Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-05-20
LETTER FROM PORTLAND.
GEOGRAPHICAL, GEOLOGICAL AND GENEALoG

CAL.
| PORTLAND, May 18th, 1870.
! To the Editor of the keanebec Journal:
Though | do not suppose you account this
region of great consequence in relation to the
political center where you abide, yet l am
convinced will insistupon being counted in on
all occasions, and must be accorded belligerent
rights. Portland is seaport town near Can
ada, and would have a very fine harbor but
for the great number of islands in it, which
make navigation very difficult in the picnic
season. These islands are very troublesome
to strangers and the cause of considerable
soicitudc to Portland herself She has too
many of them. When it was supposed there
were only some 800 or 400, strangers, espec-
tally those well circumstanced, were general
| ly willing to take the lot, to close out, but
they began soon to multiply and hang heavy on
the market, with no takers. The water is very
deep in this harbor. l once heard a ponder
Gus citizen tell Gen. Grant, as he sailed that
''every one of these islands is narigatable,"
which remark struck me as highly original as
toned in Meals recollection of busy life.
There are several things he did not have time
to say but he made it pretty warm for most
everything that he did hit upon, and we
excuse him.
Portland is sixty miles from Augusta, I'M
less you travel on mileage tickets, when it is
sixty three. 1t is larger than Lewiston or
Bangor, and has been so assessed, which is a
sufficient punishment. 1t has not so many
mill privileges as Augusta, and has therefore
no privileged classes, but taxes them all re-
gardless of consequences. If man says,
''Look here, l am going to do something for
the benefit of the place" they straightway an
swer, ''all right; do it now" and he does it.
time, when get bit of leisure to look about
perhaps I can find more to tell you concern
ing this city, which was justly selected for
the Monarcht to come to and for Sheridan to stay
all night in, ''tor there was much water
there"
Yesterday l went to see the Cardiff Giant.
l like him. There is money in him. l had
no curiosity myself to see him, but some
people where l boarded manifested such an
interest in him that | felt it my duty to go
and thus be able to converse upon the subject
As l objected as a matter of principle, to
paying for such an unworthy cause, pro-
posed to citizen who had the same scruples,
to snapa copper to see which should pay for
both. We snapped and that wretched man
paid fifty cents to fair haired swain, and we
walked in. In tenderest speech, speech that
would not wakcn a child that was teething,
this blue eyed youth told us the story of this
terrible figure. On beautiful October morn
ing, last year, Mr.. c. Newell, quiet. plain
farmer, residing near the village of Cardiff,
thirteen miles from Syracuse, commenced to
dig well for the convenience of his cattle.
The names of two workmen are given with
great minuteness, and the narrative describes
how they came to one leg of the giant and
thought it an old water pipe, and went for an
axe to break it, bnt were provdentially kept
from so profane proceedings. This was at a
depth of little more than three feet.
little while and more of it was disclosed, and
they thought it an Indian corpus. The news
spread. Cardiff blazed. People were excited.
Finally they were prevailed upon to get a
pump and pump out the water. Ut doesn't
take long to reach water in Cardiff ThOus-
ands visited the scene, and finally $4,000
bought the giant, and his case went to jury of
his countrymen. Pictures showing how he was
raised and transported, adorn the room, and
little Photographs can be had for ten cents that
exhibit him at full length. need not mi
nutely describe him, but the price of the
photographs is utterly contemplate in view of
the substance Swallowed forth. There has
been nothing SO cheap since long before the
war. He weighs 2900 lbs, but wiggles un-
easily when you lay hold of him. l offered to
bet could stand him on his head, but the
fair youth begged me as personal favor not
to get demonstratiye. l counted his ribs and
found only ten. / called Doctor who was
passing the door, and asked him how many ribs
an Individual averaged. He replied, twelve
on side. "Look upon the sides Of SO