Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/291

 A SKETCH OF BRISTOL. 263

WATER POWER.

One of the best and most reliable water powers in Grafton Count}' is that afford- ed by the Newfound river, which; in its course of two miles from the lake of the same name to the Pemigewassett, makes a total fall of two hundred and forty-one feet and seven inches. The lake, which has a length of about seven miles, and is three miles in width in the broadest portion, forms a supe- rior reservoir, having an extensive watershed. Its waters are held in reserve by the " Lake Company's" dam at the outlet, so that it may be drawn down, if necessary, during the dry season, to the extent of six feet. For a time the con- trol of the water by the Lake Company was exercised in a manner highly de- trimental to the interests of the local manufacturers ; but, since the rights of the latter were established by an appeal to the court, some ten years ago, but little trouble has been experienced by them in this regard. The first mills in this locality were erected by Maj. John Tolford, one of the grantees of New Ches- ter, who receiveil a grant of two lots of land from the town, in consideration of his building and operating a saw and grist mill, on the Newfoimd river, and another of each kind on Smith's river, the latter being within the limits of the present town of Hill. In accordance with the conditions of the grant, the mills on Newfound river were first built, and appear to have been completed some time during the year 1767, although there is no definite record, and the precise location of the mills is now unknown. At all events it appears from the pro- prietor's records that in March, 1769, it was "Voted that Maj. John Tolford shall be obliged to tend his grist mill in N-^w Chester, every first Monday in each month for the year, and no other day in said year ;" and it is known that the mill referred to at this time was the one located on the Newfound river, and somewhere within the present limits of Bristol village.

ORGANIZATION.

As has been stated, the town of Bristol was incorporated by the legislature in June, 1819. By the act of incorporation James Minot, Ichabod C. Bartlett, and Joseph Flanders, or any two of them, were authorized to call the first an- nual town meeting in March following. They united in this call, and at the first annual meeting, March 14, 1820, Joseph -Flanders was elected moderator, James Minot, clerk, and Joseph F'landers, Moses W. Sleeper and John Clough, selectmen. Ichabod C. Bartlett was chosen treasurer, and James Minot repre- sentative to the general court. The citizens of the new town seem to have started out with practical unanimity of political sentiment, so far as state affairs were concerned, as upon the vote for governor at this meeting, ninty-one bal- lots were cast for Samuel Bell, five for John Orr, two for Robert Smith, and one for David Sterret. The same, or even greater, unanimity in this regard was manifested several years later, when, in 1827, there were one hundred and seven votes cast for Benjamin Pierce and one for Sherburn Lock.

Among the other officers elected at this first town meeting, were two " tyth- ingmen." These were Timothy Eastman and David Truel. Peter Hazelton was chosen constable. The record of the meeting also informs us that it was voted to raise one hundred and fifty dollars in addition to what the law requires, for the support of schools, six hundred dollars for the repair of highways, and three hundred and fifty dollars to defray town charges. It also appears that " the collection of taxes was bid off for three cents on a dollar, by Walter Sleeper." This would be regarded as a pretty extravagant percentage in these days, but it must be remembered that the amount to be collected was comparatively small. The practice of disposing of paupers to the lowest bidder, for their support for the year, appears to have been adopted by the new town, though there

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