The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-12


the railroads shall have deprived the Depart
ment OF all revenue from the great thorough
fares between the large cities, will they patriot
lcally volunteer TO carry the mails over roads
like that which is here described in the Boston
Patriot, by a traveller in the State of Maine
Or which will the public choose-to have all
mail service stopped on such roads, or money
taken from the Treasury to pay for t2
From the Boston Patriot.
WINTER TRAVELLING IN MAINE-The following is
an extract from letter of the Legislative correspon-
dent OF the Portland Argus, at Augusta detailing his
adventures IN arriving at his post
Started from Brunswick at half.past one, and
reached Bowdoinham (eight mes) without trouble,
out the road with commendable spirit. For the first
four miles after leaving Bowdoinham got along verv
well, put when we got TO Richmond line the drifts
were enormous There was very little snow in the
fields the stubbe hardly covered but the road was
blocked to the of the stone walls NOTHING had
been done TO render the load passabe the inhabitants
reasoning, with some pausibility that it was no use
TO try to clear the road while the snow was blowing
at such rate. Had some music The order
was fist to throw our weight one side, and anon
on the other, TO prevent overseeing, which would
have been serious matter with such quantity of,
luggage A one time we had nearly accomplished
'H"t anu all the passengers, male
and female cIngng to the upper side of stage
on the outside when the horses with spring broke
the harness, and we were obliged hold on, tie wind
blowing hurricane, till the harness could be repair
ed. and the snow shovelled from under the stage
After unloading and repacking some twenty times.
with the aid OF people on the road, who came to our
assistance with shoveIs and levers and with the moi
persevering and judcious efforts Of our excellent dri
yer, we overlook about o'clock P NJ the all staga
and passengers which left Portland at o'clock FIJI
day night, nine hours before we started F,ndino his
horses used up, the driver had detached them from
the stage, ard gone after oxen TO help him out He
had sent the letter mail ahead in single sleigh Find
ing the stage in his way, Captain Swain gave orders
TO capsze 1t out of the road, wi ch was accordingly
DONE and we passed as il lay on its beam ends Our
triumph was short, however. After going few rods
further we were obliged to take to the field and when
we came into the road again stuck fast; our
horses were used up and done over We procured
oxen and made our way short Gista nee when, about
o'clock, hnding ourselves in the vicinity of comforts
able quarters we gave up The hope of edng fur
ther and were received and comfortably provided for
IN the private dwelling of Mr.. Luther Smith about
mile and half from Peacocks tavern in Richmond
Tins worthy gentleman and his wife did every hing
~ ihtir power to make us comfortable and well did
they succeed for they had the ability as well as the
disposition to provide for snug house good pro-
visions, served up in the neatest manner with good
beds and snow white sheets, we had much more to be
thankful for than We had right to expect am sure
their guests will ever retain grateful sense of the
kindness Of this worthy couple
captain Smith was early abroad and started all he
could to break out the roads. He came with six OXEN
Tor his load, placed the baggage an OK sled with
one yoke of oxen aud attached two woke IN our saoe
containing the passengers bu, we soon found them
insufficient, and were obliged 10 obtain the third pair
OF oxen 10 get the stage along.
In lhls slow manner we r. achsd Peacock's tavernt
whefe we were assured that the wort was anI
took horses By unloading when we came to a bad
place. and the use of shoves, got through TO Gar,
diner at II M, where found tho rosd cl,ar and
reached Augusta before o'clock. Had room to de-
tail some of the dialogues between our driver and
some of the people the road they would amuse YOU
and your readers. Boy, cried the driver to low
headed urchn, Who is road agent in this district 2"
Fathei" /" Well, you. tell your father if he DON,
h'eak out this rond before come along again, win
welt his hide well: where is he now Gone to
meeting answers head. Well, (says Jsbe, thc
ought TO be at meeting the of his days if he has
not performed his other duties better than those rosd
agent Remember, and tell him what ! say
Yetb, thir"