
canoe expedition, I met an old
it was like to be on the river before Moore
Comerford Dam inundated the rapids. When I
longing to have travelled the old river,
head. "You wouldn't have wanted to
river in those days," he insisted.
Wild rapids, one after another -- it is easy to
why Fifteen Mile Falls was the Connecticut's
stretch of river during the log drives. Two sets
particular were believed to have claimed more
lives over the years. The last log
of 1915. The last pulp drive,
that the long timber logs did, was carried
Today, ff the 170-foot Comerford Dam and
Moore Dam had never been built, Fifteen Mi5
a whitewater enthusiasts' dream.
of folklore and history will remember the ra
madethe hearts of lumbermen skia beat..
One small remnant of the rapids can
downstream from Gilman Dam. The head
known as "Horse Race Rapids", whitewater
no man ever rode a log, has recentl3
protection from further encroachment on iL,
and natural beauty. A 14-acre parcel of
river in Dalton, N.H. has been voluntarily
manent conservation use by its owners
Smith. "We feel very strongly
Connecticut River in as close to its natural state
It is a dream to have a protected strip along each
future generations may enjoy fishing,
ping."
They speak the dream of the Connecticut
Council as well. For two years, the Council has
land conservancy efforts on the formation Of a
a corridor of natural, recreational, and
along the river. Their efforts in New
mont have been generously funded by the
Charitable Fund (the John Pearson Trust)
Howard Charitable Trust.
Ensured productivity of farm and forest
protection of wildlife habitat, increased river
recreation, the improvement of water
scenic beauty of the valley -- all are goals
Greenway Project. Each of these directly
region's economic health. Guilding inevitable
from important riverfront land is one wa
land values and income and
preserving many
have been attracted from outside the valley
have lived their lives in the valley.
Perhaps most importantly, the greenway ca
future availability of productive
forestland. Last year, the
recipient of a conservation easement (or
restriction) on thirteen acres of prime
Lyme, N.H. Similar efforts are underway on two
of forest land and pasture land in Claremont
N.H. The same mechanism was used on the
head of Fifteen Mile Falls. .
Conservation easements, the principal
Land Conservancy Program and Greenway
voluntary agreements between nonprofit
town governments and interested
easements can be tailored to the landowner'S
desires -- and they imply not a change in
forfeiture of certain rights to the land. As an
while retaining the rights to grow crops and
from his land, and the right to pass the land on t
landowner may choose to restrict his own
future owners to subdivide and
servation easements amount to
restrictions on future use of land. Not
fortably match the owner's original plans
but they ma
Progress on the Connecticut River GreenwaY
there appears to he a gathering awareness
play an important role in.land conservancy.
ficult ebstacle to overcome is the inherent
many landowners to
answer to that is to keep some
agreement, for possible futm'e development.
The Connecticut River and lands through
have undergone a major transformation
navigator Adrian Block discovered the river
ago. Even since the last log was driven
. more of the river has been tamed as a
for hydroelectric power,
I frequently remember that day last
Johnsbury when I was told that I wouldn't
paddle through the rapids of Fifteen
is that I would have, and that I wish I
Connecticut River Watershed
land and water management, future
to see and remember more of the river as it
presently recollect about the days of log
rapids.
(Bob IAnck is the Asseciute Executive
necticut River Watershed Council)
