Newtown River. An advancement in farm machinery came around the turn of the twentieth century, with much assistance , from Alex Anderson, of Perth, Scotland. His knowledge and constant efforts during his years in Orwell Cove contributed to the flourishment of the farming industry. The early settlers began working the ground by hand, then with a wooden plough, and later advanced to a steel or iron plough with the assistance of horses or oxen. Farming the land became easier with the invention of the tractor. Angus Nicholson was known to have had the first tractor in the Cove.

Richard Gill also operated a saw and grist mill further up the river. This map also notes that a hotel and store was located on the property beside Donald Gillis . At this point, we can find no mention of any hotel operators other than Edward Morrissey. His name is noted in the Hutchison's Prince Edward Island Directory of 1864.

The use of horses for transportation and farming resulted in the establishment of blacksmith shops in all areas of Prince Edward Island. The shops contained a forge for the fire and a bellows to fan it. When the coals became really hot, the iron was heated until it became malleable. It was then pounded on the anvil with a hammer and shaped into shoes to fit the horses' hooves. The nails to hold the shoe on were also made by the blacksmith. This was sometimes a dangerous job, depending on the temperament of the horse. In the summer, the farm horses working on soft ground didn't need shoes, but one horse was usually kept well—shod for driving. In winter time, because of icy roads, the shoes were removed and the feet trimmed. Then the shoes were newly sharpened, caulked, and nailed back on the horses' hooves.

Although one might think a blacksmith's sole purpose was to shoe horses, he also fitted steel rims to wagon wheels, made shovels, axes, and sleigh runners. Because of this, his work and the work of Richard Grant, the only wheelwright and turner, became a necessity in the area. The names of the first blacksmiths recorded in Orwell Cove were George MacPherson, Charlie Nicholson , Alexander Murchison, and

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