The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-17
JOHN NEAL.


Oht, u uue IL, 1cOt.s
TO the Editor QfGas Press: .-at..u. ~.
The excursionists started at an early hour
IN the morning, on their way through the
gorge and down the beautiful valley of the
Saco river. The morning was pleasant and
cool, the mercury only rising to 80 degs. Long
before the sun was seen at the Crawford
House, although it might have been visible in
your city, I saw Gen. Anderson stream
ing away towards Wiley Mountain which he
ascended in the cool of the morning. before the
others had risen. 1 suppose he was anxious to
obtain view Of Portland and the broad At
lantic in the light of the morning sun from
that elevation. I can appreciate his motives
and can admire his taste, but confess the
the task was too formidable for me at tha.
early hour. Alter riding so many miles in
coach over the grand hills of New Hampshire
and through the fertile valleys Of Vermont. r
did not feel like taking such a tramp before
breakfast, and so could not acce pit the invita-
ton Of the Central to accompany him in his
early morning walk. -ia"i r
The rains have been so abundant that the
road through the Notch and for the distance of
some eight miles below, is in a most horrible
condition. Our carriage, q large Concord
coach, was exchanged at the Crawford House
FOR large Concord wagon. 1t was we'll that
the exchange was made, for it would have been
almost impossible to navigate larger coach
through that pass between the mountains
and yet our driver felt equal to such task
and suppose could have performed such
feat. -,IE. +. A". 'i.e lalafI
Thn
JOhnsbury accompanied us as far as the Will
ley House. Some of these gentlemen came
from St. Johnsbury in their private carriages.
At the Wiley House we were obliged to part
with our Vermont companions. Before this
separation took place and our friends returned
to the Green Mountain Sta te, "three times
three" were given for them which were echoed
back with hearty good will. The parting took
place with che best Of feeling and all were en-
livened with strong hope that the day was
not far in the future when they would be more
intimately connected by iron bands, or as one
of the party expressed it, throwing his hat high
in the air and jumping up after it, and at the
same time exclaiming in his deep sonorous
voice, "may Vermont, New Hampshire and
Maine soon be indissolubly bound in the iron
bands of matrimony" That expressed the
feelings of all present, and the sooner the cere-
mony may be performed the better for those
States, is say nothing OF other States that are
located far towards the setting sun. We pass
ed through the Notch and down the valley of
the Saco, and frankly confess that had no
just conception of the beauty and grandeur of
the scenery in the valley Of this noble river.
If this contemplated track is laid-and can
not doubt the fact that it will-the builders and
proprietors of the road may safely challenge
the world to show more magnificent scenery
on any railway route than can he seen on this.
In fact. all the way from Portland to the Yer
mont Central, the land and water prospects
can hardly be paralleled any where in any
country No railway on this continent can
furnish more picturesque beauty and sublime
views than this route 1t would be sought
from all parts of the world by pleasure travel
lers, and going through the Notch would be a
necessity in order to make ones journey COM
plete. lartH.t n 5T
am not led away by impulse or enthusiasm,
but speak the words of truth and soberness.
But 1 will not enlarge on this phase of the
subject. The excursionists will bear me wit
ness that do not exaggerate. The party pass
ed down the valley to North Conway, where a
capital dinner of brook trout and other luxu-
ries was prepared for them at the Mcmillan
House. This house is finely located, com
mands an excellent view Of the White Noun
tains and Kearsage, and is admirably kept
The generous and obliging landlord would
take no pay for the dinner he had prepared for
them. The reader must remember that the
excursionists were now separated from their
New York and Vermont friends, and expect
ed and even hoped, they might have an oppor-
tunity to get rid of some Of the currency they
carried with them, and which had encountered
their pockets for so long distance
The six-horse team had been hired by the
FaIrbankses of st. Johnsbury to carry the par
| ty from Montpelier 10 Portland. But they
| thought these noble horses had done enough
for them and so they made generous present
to the driver and let him go back with the
team. Here they took an extra to Fryeburg
whore they passed the night. At the hoteI
an informal meeting was held in the evening