The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-06-25
Il TIP Down East.v

MACllIAsroRr, Ne. , June II, 1867.
To us who are accustomed 10 the fine
firms of Vermont or the extensive manu-.
factories Of Massachusetts, this section of
New England presents scei C, and occu-
pations quite different from those Of our
earlier associations. This place. from
its importance as seaport, and the OK
tensivc business done through it will merit
something of a description.
Machiasport, situated anywhere but at
the head of Il 60 d harhor, with the
country all about it demanding the ship
ping, would be in itself of but very little
Importance TO the BUSINESS world 1t is
a small, unpretenling looking town of
fifteen hundred inhabitants, situated Just
at the mouth of the Machias river where
it emptics into the bay. 1t is mos "
comprised in one street, which runs along
near the water for mile or more. The
dwellings are generally quite small, many
OF them Imprinted and with no pretcnse
to regularity in shape or position. There
are not more than half.a. doz n which we
could call even pretty; and "Frcnch
roofs are not TO be thought Of There
are some beautiful locations for residences
on account Of the views of the harbor;
but a large proportion Of the men follow
the sea, and they prefer to invest their
capital in ships rather than in houses
The place supports five small stores and a
temperance MOTEL, the latter very much to
the credit of its proprietor, Mr.. Means,
and 10 the strong public sentiment which
supports him. One house of worship
ace ImOdates three socie les. though among
them all there is no settled pastor. So
ciciies left in this way and amorg such
people offered u great opening tor
''comcoutcrs" and renegade preachers of
all descriptions, and at diff rent times
they have reapcd their harvest here.
Mr.. Adams gained no adhcrcnts in this
place for he did not seek them, but others
almost as wild have their followers. In
spite OF these disadvantages it is eminent
ly religious community, PEI haps in
advance of some having better opportu-
mites This place used to be noted for
drunkenness, but within few years, and
through the influence of the Good Tenn
plars public sentiment has undergone an
entire revolution and now it is a strong
temperance community, and we are in,
formed that there is no place in town
where Intoxicating drinks are sold.
There is no regular provision market
in the place and we miss the varieties
afforded by that institution. There are
clans in abundance which are considered
a choice article of food, but one meal OF
those biva!ves upon our unnitiated stom-
achs affected us very much as Jonah did
the whale, and in much shorter time.
But short distance back from the
the water the land rises into high hills
Their sloping sides furnish Il few potatoe
patches, and some grass land, but the
surface is so broken by boulders and lodges
cropping out, and the soil so poor that
but very little account can be made of all
it will bear; and the people depend al
most entirely on other resources than ag-
riculture to furnish their tables, but soon
the cleared land merges into the forest
and many of the people here and in this
vicinity probably never saw the further
end of their back yard or garden patch
laundering is the great industrial pur
suit in all this part of Maine. There is
no lumber sawed in Machiasport, but it
is brought here from Whilney,iile, seven
miles, for shipment.
A track of wood with iron plating is
laid between the two places, and with
light engine and eight cars they run three
trains day TO bring the lumber from II
single mill This mill with its numerous
"sangs," saws about 70, 900 feet per day.
Last season it sawed 1000, 900 feet
of lumber, and these large mills never
run in the winter. The logs are hauled
upon the ice, after the rivers are frozen
over, from ten to forty miles up stream,
and when it breaks up in the spripg they
are fiOated down TO the mill.