19th century Hague: Graphite economic development

Economic development was booming at Graphite in 1890.

The mining hamlet in the town of Hague had its own post office, and the company was investing $55,000 — the equivalent of $1.8 million in 2023 dollars — in new buildings and equipment, including a new steam boiler and engine.

“The company employs sixty men and twenty teams,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on May 23, 1890.

Could transportation infrastructure be next?

“It is intimated that a narrow-gauge railway will soon be built from the mines to the lake to facilitate transportation of the graphite.”

George K. Hooper was postmaster of a new post office that opened at Graphite, The Morning Star reported on May 17, 1890.

In other 19th century Hague news collected from historic newspaper of the region:

• The common rule is that the tie goes to the runner.

But what is the rule when there are two runners?

In the Hague supervisor’s race, the rule was that town justices had five days to decide, and if unsuccessful, a special run-off election would be held.

“An unusual condition of things exist in Hague,” The Morning Star of Glens Falls reported on April 3, 1890. “The vote for supervisor is a tie.”

Democrat Albert Clifton and Republican James A. Balcom each received 69 votes.

Town justices decided in favor of Clifton.

• “The fishing is quite good here this season,” the Hague correspondent reported in The Morning Star on May 16, 1890.