The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-06-01
May among the Mountains.

enjoy the Inn lIeu Satisfaction OF becoming at
least candidates for office.
May among the Mountains.
To the Editor Of the Press:
A days leisure at Gorham, N. H., gave me
an opportunity of a ride into the glen, and of
witnessing the mountain scenery in its spring
aspects; and having never been here before
so early in the season, found therein much
that was novel and unusually interesting.
The deciduous trees are just coming into
foliage; and the deep purple of the naples,
the brilliant green of the white birch, and the
paler tints of the aspen-poplars contrast fine
ly with the somber hues of the hemlocks and
spruces, while the wild cherry and moose
wood, crowding to the edges of every opening
and to the borders of all the streams, with
their wealth of snowy blossoms, add pecu-
harly enlivening charm to the scene.
The diversity of aspect is no less noticeable
in the mountain activities Hugh patches of
snow and ice still cling about the higher crags,
glaring weird and spectre-like, beneath the
gloom of impending clouds; and the swollen
streams come wheeling and curvetting down
their rocky channels, as if rejoiced to be loos-
ed from the reign of winter.
The road along the banks of the Peabody is
in excellent condition, and drive of an hour
and half brought us to the Glen House.
Here the change that has been made within
the year, has been SO great, that but for the
familiar look of its circle of mountain sleeps,
I should hardly have recognized the locality.
When the Glen House was building, eight
or ten years ago, few, I apprehend, thought
it could fail of accommodating all who should
penetrate to these wild seclusions; but large
as it is, it has been found altogether made
quate to the accommodation of the summer
travel; and last year so great was the con-
course of visitors that the landlord, Mr..
Thompson, found he must either enlarge the
buildings, or sell to parties who stood ready to
buy, and would do so. He chose the former
course, and as soon as the travel was over,
set himself to the task with his usual energy.
First he enlarged his saw mill, which is about
mile below the hotel, adding thereto ma
chinery for planning, and for saving clapboards
and shingles, then built house near by to
accommodate his workmen. His next move
was to divert some of the mountain streams
from their courses, so as to insure supply of
water to the mill during the icy reign of win
ter.
Thus prepared, he entered upon task that
would have appalled, most people, and run
ming the mill almost constantly day and
night since last October, has from forest trees
that were growing at that time, sawed timber,
joist, boards-all the materials necessary, and
Herewith erected one of the most extensive
hotels in the country, and nearly tripled his
former accommodations
The new buildings are extended along the
ridge northwardly, and in line with the old,
the whole range forming front four hun
dred and fourteen feet in length! In the cen
tire is the Office, with spacious reception rooms
adjoining. This portion of the building is
two stories in height. all the other portions
are, including the attic chambers, four stories,
besides the basement story.
The parlor which is on the lower floor of
the new building, fronting towards Mt. Wash
ington, is splendid room one hundred feet in
length and forty-four feet wide, larger horizon
tall, think, than any church in Portland!
The dining room, in a wing extending back
from the main building, is of the same grand
proportions, and of the same style of finish as
the parlor.
On the second floor are private parlors, and
eli +Io+ ,;nJo
ries are entirely occupied by sleeping rooms,
most of them being about Is feet square. The
passage ways are planned on the same spa
cious scale, being all IA feet in width.
In the rear of the central Office adjoining
the dining room, are the kitchens and pantries,
large and commodious; and to ensure cleanli-
ness, and all communicating influences from
the waste, throughout the entire fabric, ample
provision has been made in covered drain
four feet high and two and "a half feet wide,
which is to be extended to the river, and
through which a never failing stream, tapped
one mile distant up Mt. Carter, is to be divert
ed, so as to be continually flowing. So much
for the interior arrangements; as to the exte-
rior of the range an eye has been had to
architectural taste, and with its long piazzas
and projections, it is all that could be wished.
By the time of the rush of summer travel,
the entire building will be ready for its accom-
motion. Already our host Thompson is pre-
pared for the reception of company with his
former accommodations; and few visitors
have made their appearance, mostly young
folks recently married, seeking the delights of
the honeymoon away from the world. And
some have assembled to the summit house on
Mt. Washington, where Mr.. Hitchcock, the
popular host of the Alpine House, through
his obligiDg agents, was already prepared to
receive them.
But have extended my rambling notes
farther than was my intention; and shall not
try your;patience with the particulars of our
ascent of Mt. Washington-how we found the
road in capital condition; how we didn't see
a bear, but heard one; how we were delighted
with the grand views; and how, when little
more than half way up, we ran butt against
cloud, making therein hole through which |
the rain poured out as if all the celestial hogs
heads were bcng down; how rapidly the rent
in the aforesaid cloud increased, until it ex-
tended out perhaps to Portland; so that tor
any rain you may have received, you may con-
slider yourselves indebted to the persevering
superintendent of the mountain road, (Mr
Ham, and your humble servant. S.
The East Maine Methodist Conference on the
State of the Country.
The following resolutions, adopted by the
Methodist Conference recently in session at
Wald0horo have been forxuardad To 1,s for null,