The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-07-02
In the village of West waterville, a few

In the village of West Waterville, a few
miles back, is Established toe largest scythe
mandatory in the world. It turns ont an
immense number of scythes year, was
told how many, but do not remen ber-besides
other grass cutting instruments and axes. 1t ,
belongs to X. b. Dunn, the President of the
Central railroad, gentleman who has done
as mucn, perhaps, for the development of the
Industrial resources of Maine as any one man
in the State. An elegant Methodist church,
recently erected in Waterville, of which he
pore mali the cost, speaks something for his
other qualities.
mere Is handsome cataract just below
the scythe factory. 1t is about forty feet high,
and is supplied with full volume of water.
The place is quite romantic, and would make
the fortune OF the proprietor if it was any
where near New York.
From Waterville one may go up the Ken
nebec through Skowhegan, Norridgewock,
An3on, &c, part of the way by railroad, then
by stage. and so on, to the wild woods. The
river, which is shallow, and INSTRUCTED by
rapids, presents many wild and romantic fea-
lures through this section. The country east
| OF the kennebec is of an entirely different
character from that TO the west of that river:
where has been granite is now limestone, and
the change is accompanied with cores
ponding increase in the productive capacity
OF the soil. The country, however, is quite
| new. Stumps and the remains of the forests
which have been cut away by the lumbermen
| present prominent features. New railroads
are opening up everywhere, and they, with
| the advantages OF a better soil for agriculture,
will give this section rapid development.
Newport, twenty miles from Bangor, is the
| point from which travellers are accustomed
| to start for Moosehead Dake. The region of
which this is the best known point, with its
| vast forests and wide expanses of waters,
offers rare inducements to huntsmen aid fish
ermen, and persons who admire nature in its
savage moods. The number OF those who re-
sort TO the lakes and woods every season is
much greater than one could imagine Who
has not been where they congregate
| Notwithstanding the denudation CT the
Maine forests, and the rivalry of Canadian
and lake depots, Bangor is still the champion
lumber market Where all the lumber comes
from one may wonder; but it comes. 1t still
| furnishes business which makes Bangor one
| OF the liveliest towns in the New England
States. This city was few years ago. at the
| edge OF civilization; a little later it was the
jumping off place of railroad travel to the
East. But now the European and North
American railroad has been pushed up to
| Mattawamkeag, and is stretching away to-
| wards Nova Scotia, while line is coming out
| from Halifax to meet it. In year or two
1AioAS oAA'o Aodu VIII SiNV tuC SuOAlCSt Huc "
Europe, abbieviating the steamer trip by two
or three days, and landing passengers in Liv-
| erpool hours in advance of all rival routes, as
| the railroad hand bills say. Then the public
| will begin to learn how rich in materials, how
rich in agricultural resources is this extreme
Northeast, which is popularity thought to de-
serve no better fate than to be left out in the
| cold. And before many years Katahdin, which
is now considered out OF the reach of all but
adventures of unusual nerve, will have its
railroads and its tiptop house, and be frequent
ed and climbed by adyenturers OF an entirely
different stamp. sf F.te ts 90
The summer climate of Maine is refreshing
in high degree, and cool in low degree
1t is more often, in fact, uncomfortaby cool
than uncomfortaby warm. Except in new
est settled regions the roads are uniformly
good, summer and winter. The drives can
not be surpassed anywhere. The only draw
back is the toilsome ascent of the long hills
which abound. But what can be seen from
the top generally pays for this. Except in the
large towns there are no large hotels, only
country taverns. But they furnish hospitality
as well as lodging and breakfast.
Another railroad is building from Portland
by way of Sebaeo Lake, Fryburg and the
Notch of the White Mountains, to Ogdens-
burgh. Thisw open up new and most de-
llghtfui regions, and it is destined to become
one OF the most popular pleasure routes in the
United States. rF SEQ